From the President

This week's federal budget revealed what everyone already suspected: there will be a significant reduction in Commonwealth taxation revenue over the next four years, our economy will contract in 2009-10, the Australian budget is in deficit and will that way for some years to come and there is only limited scope for new spending.

At a time when nearly all Australians and all levels of government are struggling to make ends meet, local government can be pleased that our levels of federal government funding have been maintained in this budget. Other areas of government have not been as fortunate.

Financial assistance grants, which are critical to our ability to deliver the services and support communities need, have been increased in real terms which is consistent with our expectations. The Government has responded to some of the pressures being faced by councils and will make the first quarter payment for 2009-10 before the end of this financial year. We welcome this initiative.

There are other components of the budget of relevance to local government. The new Disaster Resilience Australia funding will strengthen efforts to combat manmade and natural threats and disasters across Australia, including support for disaster mitigation works like flood levees and fire breaks. This responds to ALGA's budget submission which called on the Government to continue the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program. We are pleased that local government's view has been adopted.

The new Healthy Communities program, which focuses on community-based interventions to improve health, nutrition, activity levels, and reduce smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, will be managed by local government organisations throughout Australia.

The Australian Government's commitments to further its nation building infrastructure commitments will also benefit local and regional communities through enhanced transport networks, promotion of more efficient freight and passenger movements and enhanced safety. Local government supports this important nation building infrastructure as it will help keep members of our communities in jobs, support families, help to grow the economy and position Australia to take full advantage of the economic recovery when it arrives.

Local government is in a position to play a direct role in supporting the economy through the renewal and establishment of local community infrastructure. Building and renewing critical infrastructure like community centres, town halls, parks and playgrounds, pools and sporting facilities is critically important. When people lose their jobs, they look locally for support and recreational opportunities to provide some solace from their difficult circumstances.

Although there has not been a commitment of any additional money in the budget for further community infrastructure spending beyond what has already been announced in the stimulus spending, we are hopeful that this area will be considered as an annual program for inclusion in next year's budget. With an infrastructure spending backlog of $14.5 billion across Australian councils, more assistance is needed in future years.

Local government is all about people and fostering vibrant communities where people live. All councils would like to do more for our communities, especially in these tough times. We have been fortunate to have received an extra $800 million from the Government outside of a budget process for community infrastructure and to have retained our current levels of funding from the federal government. One of ALGA's key priorities over the coming 12 months will be pressing the case for an annual community infrastructure program and an increase to the recurrent funding of local councils.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Services for veterans

The Australian Government is allocating $9.4 million in additional funding to boost mental health services for veterans and ex-serving personnel, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced.

The Government has accepted all of the recommendations of the Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service Community, which was released. The study was a 2007 election commitment by the Rudd Government, and was undertaken by Melbourne University public health specialist Professor David Dunt. The study examined broad issues of suicide in the ex-service community and a number of specific cases of suicide in the past three years.

Urban design award

Have you been involved in a recent project demonstrating excellence and innovation in all elements of urban design? Are you aware of any recent Australian urban design initiatives, projects or developments that deserve national recognition?

Nominations are now open for the 2009 Australia Award for Urban Design and it's your opportunity to highlight leading examples of urban design in Australia.

The Award was established to recognise recent urban design projects of high quality in Australia and to encourage cities, towns and emerging settlements of all sizes to strive similarly for improvement. It acknowledges the critical role of good urban design in the development of our cities and towns. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is patron of the Award.

Nominations close 26 June 2009. Details can be found here.

Local Government Awards

Entries into the Heart Foundation Local Government Awards 2009 close on Friday 5 June and not only do you have the chance of receiving recognition from the Heart Foundation but you could also receive part of the $34,000 in cash awards.

Local Government initiatives that build a sense of community, encourage people to be active, be smoke free and make healthy food choices are encouraged to enter.

Community groups, schools health and community organisations and private industries that work with Local Governments are also strongly encouraged to enter.

The 2009 awards program has six categories:

• Employee Health and Wellbeing
• Facilities
• Healthy Weight
• Planning for Active Living
• Priority Groups
• Tobacco

For an entry form or information about the 2009 awards click here or call 1300 36 27 87.

