COAG and ACLG meet in Canberra

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd convened a Special COAG meeting yesterday to discuss measures to stimulate the domestic economy. ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake, who attended the meeting, welcomed the $42 billion stimulus package with its strong local government component and reassured the Prime Minister and State and Territory leaders that local councils stand ready and eager to play their part in the roll out the package. "The reasons for the downturn might have been created in financial centres far away, however the Australian response lies right here in the local roads, civic spaces and sporting fields of local communities across Australia," he said. Cr Lake said he will be writing to cross-bench senators to support the passage of the local government components of the bill. The full communique is available at www.coag.gov.au/

At the inaugural meeting of the ACLG Steering Committee also held yesterday in Canberra, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, who chaired the meeting, reinforced the important role that the Australian Government saw local government playing in seeking to address the considerable challenges facing the nation in light of the global financial crisis. He congratulated all councils across Australia for the efforts they have made in submitting their applications to receive funding through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP). Applications closed last week and Minister Albanese said he was thrilled to learn that every council in Australia was able to submit a credible proposal within the deadline. Some 3,600 practical projects were identified, and are now being efficiently assessed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The Minister is anticipating making the first announcements on successful candidates next week.

The Minister and the Steering Committee, which was attended by a cross section of local government interests, including representatives from various local government associations, were unanimous in acknowledging the impressive outcomes arising from last December's Local Government Constitutional Summit held in Melbourne. The Steering Committee also discussed progress in further establishing the Local Government Centre for Excellence and was briefed by the newly appointed General Manager of the Government's Major Cities Unit, located within Infrastructure Australia, Ms Dorte Ekelund, who said the MCU viewed local government as being one of their most important stakeholders and partners in re-establishing a national urban planning agenda. The Steering Committee meeting concluded with an in principle endorsement of an ACLG charter and operating arrangements. The next meeting of ACLG will take place in late June in Canberra, details to be advised.

Local government welcomes stimulus package

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has applauded the key role the Federal Government has identified for local government in its timely $42 billion stimulus package announced today.

ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake said: "With this second stimulus package, it is clear that the Australian government sees local government with our dispersed and localised networks as the best placed level of government to spend money quickly and at short notice throughout all local communities in Australia."

"At this time when the economy and our communities are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression we have to pull together and develop innovative solutions for the benefit of the nation. The $890 million for transport and community infrastructure announced today puts local government squarely at the front line of Australia's response to the global economic meltdown," he said.

The Federal Government has included additional funding in the package for a number of proposals made by ALGA in its Budget submission including:

• $90 million for an extra 350 accident black spots;
• $150 million for upgrading level crossings; and
• $500 million for community infrastructure such as libraries, town halls, community centres and sport centres.

The $500 million for community infrastructure builds on the announcement last year in November of $300 million in infrastructure funding for councils across Australia.

"This injection of additional funding for community facilities at the local level is without precedent and will mean a boost for jobs in local communities hit by the economic slowdown. It will also mean that projects previously unable to be afforded by councils will now be able to be delivered immediately.

"Local government also welcomes the $3.9 billion decision to provide free insulation for 2.7 million homes and to fund an increased rebate for solar hot water," Cr Lake said. "These decisions demonstrate that there can be benefits both for the economy and the environment from targeted investments.

"The Government can also be assured that local government will be doing all in our power to assist in the delivery of the $6.6 billion housing initiative by ensuring speedy planning approval of housing and other developments that form part of the stimulus package."

The Federal Government's $42 billion economic rescue package is likely to be amended by the Senate, a key cross-bench Senator told reporters in Canberra this morning. The government needs the support of the Greens and two cross-bench Senators to pass its package.

"At the very least you would expect that this package, if it is going to get passed, wouldn't get passed in its current form," Senator Nick Xenophon said. Senator Xenophon suggested it might be better to spend some of the money on fixing up the drought-ravaged Murray Darling Basin, temporary tax cuts, productive infrastructure, or improving water and electricity infrastructure.

A Senate inquiry into the package began on Thursday night and will run until Monday with the Senate voting on the package by midnight on Thursday. Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says the Government shouldn't spend more than $20 billion to boost the economy, and that Labor's package is irresponsible and unsustainable.

Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said he supported "greening up" the government's package with small scale projects like cycle lanes in cities that maintain local jobs.

(Pictured: Wonthaggi Library operated by Bass Coast Shire Council in Victoria occupies a 1920's heritage post office. As a growth seachange municipality, the building does not meet national library standards - public space is 120 sqm when it should be 900 and construction on a new site is locally supported.)

Interested in hosting a Broadband for Seniors kiosk?

NEC Australia is seeking expressions of interest from community organisations to host an internet kiosk as part of the roll-out of 2,000 internet kiosks for seniors funded by the Australian Government.

