Impacts of climate change on coastal communities

The Federal Government has appointed ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake to a seven-member Coasts and Climate Change Council to be chaired by Professor Tim Flannery. The Council will engage with the community and stakeholders and advise the Government in the lead up to a Coastal Climate Change Forum, to be held in early 2010. This Forum will bring together all levels of government to develop a strategy for coastal adaptation.

Cr Lake said the creation of the reference panel was timely given that the impacts of climate change, especially from rising sea levels, were going to be of great significance for local communities in the coming decades. 'With the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation before the Senate next week, there is much debate and action around this issue for local government," he said. "Councils do not have the resources to deal with problems such as erosion and rising sea levels on their own. Developing fair and comprehensive solutions requires the combined efforts of all levels of government. We need a consistent approach to issues such as coastal protection, insurance and planning changes."

The announcement was made by the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, on Saturday at the release of a new report mapping the impacts of climate change on Australia's coastal communities. The report - Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts - is the first continental scale mapping of residential buildings at risk from climate change. It also details the risks to coastal infrastructure, services and industry in Australia as a result of climate change.

Senator Wong said many coastal communities were vulnerable to impacts such as sea inundation and erosion. The report shows between 157,000 to 247,600 existing residential buildings will be at risk from sea inundation by 2100, under a sea-level rise scenario of 1.1m.

"This report highlights the need for planned, coordinated action to help manage the risks," the Minister said. "State and local governments, business and communities will all need to play a major part to prepare for unavoidable climate change impacts." Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts - A First Pass Assessment is available from the Department of Climate Change web site

Draft national guidelines for wind farms

The Environmental Protection and Heritage Council is releasing for public feedback draft National Wind Farm Guidelines which cover all phases of wind farm development. Submissions from local government will be welcomed. ALGA through its membership of the EPHC Working Group has been involved in developing the guidelines which include technical components covering: shadow flicker; noise, including prediction and post-construction monitoring of noise; impacts on landscapes; impacts on birds and bats; and electromagnetic interference. The draft guidelines and submission template can be found here. Submissions should be sent to: Ms Susan Whitehead, Project Support Officer, NEPC Service Corporation, Level 5 81 Flinders Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000 or swhitehead@ephc.gov.au. Submissions are due by COB, Wednesday 16 December 2009.

Councils praised for chemical recycling

The Board of AgStewardship Australia has praised local government's contribution and support of the drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs in enabling more than 18,000 tonnes of agvet chemical container waste and over 175,000 kg/lt of unwanted or expired hazardous chemicals to be safely diverted from landfill. "The partnership with local government has been a cornerstone to the success achieved by agribusiness stewardship programs. Without the support and commitment of rural and remote councils the in-roads achieved in managing hazardous waste from primary producers would not have been possible," the Chairman of AgStewardship Australia Limited (AgSAL), Mr Lauchlan McIntosh said after the October Board meeting of the company.

As a signatory to the Industry Waste Reduction Scheme through the auspices of ALGA, local government has participated in the drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs since 1999. Its role has included establishing collection points, promoting the program, organising collections, providing staff to inspect containers and supplying data on the drums collected. drumMUSTER has supported councils through funding compound construction, inspection labour costs and advertising. Participating councils have also undertaken to use crop production and animal health products in returnable or recyclable containers, or use drumMUSTER participating chemical manufacturers. Over 400 councils participate in the drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs. More information from Karen Gomez at 02 6283 8120.

(Photo: Lauchlan McIntosh, with Michael Tucket (left) and Laurie Warren from Mackay Regional Council. Michael and Laurie have been involved in drumMUSTER since its inception 10 years ago. In that time they have assisted nearly 1,000 farmers in returning their drums.)

This week, I would like to reflect on a speech made recently by the head of the Australian Public Service (APS), Terry Moran AO, on the importance of the Commonwealth working with the community sector to deliver sound national policies and effective programs. This is because many of the reasons identified by Terry Moran to promote stronger collaboration between the APS and the third sector equally apply in my view to the reasons why the APS should also work more closely with local government.

In his speech to the Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management 2009 Annual Conference on 28 October 2009, Terry Moran examined the question 'can government respond and meet expectations?' His presentation focused on government at the national level.

Terry Moran refers to the strength of government being in the design of standard entitlements that are universal in their application and delivering programs. He indicates that the Commonwealth APS could learn a lot from the community sector in these areas, and that a strong relationship with the community sector is essential to achieving its objectives.

Of course, the underlying principle of the message also has relevance to the other levels of government in Australia. Local government for one, has already recognised the value of actively engaging the community sector in local public policy and administration. In my view, all three levels of government should welcome the opportunity to work with and consult community organisations to achieve better outcomes for all Australians, no matter where they live.