Working at home: ABS

Almost a quarter (24% or 2.4 million) of people employed in November 2008 worked some hours at home in either their main or second job, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

'Catching up on work' was the main reason given and this was reported by over one-third (34%) of people who worked at home in their main or second job, followed by 'wanting an office at home/no overheads/no rent' (22% of people).

Men who worked some hours at home were most commonly managers or professionals (both 31%), followed by technicians and trade workers (18%); women who worked some hours at home were most likely to be professionals (39%) followed by clerical and administrative workers (23%). The survey is available at www.abs.gov.au.

Women's representation

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has joined Local Government Association of Tasmania President Mike Gaffney to unveil a new program that aims to increase the number of women standing at the 2009 Tasmanian local government elections.

The program was launched at a meeting of the Premier's Local Government Council (PLGC) in Hobart.

"Only 23.7 per cent of Tasmanian councillors are women and I think we need to do what we can to increase that number.

"That is why the Premier's Local Government Council has agreed today to lead a project to encourage more women to stand in council elections this year" Mr Bartlett said.

LGAT President Mike Gaffney welcomed the appointment of Southern Midlands Mayor Deidre Flint and Devonport Mayor Lynn Laycock as champions for the campaign.

Mr Bartlett said that increasing women representation and the partnership agreement program were both important to good governance in Tasmania.

"I look forward to working with local government to deliver these programs that will make an important contribution to a vibrant and truly representative local government sector."

Community infrastructure projects

Over $2.6 million to help redevelop Old Melville Primary School, $2.7 million for a new public library in Whyalla and $2.5 million towards the Port Pirie cultural precinct are all projects announced by Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese and Parliamentary Secretary Gary Gray recently as part of the Government's $800 million Community Infrastructure Program. Details can be found here.

Indigenous stores

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs will hold public hearings in Canberra to learn more about store governance and food security in remote communities. In most Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander remote communities the local store is owned by a community corporation. The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) supports and regulates the incorporation of many of these organisations. Dates of hearings can be viewed here.

PC drought review

The Productivity Commission has released its final report from its public inquiry into the government drought support arrangements in Australia. The Commission had been asked to identify the most appropriate way for governments to assist farmers, farm businesses and farm dependent rural small businesses improve their self-reliance and preparedness for drought events. The final report is available here.

Partisan planning panels

New Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs) will leave residents out of major planning decisions and are likely to make the planning system more costly, time consuming and confusing, says the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW.

The Panels, introduced by NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally, will come into force on July 1, and will determine most developments over $10 million as well as community infrastructure and so-called ?ecotourism? developments over $5 million.

President of the Local Government Association Cr Genia McCaffery says it's difficult to see what benefits these Panels will bring to the development process.

"The Panels will cost an extra $3.5 million per year in sitting fees and travel expenses alone - which will have to come from already-stretched council budgets, or added to development application fees," said Cr McCaffery.

"The Panels will have three State Government appointed members, including the Chairperson, and only two appointed by the local council where the development is located - meaning residents have a minority voice in the decisions.

President of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce Miller, says JRPPs will make the planning process more time consuming. "According to the Department of Planning's latest figures, 75% of councils took less than 40 days to determine all DAs. JRPPs will just add more time to this process."

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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT FOR PARTICIPATION IN REFRIGERATOR DECOMMISSIONING PILOT PROGRAM

Councils, waste transfer stations and private companies providing kerbside waste collection services are sought as participants in a six-month refrigerator decommissioning pilot program. The program, led by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, aims to collect data and maximise the refrigerant recovered from domestic refrigerators collected during kerbside pickups or deposited at waste transfer stations.

The department will provide funding for the necessary equipment and training to enable two members from each of eight councils or companies to remove the refrigerant from refrigerators at the kerbside and/or at waste transfer stations.

Participants must meet the ongoing costs of the program for the six-month period and report every two months on the number of refrigerators decommissioned and the quantity of gas recovered.

