Archived News for Professionals in Local Government

The New South Wales Government has announced an additional $30 million to assist local councils pay for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, as part of the state’s Local Government Renewal Scheme.

The Northern Territory Government has completed a review into the financial sustainability of shires, concluding that while shires are viable there are some key issues that need to be addressed to further improve them in the long term.

The Victorian Government released the latest Growth Corridor Plans, approving six Precinct Structure Plans to create new suburban communities at Diggers Rest, Lockerbie, Lockerbie North, Manor Lakes, Merrifield West and Rockbank North.

The Federal Government has announced the second round of funding of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) for Victoria, outlining nine major projects that will share in $38.9 million throughout the state.

The Western Australian Local government Association has announced it will be seeking feedback from the state’s local councils over the coming months to develop a suite of ideas to discuss with the State Government to deal with the spread of vicious dog attacks.

The Federal Government has announced the remaining $45 million funds from the solar Hot Ware Rebate Scheme will be used to support two separate national programs assisting local communities become more energy efficient.

The Victorian Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge, and Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, have addressed the Think Women for Local Government launch at the State Parliament in a bid to promote greater female participation in local government.

The City of Perth’s Heritage, Culture and The Arts Portal has won the People and Community category of the WA Spatial Excellence Awards.

The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) has hit out at the State Government’s ‘hidden’ Solid Waste Levy increase, describing it as a shameless grab for revenue.

The Municipal Association of Victoria has announced it has successfully negotiated a revised unit price with the State Government that reflects the cost of Maternal and Child Health services.

24 Mayors and councillors have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities at the Annual Conference of the Shires Association of NSW.

The Melbourne City Council has released the city’s new draft Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) for the final phase of public consideration prior to the Council’s Future Melbourne Committee considering it later this month for adoption.

The New South Wales Government has announced the release of its Destination 2036 Action Plan, which ‘sets out a new direction for local government in NSW’ and details how councils will deliver services to their communities in the future.

The Federal Government has announced a $66.6 million spending package for New South Wales under the second round of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).

The Federal Government has announced Queensland will receive $33.6 million to fund eight projects as part of Round 2 of the Regional Development Australia Fund.

The Victorian Government has announced it will roll out a ‘commonsense’ coastal planning framework after it released the Coastal Climate Change Advisory Committee Report.

Alice Springs has been nominated as a finalist in the local government category of the United Nations World Environment Day Awards for their Cash for Containers scheme.

The Western Australian Government has announced nearly $80 million in funding for the state’s nine ‘SuperTowns’ through the Royalties for Regions scheme. The funding will see the towns receive funding grants to upgrade community facilities, undertake environmental works and develop new investment opportunities.

A senate committee lead by former Federal Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has recommended the dropping of a bill that seeks to make a range of changes to planning requirements for mobile phone towers.

The University of Wollongong has launched its StartPad ideas incubator, a joint initiative with Wollongong City Council, NSW Trade & Investment, Enterprise Connect, and RDA Illawarra local business and entrepreneurs.

With initial funding of $50,000 from NSW Trade & Investment and Wollongong Council providing the space, in iHub, StartPad has also been supported by state and local governments.

Councillor Bradbery said: “The development and nurturing of companies in StartPad shows that Wollongong is developing as a city where companies and entrepreneurs can work innovative applications and tools to deliver new businesses and employment opportunities.

“Council is keen to see this area of the city cultivated to support entrepreneurs who have ideas and foresight,” Cr Bradbery said. “This is an opportune time to support a dynamic growth industry in our city.”

“We have a tidal wave of innovation going on and we need to get involved in this evolving digital age. We may become the ‘silicon beach’,” he said.

StartPad is a component of the iAccelerate program built around entrepreneurship and fast growth businesses. The program was developed by the University of Wollongong to position the Illawarra as the capital for ICT in NSW.

The driving force behind iAccelerate, Elizabeth Eastland, Innovation and Commercial Research Director at The University of Wollongong said: “iAccelerate and its associated programs represents a turning point in the industry profile of the Illawarra and will support the growing innovation ecosystem here.

“StartPad delivers real opportunities for companies identified through the Universities Entrepreneur Club, a pipeline of highly engaged and talented graduates into the Illawarra innovation ecosystem.”

Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, General Manager of StartPad said: “Already, in the short time we have been operating, we have seen our eight companies grow and achieve some big goals. Having 16 entrepreneurs co-located in an open-plan space makes for an amazingly vibrant and creative environment.”

A call for applications from early staged technology businesses to join StartPad will begin in mid-2012. For more information about StartPad go to www.startpad.com.au