Archived News for Professionals in Local Government - GovernmentCareer

A forum of more than 70 leaders from metropolitan Local Governments has identified a preferred future for the sector that would reinforce strategic cooperation and could substantially reduce the number of Councils.

Organised by the WA Local Government Association, the forum included representatives from all but one of the State’s metropolitan Local Governments.

The forum was held to assist WALGA determine a sector-preferred model to include in its submission to the Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel. The State Government created the three-member Panel last June to consult and consider reform options with the specific requirement to reduce the number of Councils.

Forum participants considered four models ranging from a simple refinement of the current structure through to a single-council model but had a strong preference for the two models that reinforced strategic cooperation.

WALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard said the two preferred models would now be considered by the President’s Advisory Group to recommend a position for endorsement from the WALGA Zones and State Council and submission to the Panel.

“It is fair to say there was a significant diversity of opinion among the forum participants across all aspects of the review including the models that were presented and even to the need for a metropolitan review,” he said.

“There was a lot of concern about how to define a structure that deals not only with the current metropolitan population, but also has the scope and flexibility to adapt to significant population change over the next 50 years.

“While there remain those who question the underlying evidence of community and economic benefit in reducing the number of Councils, there is the reality that there is a formal process underway aimed at reducing Council numbers.

“We could decide to opt out of the process and lose the opportunity to contribute to the future of the sector, or we could do what we have done at this forum and take on the challenge of contributing to the process and finding the best possible outcome for our communities.”

Queensland LNP to hand local planning back to councils

Queensland Liberal & National Party Leader, Campbell Newman, has released the LNP Property and Construction Strategy which claims a LNP government would ‘re-empower’ local councils in making planning decisions.

Tasmanian councils trial mediation service for environmental disputes

A 12-month mediation service is being trialed in Tasmania to try to resolve environmental disputes over issues such as music and motorbike noise, smoke from wood fires and backyard burning, other air pollution sources, and water contamination.

Urban Policy Forum appointed

The Federal Government has established a new Urban Policy Forum which will advise the Government on the implementation of its National Urban Policy.

Reform Forum plots future of WA councils

A forum hosting over 70 leaders from metropolitan councils across Western Australia has met to identify a preferred future for the sector that may see a significant reduction in the number of council bodies.

NSW Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme opens

The New South Wales Government has announced that the state’s councils can now apply for subsidies offered under the $70 million Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme, which will aim to assist councils to pay for the upgrade and maintenance of infrastructure.

Report into NSW ROCs operations released

The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) and the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) have published a collaborative research study that compares the structures, operations and activities of various Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs) in New South Wales and similar groups in Western Australia.

Victoria announces $100 million for regional infrastructure

The Victorian Government has announced regional and rural councils will share in over $100 million for vital infrastructure in the first allocation round of the Local Government Infrastructure Program (LGIP).

Victoria reviews local laws covering building sites

The Victorian Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has released the Better Practice Building Site Management discussion paper which aims to reduce the regulatory burden faced by the building industry as a consequence of inconsistent local laws applying to building sites.

New Perth planning authority commences

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA), which will be responsible for urban renewal and revitalisation of Perth, commenced operations on January 1, 2012.

NSW's `Destination 2036' Draft Action Plan released

The NSW Government has released its ‘Destination 2036’ Draft Action Plan, setting out a process for the further consideration of issues identified at the Destination 2036 summit held in Dubbo in August 2011.

Grants for local uptake of NBN

Successful round one applicants under the Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs have been announced by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

The programs, which provide $13.6 million and $10 million in funding respectively, will enable local communities to take advantage of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The programs will deliver digital economy services in the five NBN mainland first-release sites and three stage one communities in Tasmania.

Local councils representing the first-release communities are developing project business cases for funding under round one of the $17.1 million Digital Local Government program, which will support councils to use the NBN to deliver enhanced online council services to residents and businesses.

Senator Conroy also called for applications from local organisations for round two of the Digital Hubs, Digital Enterprise and Digital Local Government programs to deliver services under these programs in the next 19 communities to benefit from the NBN.

The Digital Hubs program provides funding of $13.6 million to help communities gain skills needed to maximise the benefits provided by the NBN. It will provide training in digital literacy and the opportunity to experience NBN-enabled services and technology.

The Digital Enterprise program provides funding of $10 million to local service providers to assist small-to-medium enterprises and not-for-profit organisations to provide group training seminars as well as one-on-one advice on how participants can use the NBN.

Constitutional Recognition report released

Local Government Minister Simon Crean has released the report by the independent Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government.

City of Sydney reports record e-waste recycling

The City of Sydney has reported a record number of residents taking part in the last electronic waste collection for the year, with over 20 tonnes of old televisions, computers, mobile phones and electronic devices handed in.

New reporting requirements on public interest disclosures for NSW councils

The New South Wales Government has advised councils of new reporting requires under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994 which sets out a framework for protecting public officials who disclose wrongdoing in accordance with the Act.

WA deal to use building waste for roads

A new agreement has been finalised between Main Roads WA and the WA Waste Authority that could see more than one million tonnes of recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste diverted from landfill and used to build roads.

Plans for Docklands civic hub unveiled

Plans for a proposed civic hub for Melbourne’s Docklands have been released including an estimated $12.7 million library.

To be delivered through a partnership model comprising Places Victoria, the City of Melbourne and Lend Lease, the centrepiece of the proposed civic hub, to be known as Dock Square, is a library and community centre, subject to planning approval.

Located at the intersection where Collins Street will meet Bourke Street, the proposed library and community centre is designed to become a meeting place where the Docklands community can access a range of resources and activities.

The Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy said the plans demonstrated strong, long-term partnerships between State and local government and the private sector, a key ingredient for any urban renewal project.

Throughout 2011, City of Melbourne and Places Victoria sought input from the Docklands community to inform how planning, development and community activity should be supported in the next decade.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the proposed location of the building was ideal and would be the cornerstone of a range of community infrastructure to be delivered in this part of Docklands.

Construction of the library and community centre is anticipated to commence in April 2012, subject to planning approval, and is due for completion by mid 2013.

Queensland releases Greenspace Strategy

The Queensland Government has releaseds its Greenspace Strategy 2011-2020, aiming to assist the State Government in reaching its target of 50 per cent increase in land protected for conservation and recreation.

LGSA pushes for deposit schemes

The Local Government and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA) has continued to push for the establishment of a Container Deposit Scheme.

Agreement to bolster regional Queensland

Federal Minister for Local Government and Regional Australia Simon Crean and Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will seek to support the state’s regions currently experiencing infrastructure, skills and unemployment pressures.