For further information, including eligibility and selection criteria please refer to the department's website: www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere
/ozone/index.html

Please submit an expression of interest addressing the eligibility and selection criteria to rac@environment.gov.au or to:

Refrigerator Decommissioning Pilot Program
Ozone and Synthetic Gas Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Submissions close at 5pm AEST on 29 May 2009.

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BENCHMARKING BEST PRACTICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2009

Wednesday 8^th - Thursday 9^th July
Novotel Brighton Beach, Sydney

Local government CEOs, General Managers and senior directors of Australia's most innovative councils will address the 2009 Benchmarking Best Practice in Local Government national conference.

Building on the success of last year's inaugural Best Practice conference, the conference will provide local government managers with detailed insights into innovative and successful management tools being used by Australia's leading councils to cut costs, increase organisational efficiency, and optimise the delivery of services to their communities. Topics will include staff productivity, organisation development, financial and asset management, and risk management.

Speakers at this year's conference will include:

• John Burgess, General Manager, Auburn Council
• Graeme Emonson, CEO, Knox City Council
• Geoff Lake, President, Australian Local Government Association
• Lyn Russell, General Manager, City of Wagga Wagga
• David Evans, General Manager, Maitland City Council
• Phil Rowland, CEO, Mount Alexander Shire
• Alexis Hunt, Coordinator People & Change, Gold Coast City Council
• Andrew MacLeod, Chief Internal Auditor, Brisbane City Council

In recognition of the role of the Best Practice Conference as a key national forum for discussions on local government innovation and best practice, this year's conference will be followed on July 10 by a meeting of the councils participating in the Local Government Business Excellence Network, which will also be held at the Novotel Brighton Beach.

The conference agenda is available at www.halledit.com.au/bestprac09/agenda.

For more details, phone Hallmark Conferences on (03) 8534 5000, email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

The next big question

Local governments have been urged to think about what is the next big question. What do you think? Is it providing infrastructure and services for our ageing population, improving democracy through reform of our Constitution? Local government is urged to have its say on the Australia 21 website at www.australia21.org.au

Australia 21 has launched a two year project to spark people's thinking on how they want to position Australia for the future. Australia 21 is a non-profit organisation headed by a group of scientists and academics. At a launch of the project in Canberra recently at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Australia 21 Chairman Professor Bob Douglas said the project was about engaging Australians in an informed debate to shape future directions - and debate has begun. Former Australian of the Year, Professor Fiona Stanley, said she believed we needed to change the way Australia values its children and young people to enable full social and civic participation. Nobel Prize laureate Professor Peter Doherty nominated sustainability of resources as the most important issue. 20-year old Tom Sloan from ACT SEE-Change network, provided the youth perspective and said that many young people questioned whether they were seriously listened to and an atmosphere needed to be created of empowerment so that positive solutions can be found to the issues confronting Australia such as building identity, climate change, obesity, stress and over-work related disease. Professor Penny Sackett, the Chief Scientist for Australia asked: Can we construct and economic systems that are more stable and equitable, feed increasing urban populations, increase health and well being and reverse the devastating effects of climate change? She said that science could assist in finding solutions but engagement was needed between science, society and government so that humanity can mobilise the talent and research to work across all boundaries to find and implement sustainable solutions. The final speaker at the event, Professor Frank Fenner, nominated climate change as the next big question.

Local Government training package

A project to review the LGA04 Local Government Training Package (Version 2) is scheduled to commence in the next few weeks. Stakeholders will be advised of any consultation activities through the weekly email bulletin and direct email from the project technical consultants.

Government Skills Australia hosted a briefing for representatives of the State Training Authorities, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Quality Assurance Panel in Melbourne on Tuesday 5 May 2009. Delegates discussed the range of Training Package continuous improvement projects proposed by Government Skills Australia, including the timelines and scope.

A project webpage to support the LGA04 Local Government Training Package (Version 2) - Continuous Improvement Project 2009 has been created. This page will host the Project Plan and will be updated as work progresses on the various sub-projects identified. Click here to access the Project Plan webpage. There have been some minor technical difficulties associated with the webpage - please be assured these are being addressed by the webhosts.

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to register their interest to be involved in the 2009 project by clicking here.

