Climate change, urban planning headline week's news

A parliamentary committee report, Managing Our Coastal Zone in a Changing Climate - the time to Act is Now, has been tabled. Among its 47 recommendations, it recommends that the Australian Government, in cooperation with state, territory and local governments, and in consultation with coastal stakeholders, develop an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on the Coastal Zone, that would be endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments. The IGA would seek to define the roles and responsibilities of each of the levels of government, and also develop agreed principles based on strategic regional coastal management and landscape/ecosystem coastal zone management. The report recommends the need to establish a national Coastal Zone Management Unit with the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and a national Coastal Advisory Council. Local government is acknowledged throughout the report as being at the front line of coastal management but lacks the capacity and resources to do everything that is required of it. "Councils need to develop clearly defined policies to deal with the impacts of climate change and make the risks of climate change impacts an explicit part of their decision-making criteria to assist in limiting their potential exposure to legal action," the report said. The report is available here.

Also this week, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced his Government's intention to engage in the strategic planning of Australia's major cities. At the centre of the new strategy is the development of national criteria for strategic planning across major cities. This criteria will for the first time link state strategies and the achievement of these state plans to the provision of future infrastructure funding from the Federal Government. The Prime Minister's speech is available here. ALGA has welcomed the idea of greater Commonwealth involvement in urban planning and development, having long-argued the need to have the three levels of government working together on the development of and implementation of strategic plans for cities.

Australian Sustainable Cities Awards

The City of Canada Bay, NSW, is the winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable Cities Awards, announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Senator Ursula Stephens and Keep Australia Beautiful National Chairman Don Chambers (pictured with Mayor Angelo Tsirekas) at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday.

Canada Bay's innovative projects include:

• Walk/Shop/Wheel program where the council distributes over 830 wheelie bags to those individuals who have committed to walking or riding to local shops. The program not only reduces carbon emissions, but encourages people to get fit at the same time.
• Powermates, on loan through local libraries, builds community awareness about the energy consumption of home appliances and of how this consumption can be minimised.
• The City of Canada Bay's Water Savings Action Plan, which was developed with a potable water use reduction target of 40%, particularly evident in Cintra Hockey Park, which has recycled over 6.5million litres of water in the past 18 months, and the Powell Creek Reserve Stormwater Harvesting project, which saves 2 million litres of water per annum.
• To reduce energy use in Canada Bay, solar lighting is installed in parks and a lighting management system at 17 local sports fields reduces energy use by 15% to 20%.

Other category winners at the Australian Sustainable Communities Awards can be found at www.kab.org.au

Talking websites

Nine other councils in Victoria's North-West have followed the City of Greater Bendigo's lead by installing software to make their websites talk.

The City of Greater Bendigo recently installed talking software on its website and has since worked with the Shires of Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander and the Rural City's of Swan Hill and Mildura to have the software installed.

The software reads website content aloud and highlights each word as it is spoken. This is of particular benefit to those with learning and literacy difficulties, dyslexia, mild visual impairments and to those who speak English as a second language.

City of Greater Bendigo Community Development Officer Maureen McMahon said the City of Greater Bendigo has been pleased to assist the nine council's to undertake a 12 month trial of the software.

Briefs

Rural health infrastructure funding

The Federal Government will inject a further $ 6.1 million to improve local health infrastructure in 40 rural and remote communities throughout Australia under the third round of the Government's National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program (NRRHIP). The program was set up as a result of advocacy by ALGA, the Rural Doctors' Association and other regional organisations which culminated in a policy document - Good Health to Rural Communities: a A10-Point Plan.

The projects announced include:

• $551,650 to build a primary health care centre in Lightning Ridge (NSW) and accommodate staff from the NSW Outback Division of General Practice.
• $286,550 to the Shire of Northampton in Kalbarri (WA) to extend a surgery to accommodate two consultant rooms, upgrade staff amenities and replace the building's roof.
• $163,471 to the Clocktower Medical Centre in Sale (VIC) to build student study rooms, instal videoconferencing equipment and purchase medical diagnostic equipment.

In January, 53 projects were funded through NRRI-IIP at a cost of $12 million and a further 40 projects costing $13.9 million were announced as part of the May 2009-10 Budget. A further 27 projects were funded through NRRHIP in June at a cost of $5 million.

A fourth funding round will be announced shortly. Further information on the program can be viewed here or on 1800 780 939 (free call).

Local Government Reform Fund

A reminder that state/territory governments and local government associations have until 30 November 2009 to submit project plans. The Fund is a $25 million Australian Government Initiative to support reform in local government. For details click here. Payments under the Reform Fund will be administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government via a National Partnership Agreement. Eligible projects will deliver substantial benefits to councils and their communities by way of supporting broader reforms such as asset and financial management, workforce planning, demographic change, climate change adaptation and increasing capacity and resilience - particularly in small, rural/remote and indigenous councils.

