Archived News for Professionals in Local Government
A draft of the Productivity Commission’s Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation report has found that local governments are likely to play a leading role in the relation to key risks, including longer term sea level rise.
The report concludes that state and territory governments will need to support local governments in adapting to the effects.
The Commission will be holding public hearings in July and is seeking responses to its draft recommendations and a number of information requests contained in the draft report. A final report will be submitted to the Australian Government in September 2012.
Councils progress stormwater management plan
A stormwater management plan for the Brownhill and Keswick Creek catchments is a step closer following a strategy proposed by the Chief Executive Officers of the five catchment councils involved in the project.
NSW council code of conduct on display
The New South Wales Government has announced a final period of public consultation for the amended Model Code of Conduct for NSW Councils, which will aim to improve the standards of ethics and behavior that is expected of councillors and council staff.
Parramatta's smart card takes out top honours
Parramatta's smart card – ParraSync – has fought off heavyweight competition from the Commonwealth Bank and Google to win a major award at the Smart Card Awards Asia in Singapore.
Pay rises for NSW mayors and councillors
The New South Wales Government has announced remuneration packages for councillors and mayors, allowing rise by up to 2.5 per cent for the next financial year.
Victoria announces library funding
The Victorian Government has announced $12.7 million in spending for the state’s local libraries.
Congestion tax 'totally insulting' to Perth
A new CEDA paper is calling for Perth to consider congestion charging to avoid the gridlock strangling other Australian capital cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Landfill a moneymaker in carbon price scheme
The Federal Government has teamed up with the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to explain how landfill can be used to reduce pollution and earn carbon credits.
MAV releases draft Strategic Plan for 2012-13
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has requested public input over its recently released a draft copy of the proposed Strategic Plan for 2012-13.
Tasmanian water and sewerage governance working group starts
The working group tasked with considering governance issues associated with a possible move to a single water and sewerage corporation in Tasmania has met for the first time.
Councils concerned over Carbon Price
More than 100 delegates, representing more than 40 councils likely to be affected by carbon pricing have met in Canberra for the Carbon Price and Council Landfill National Forum to gain a better understanding of how to manage their responsibilities under the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Act.
Ararat review released
Victorian Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has released the quarterly report from the government-appointed Monitor overseeing the activities and performance of Ararat Rural City Council.
Crean calls for cooperation for Latrobe transition
Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean has called on local leaders to work cooperatively in the Latrobe Valley to help identify new opportunities to assist the area transitioning to a clean energy future.
Extra councillors for Melbourne
The Victorian Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has announced she has accepeted the recommendations of the final report of the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on its electoral represenations of the review of the Melbourne City Council.
Victoria calls for more women in local government
The Victorian Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, has opened the 2012 Australian Local Government Women’s Association with a call for more action to address the gender imbalance in local government.
LGAQ to blitz red tape
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has a red tape reduction task force in the wake of the recent state election.
ALGA to convene Carbon Price and Landfill National Forum
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency will convene the inaugural Carbon Price and Landfill National Forum on the 23 – 24th April, to help local government bodies better understand and meet their obligations under the Federal Government’s Carbon Price Mechanism.
Expert Local Government panel selected
The New South Wales Government has announced the three members of the independent expert panel that will be responsible for examining the structural arrangements of councils in the context of improving the financial sustainability and future viability of the NSW local government sector.
NSW dual roles prohibited
The New South Wales Government has passed legislation through Parliament that will ban the holding of dual roles of State MPs and local mayors and local councillors.
WA announces strategic planning reform
The Western Australian Government has introduced legislation that aims to allow local communities to have a greater say in neighbourhood development and long term strategic planning.