LGPMC

ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake attended the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council (LGPMC) in Sydney last Friday. The LGPMC was chaired by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese. The Council considered a number of issues including progress on Development Assessment Reform, implementation of the local government infrastructure elements of the Federal Government's economic stimulus packages, and the local government component of the recently announced Jobs Fund Initiative which includes $150 million for Infrastructure employment Projects and $40 million for the National Bike Paths Program. Minister Albanese highlighted the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) agreement that a Taskforce will examine strategic planning frameworks to ensure they support integration of state and national infrastructure in major cities with land-use planning and urban development. The Council also undertook to develop state-specific climate change planning policies to inform local governments and regional planning response to climate change in collaboration with other agencies. The LGPMC discussed concerns about changes to planning and zoning laws advocated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). On the issue of affordable housing, a progress report is accessible via the LGPMC website

Importantly, from a local government perspective, Cr Lake briefed Ministers on our progress to date on constitutional reform to include local government in the Constitution. Constitutional recognition is on the agenda for discussion at the Australian Council of Local Government meeting on 25 June and the forthcoming National General Assembly on 21-24 June in Canberra.

Austroads Publications

The following technical reports have been published and are available for download from Austroads.

• AGAM02/09 - Guide to Asset Management Part 2: Community and Stakeholder Requirements
• AGAM08/09 - Guide to Asset Management Part 8: Asset Valuation and Audit
• AGPT07/09 - Guide to Pavement Technology Part 7: Pavement Maintenance
• AP-T132/09 - Preparation of Asphalt Samples for Testing
• AP-T133/09 - Intelligent Transport Systems and Variable Message Signs for Road Safety Applications: Current Status and Future Prospects
• AP-T134/09 - Development of a Best Practice Intervention Model for Recidivist Speeding Offenders
• AP-T135/09 - Evaluation of the Safety Impact of centre-of-the-road Wire Rope Barrier (WRB) on undivided Rural Roads
• AP-T136/09 - Heavy Vehicle Safety in Rural and Remote Areas
• AP-R338/09 - Network Operations Planning Framework

Copies are available from the Austroads website.

Council staff can obtain free PDF copies of all Austroads publications by using their Council ID and password. These can be obtained by emailing a request to austroads@austroads.com.au

$10.3 million boost for volunteering

Local councils are among fifty Volunteer Resource Centres around Australia benefiting from $10.3 million in Australian Government funding to support a skilled, well-trained and well-resourced volunteer workforce.

This investment will enable Volunteer Resource Centres to expand their important work. Nationally, more than five million people volunteer their time to a range of organisations. Volunteering makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy and has an estimated value of around $42 billion annually. Details can be found here

Creative scholarships

Realise Your Dream is a British Council award offering five creative Australians $8000, a return flight to the UK and a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with leaders in their chosen field. They are looking for the best up and coming artists, musicians, designers, producers, directors, writers, curators, editors and more. Realise Your Dream offers the chance to work with industry leaders in the UK, build skills and networks and expand creative horizons. Applicants who show innovation and leadership in their field, can demonstrate their creative potential and a clear vision for why they'll benefit from connecting with Britain's best are encouraged to apply before the deadline of 3 July 2009. www.realiseyourdream.org.au

Industry Skills Councils

Service Skills Australia and Government Skills Australia are calling for workers in the local government industry to participate in a survey and contribute to the future direction of accredited training in Australia.

In 2008, Service Skills Australia conducted an online survey in which 90% of respondents stated that their business provides on-the-job training. But do employers and workers have different views on what training really means? Service Skills is seeking to answer this question, and explore how workers benefit from training.

The survey will provide information to the service industries about the value and uptake of on-the-job training and the awareness of accredited qualifications and certificates.

Participants have the chance to go in the draw to win a $250 gift voucher.

To participate click here.

Plant Health

For the first time Australia has a single document that provides a concise overview of its plant health system. The National Plant Health Status Report has just been published by Plant Health Australia (PHA), the lead coordinating body for plant biosecurity in Australia.