NEC Australia is calling on local community centres and organisations, including local government public libraries, who are interested in hosting a kiosk or who already provide similar services to seniors, to register their interest at www.necseniors.net.au.

The Broadband for Seniors forms part of the Australian Government measure 'Making Ends Meet - Plan for Older Australians, People with Disabilities and Carers, and aims to support community organisations to:

• build senior Australians' community participation and social inclusion by providing them with free access to computers and the internet via internet kiosks to stay in contact with family and friends, and
• provide senior Australians with free access to individual and workshop training to build their confidence and skills to use the internet and new computer technology.

NEC Australia and its consortium members, Adult Learning Australia (ALA), the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA) and the University of the Third Age Online (U3A Online) have been selected, by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, to deliver Broadband for Seniors.

For further information, the Broadband for Seniors hotline may be contacted during business hours on 1300 795 897.

From the President

Local government was at the centre of two significant meetings this week.

On Thursday morning I attended the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting to discuss the role that the states, territories and local government will play in the delivery of the Rudd Government's $42 billion fiscal stimulus package. ALGA is fortunate to have a place at the COAG table as a full member alongside the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders.

Taking place at the same time in a nearby room at Parliament House was the first meeting of the steering committee of the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG).

Minister for Local Government, Anthony Albanese, established the steering committee to continue the engagement, policy coordination and close cooperation which began at the mayors and shire presidents meeting last year. Due to COAG, unfortunately I was unable to attend the ACLG meeting but local government's interests were well looked after by the various other local government stakeholder representatives in attendance.

At the COAG meeting, I reassured the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders that local councils stand ready and eager to play our part in the roll out of the fiscal stimulus package. Local government across the nation welcomes the significant spending on road and community infrastructure that is at the centre of this package.

Local government appreciates the confidence that the Prime Minister and his government have shown in the capacity of our sector to deliver fast and effective results. With our grassroots network across every community in this country, councils are uniquely placed to achieve economic stimulus outcomes not possible at the national or state level.

The injection of $500 million into community facilities at the local level (in addition to the $300 million announced in November) is without precedent and will mean a boost for jobs in local communities hit by the economic slowdown. It will mean that previously unaffordable council projects such as libraries, town halls and sporting centres can now be delivered immediately.

For those of you who are a councillor or an officer of a council, I urge you to ensure that your council is doing everything it possibly can to play its part in the national stimulus effort. There is great potential for the decisions you make to support your local economy. As budget planning processes begin to kick in for the coming financial year, we must try our hardest to mimimise rate increases. Now is also the time to expand capital works programs, employ more local labour, support local business and reduce delays in development assessment processes. The Rudd Government has demonstrated its faith in the capacity of local government and now is the time for our sector to demonstrate that trust is well placed.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Quote of the week

"I love the competition, not only in tennis, but I love the competition in all aspects of life. When I compete I love to be there and fight always. Maybe I like more to fight for a win than to win."
Australian Open winner Rafael Nadal

International news  

The organisers of the 13^th International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) have announced that the 2009 Awards Finals will be hosted by a major European city currently staging a bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2015.

Following the success of LivCom 2008, which was held in Dongguan, China, this year's finals (8^th - 12^th October) move to Pilsen in the Czech Republic.

Founded in 1295 by King Wenceslas II of Bohemia at the confluence of four rivers, Pilsen is today the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic.

LivCom is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with which it shares a Memorandum of Understanding. LivCom is the only global event concerned with the promotion of International Best Practice relating to the management of the local environment. The scheme is run as a UK-registered charity.

LivCom Awards are made in three categories covering Whole City, Sustainable Projects and a Bursary Award which sees match funding of ?10,000 go to the winning project. Last year's winner in this category was Broadland, Norfolk, England.

A new country has been represented at the LivCom Awards in each of the past 12 years, and now more 50 countries are regularly represented. Political delegates confirm that being exposed to the presentations of cities from other countries and cultures has provided many policy ideas that could be effectively introduced in their own community.

Forthcoming events

For a full listing of forthcoming events, see ALGA's Events calendar.

• 15 - 16 February 2011 Behaviour Change Workshop with Doug McKenzie-Mohr
• 16 - 17 February 2011 Enabling meaningful change through community engagement
• 23 - 24 February 2001 Evolving Models of Governance and Accountability
• 25 February 2011 Future housing for older Australians
• 02 - 04 March 2011 Census | beyond the count
• 06 - 09 March 2011 PIA National Congress
• 09 - 11 March 2011 LGSA Tourism Conference 2011
• 21 - 23 March 2011 Industrial & commercial Waste Recycling 2011
• 28 - 29 March 2011 Traffic Theory workshop
• 30 - 31 March 2011 3rd Annual Water Leaders Congress