Food Regulation Minco

ALGA was represented at the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (ANZFRMC) meeting held in Brisbane on 23 October by Cr Sam Alessi, ALGA Board member. ALGA raised the need for local government to be consulted on food policy initiatives. Following the meeting it was announced that Dr Neal Blewett will be leading a food labelling law and policy review. The meeting also discussed trans fatty acids and saturated fats in the food supply, caffeinated energy drinks, and fortification of foods with vitamins and minerals. The link to the communique from the meeting is available here.

Stimulus package report

A Senate committee report on the stimulus package has recommended work be done now on how to cut back or postpone the remaining spending.

The report suggested reducing the spending, spreading it over a longer period of time, or making budget cuts elsewhere.

The Senate's Economics References committee was dominated by coalition members so it is no surprise it put forward the party view that stimulus should be wound back.

But the Greens and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon also lent some support to the notion of reconsidering the spending.

Greens leader Bob Brown called for "ongoing scrutiny" of the spending, while Senator Xenophon did not oppose an urgent independent report into reducing the spending.

Labor Senators issued their own report saying that stimulus spending should continue. The government arranged a multi-billion dollar package of spending, on measures like infrastructure, cash handouts, schools and ceiling insulation, to keep the economy kicking over as the financial crisis hit. But Australia escaped the worst of the crisis and there are now concerns the spending could fuel inflation and lead to higher interest rates. (AAP)

ETS update

The opposition won't confirm reports it has reached an agreement with Climate Change Minister Penny Wong to exclude agriculture from Labor's planned emissions trading scheme (ETS).

"I am not privy to the thinking of the minister," the opposition's emissions trading spokesman Ian Macfarlane told reporters on Thursday. "She hasn't told me that and, at the moment, we are continuing to negotiate." The permanent exclusion of agriculture from the government's carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS) is one of the coalition's key demands in return for Senate support.

Labor's plan is to exclude agriculture from its scheme initially, until 2015. What happens after that would be decided in 2013. 'The Australian' newspaper on Wednesday cited government sources as indicating it was considering a compromise package that tackled agricultural emissions in other ways. A vote on the once-rejected legislation will be taken when parliament sits again in November, setting up a possible showdown in the Senate. (AAP)

Garrett looks at arts future

At the National Press Club this week, Arts Minister Peter Garrett identified three key themes to be emphasised as part of a cultural policy framework: keeping culture strong, engaging the community, and, powering the young. "To facilitate a national dialogue on these complex and important issues I'm keen to hear people's view on the priorities for a national cultural policy," he said. "On my Department's website we have launched a new web forum which includes a discussion framework to help begin this dialogue. However we view and understand culture, and the relationship of arts to culture, the role of governments and the myriad of critical issues that flow around this subject, the opportunity is now there for a robust, freewheeling and substantial public discussion." More details here.

Swimming top of the pops

Swimming is still the most popular sport for kids, followed by soccer and Aussie Rules, according to a survey of children's cultural and leisure activities released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Almost one in five children (19%) between 5 and 14 years old participated in swimming, while 13% played outdoor soccer and 9% played Australian Rules football outside of school hours.

The ABS found that nearly two-thirds of all children participated in organised sport, with more boys (70%) playing sports than girls (56%). Children participated in organised sport on average 70 times during the year to April 2009.

Further details can be found in Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, April 2009 (cat. no. 4901.0), available for free download from the ABS website

Migration health rules

The Migration Committee of the House of Representatives is currently undertaking an inquiry into the way the immigration system treats disability.

Disability does not in itself mean that a person or a family will be refused a visa. However, as part of the health test, applicants with a 'disease or condition' are assessed on their potential cost and impact on Australian health and community services.

The Committee is examining whether decision-makers should be able to take into account a potential migrant's social and economic contribution as well as anticipated health care costs.

Committee Chair Michael Danby MHR wants to hear the views of people with a disability, employers, business organisations, disability and community services providers, and any other interested individuals or organisations. The Committee is also interested in hearing the stories of people who have had difficulties getting a visa due to a disability, disease or condition, or have a friend or family member with that experience.

If you are interested in participating in this inquiry or finding out more about it, visit the inquiry website or contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4560 or jscm@aph.gov.au. To read more, click here.

National apology

The Australian Government will formally apologise to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants at a special remembrance event in Canberra on 16 November 2009. Following the event, the apology, which has bipartisan support, will be tabled in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Federal Government is consulting with State and Territory Governments and past care providers in the development of the apology. To register interest in attending the remembrance event please call the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on 1800 634 147.

Closer planning ties in NSW

The Local Government and Shires Association and the Department of Planning have come together to formalise a closer relationship, signing a new consultation protocol agreement at the Local Government Conference in Tamworth. The Protocol is a significant step towards the strengthening of the relationship between the two authorities.