The 180 page report provides a wealth of information covering the plant pests of greatest concern to Australian industries, the organisations and processes involved in keeping Australia's agricultural and forestry industries free from pests, and innovative plant health research projects currently being undertaken by Australian research organisations and universities. It is a consolidated snapshot of the system that protects Australian agricultural and forestry industries, worth more than $20 billion a year, from exotic pests and diseases.

A copy of the National Plant Health Status Report is available on the PHA website

Social inclusion website

The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, recently launched the new look Social Inclusion Website. The website is aimed at helping people across all levels of government, the not-for-profit sector, business and the general community access information on the Social Inclusion Agenda in an easily accessible and informative format.

National Reconciliation Week

Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) (27 May - 3 June 2009) celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is the ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) this year is 'See the person, not the stereotype'. Posters are available for you to use to promote NRW. If you would like to order some simply fill out this form and we will post them to you.

For more information on what's happening for NRW in your area visit your state reconciliation council website.

If you're organising an event, in NRW or any other time of the year please list it on our Online Events Calendar.

Tough anti-smoking laws for WA

West Australians could be fined up to $2000 for smoking at the beach or in cars carrying children within weeks under tough new laws which passed the Lower House of Parliament.

The Bill would also spell the death of almost all cigarette advertising, with displays banned in all shops except specialist tobacco retailers such as cigar stores.

In a compromise deal, Health Minister Kim Hames said the Liberal-Nationals Government would support independent MP Janet Woollard's Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, after changes that watered down a plan to ban smoking in licensed outdoor areas of hotels.

The deal will allow smoking in up to half of these areas.

But smoking would be banned in alfresco areas of restaurants and cafes, in cars carrying children under 17 years, within 10m of playgrounds and between the flags at beaches.

Police or council rangers would take details of people breaking the laws and send them to the Health Department, which would decide whether to issue a warning, a $200 initial fine or a fine of up to $2000 for repeat offenders.

Bindarri creative website

A new website has been developed for artists and designers working for 'positive change' in Australia. Bindarri includes the largest online directory of Australian designers, as well as essential resources to assist others seeking to positive social and environmental outcomes. The website showcases leading creative individuals and organisations in special features that will be released bi-monthly. The first edition includes couture designer Rachael Cassar, photographer Rodney Dekker and artist Van Thanh Rudd, amongst others. Positive change for Bindarri may range from people working on personal and local community projects to global environmental and social issues.

Visit the website

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Third Australian Small Bridges Conference 2009

A conference focusing on Small, Medium and Local Bridges

July 7-8, Powerhouse Museum, Darling Harbour

Australia has over 30,000 small to medium-sized bridges on our road network alone, with thousands more for pedestrian, stock and rail use, and many are near the end of their structural life and need urgent attention.

Following on from the highly successful Small Bridges Conferences in 2005 & 2007, the Australian Small Bridges Conference 2009, at the Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour, has been designed to alert bridge and road engineers, managers, councilors, suppliers and contractors to significant new developments and requirements for small to medium span bridges. The conference program has been designed to provide delegates with the latest information and insights in dealing with the maintenance, refurbishment, design or construction of small to medium bridges. The speaking program is diverse with managing timber bridges and pedestrian bridges being particular features.

Topics include:

• TIMBER BRIDGE INSPECTION
• TIMBER BRIDGE RESTORATION
• BRIDGE INVESTIGATION & EVALUATION
• PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES
• ELEVATED BOARDWALKS
• VIEWING PLATFORMS
• AESTHETICS OF BRIDGES
• BRIDGE INNOVATIONS
• SPECIAL PRESENTATION: A Career in Bridges
• STEEL BRIDGES
• MODULAR BRIDGES
• BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
• BRIDGE MAINTENANCE
• REPAIR & STRENGTHENING
• RAILWAY BRIDGES
• CASE STUDIES

Conference convenor, Scott Matthews, BEng said that experienced international bridge experts will present their research to the conference. Local government case studies will include Gold Coast City , Melbourne City Council, Corangamite Shire, Brisbane City Council, together with projects in National Parks, Rail Reserves and for State Road Authorities.

To review the full speaker list at the conference and to register please visit www.halledit.com.au/bridges09 or tel Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5021 or
Email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au