President of the Shires Association Cr Bruce Miller said that the protocol would improve local government's ability and opportunity to make significant feedback to changes that would have an impact on the way councils operate and represent their communities. "We congratulate the Department of Planning for agreeing to be a part of this landmark initiative," he said.

Train station recycling

Recycling bins installed at more than a hundred of Melbourne's busiest train stations have diverted thousands of kilograms of waste from landfill.

Since the launch of the recycling bin project just four months ago, more than 158,000 kilograms of paper, aluminium cans, and plastic and glass bottles have been recycled each month. Over a year, the benefit to the environment is equivalent to taking more than 1000 family sized cars off the road.

The $450,000 project is funded by Connex, with $100,000 funding from mX newspaper and $50,000 from the Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) of the Australian Food and Grocery Council. PSF General Manager Jenny Pickles said that this initiative was an important step for public place recycling in Victoria.

Wheelie bins

A proposal being considered by Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council, means that ratepayers would be entitled to an extra set of waste and recycle bins for every million dollars of property valuation.

Cr Paul Wormald, who proposed the change, said high-value residential and commercial properties often generated more waste than the one-bin-per-property system could accommodate. "I think it's very unfair and unreasonable to not let a person with a $2 million property have a second bin."

However, SA Federation of Residents and Ratepayers' Association president Kevin Kaeding said high-value properties did not necessarily produce more waste.

"Most of the public would believe there was an inequality (with the idea) if you have a higher value property, why get the luxury of having extra bins?" he said.

The Wormald proposal will be put to a vote at next month's council meeting.

Energy futures

The City of Greater Bendigo in partnership with Latrobe University have organised a two day conference that will consider our energy systems and future energy needs throughout regional Australia. The conference presenters will cover a broad range of topics from local generation, increasing electricity demands, our outdated and stressed energy distribution networks, to new technologies and regulatory requirements. A key theme will be around improving energy efficiency through Smart Grid and Intelligent Grid networks. More details here.

Governance panel

The Local Government Association of South Australia has announced the new six member independent Local Government Governance Panel.

The Panel will receive and assess allegations of inappropriate behaviour and governance practices by SA council members and provide advice to the LGA on governance practices within the local government sector.

LGA President, Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis said the panel would be an independent resource for councils to use to assist them to address complaints about the conduct of council members. "This may be where a councillor is perceived to be not operating within the spirit of the Local Government Act or inconsistent with a council's code of conduct," she said.

Councillor/developer contact code

A draft Code of Conduct now being considered by Queensland councils proposes high ethical standards for contact between councillors and developers, Local Government Association of Queensland president, Cr Paul Bell said.

"The LGAQ executive of 14 mayors and councillors representing all corners of the state believes the association's draft Councillor Code of Contact with Developers raises the bar in proposing voluntary higher standards which exceed those imposed by the Local Government Act," Cr Bell said.

"We are seeking feedback on the draft code from councils by the end of the month," he said. "We've always stood by the principles that the development application process is enhanced if councils' decisions are legal, ethical and impartial.

"Now, the LGAQ wants to ensure that community expectations in this regard are exceeded. We have a responsibility to the public to ensure that contact between developers and councillors to discuss potential and existing development applications is carried out ethically and transparently," Cr Bell said. A copy of the Code is available here.

Affordable housing

More houses are needed to help boost economic recovery and to create a lasting legacy of affordable homes, according to Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Speaking after a recent state and territory treasurers meeting in Canberra, Mr Swan said Australia wasn't building enough houses in terms of population growth.

Mr Swan said the treasurers had discussed social housing, development approval processes and the need for more to be done to improve rental affordability as well as what could be done to get private sector investment.

He said all of these issues stemmed from a lack of housing. "We have not been building enough houses," he said. "We do have strong population growth so it will be very important we move through to economic recovery to ensure that we don't have capacity constraints that flow from a shortage of housing."

"That is why we put significant resources into social housing as part of our stimulus plan, not just to create jobs for now, not just to support small business for now but also to leave a lasting legacy of more affordable housing." Mr Swan said the treasurers had also agreed to push forward a national uniform tradesmen licensing system.

Universal housing design

The Property Council of Australia with the support of the Residential Development Council took part in a forum with representatives from across the industry to discuss a national, harmonised approach to universal design for residential housing.

The event organised by Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten and Therese Rein brought together senior representatives from across the housing industry, disability access community groups and the Government to discuss ways to make universally designed homes more readily available and to educate the community about their benefits.

The participants at the meeting agreed that there was a clear need to codify a national approach to Universal Design.

It was agreed this approach would act to codify:

• The value of universal design to the community
• A definition and a set of principles of 'universal design'
• What its features are in relation to housing

Further there was a commitment from industry to participate in a high-level working party to achieve substantial progress within six months. The industry also agreed to work together with the disability access representatives to raise awareness, especially around education and training. Finally, as an aspirational goal it was viewed that all new homes will be of agreed universal design standards by 2020, with interim targets and earlier completion dates to be determined for some standards.