There is much in Terry Moran's speech that local government can identify with. Referring to the relative advantages of the community sector compared to those of the Commonwealth government and the APS that serves it, Terry Moran comments that the community sector is characterised by 'passion for the cause' which 'put[s] the citizen at the centre of [its] work' and which 'has an exceptional capacity to be flexible, innovative and to develop strong relationships that give citizens a sense of ownership'.

The community sector plays a vital role in the lives of many Australians, especially those who are vulnerable and at risk. I support moves by all levels of government to foster closer ties with the community sector to deliver sensible and well-targeted programs that meet the needs of communities. But local government shares the same characteristics as those nominated by Terry Moran of the community sector, and surely merits similar recognition.

Being uniquely positioned at the heart of local communities, local government continuously strives to improve its performance and achieve real outcomes for the local and regional communities it serves. In recent years, local government has lobbied hard, through ALGA, for: dedicated Roads to Recovery funding from the Commonwealth to help save lives and boost local productivity, adequate funding to assist local councils to reinvest in much-valued local community infrastructure that forms the backbone of local communities everywhere and for a more certain position in our nation's federation through advocating reforms to Australia's constitution.

Unrepresentative local governments inevitably fail in Australia because they do not deliver effectively for their local constituents. It is therefore a constant imperative on every elected member of local government to, and be seen to be, consultative, transparent and accountable.

The similarities that can be drawn between local government and the community sector's characteristics as presented by Terry Moran come at a timely point. The Prime Minister has assured us that local government matters to him and to his government and he is clearly concerned to ensure a stronger working partnership is struck with our sector. Local government would like to see even more consultation between the Commonwealth and local government and would welcome the opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the APS through, for example, allowing APS employees to be seconded to local government to gain an experience in our sector.

It will be interesting to see the extent to which local government features in the forthcoming recommendations that Terry Moran's Advisory Group on Reform of Australian Government Administration will make to the Prime Minister, to help deliver on his vision of the APS as 'the best public sector anywhere in the world'. Submissions on its discussion paper are due by the end of November 2009 and ALGA will be maintaining a strong interest in developments. Further information on the review and discussion paper is available here.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

An Indigenous communications framework

On Thursday 12 November 2009, ALGA attended the 17th meeting of the Online and Communications Council. ALGA was represented by Cr Paul Braybrooks, Mayor of the Shire of Cootamundra (NSW) and Chair, Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC).

At the meeting, which was held in Alice Springs and hosted by the Northern Territory Government, members considered a report on the progress made by all jurisdictions towards connected government, and possible new initiatives that can be taken forward in 2010. 'Connected government' is essentially based on the principle that governments should be focused on the citizen and help ensure that through technology, citizens only need to tell government a piece of information once. Some initiatives that officials supporting the work of the OCC are to examine in 2010 include common approaches by the jurisdictions to teleworking, and a consistent approach to the way that governments use names to identify an individual.

In addition, the Framework for the provision of communications services to Indigenous communities was endorsed by the OCCC as a statement of joint commitment to address communications issues in Indigenous communities. The Framework, which was developed in consultation with jurisdictions and ALGA, highlights the availability, affordability and use of communications services in Indigenous communities, particularly in those located in remote and very remote parts of Australia, as areas requiring coordinated action across all levels of government.

Members made a commitment to work together to deliver improved communications services to Indigenous communities through identification of an agreed set of communication service standards and exploration of appropriate and affordable communication products and services. The Framework can be downloaded here.

ALGA is currently liaising with its member local government associations to help identify barriers to the use and take up of communications in Indigenous communities in order to help identify potential solutions. Should your council wish to contribute feedback on these issues, please contact Larissa Karpish at the ALGA Secretariat. A copy of the OCC communique from the meeting can be accessed here.

Fibre in Greenfields

On 17 November 2009, ALGA attended the third meeting of the Fibre in Greenfields Stakeholder Reference Group. The Reference Group, of which ALGA is a member, was established by the Australian Government in August 2009 to help advise on implementation of the policy to have fibre-to-the-premises installed in greenfield and other property developments. The Group has 29 representatives including all levels of government, telecommunications carriers, the property development industry and consumer groups.

At the meeting, which is chaired by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (the Department), members were advised that the Australian Government remains committed to legislation to have fibre-to-the-home installed in new developments that receive planning approval from 1 July 2010, that a communications strategy to help support implementation of the initiative will be developed by the Department, and that the Communications Alliance (which now includes the NBN Co. as a member) is progressing its work on conduit planning and other technical matters. The next meeting of the Reference Group is expected to occur in December 2009.

International climate protection

Climate Change has great social impacts that are felt throughout the world. Local governments are witnessing first-hand the need to address both climate mitigation and adaptation. There is increasing evidence that well-designed and well-governed cities can lead the way in lowering national emissions.

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) has embarked on a joint strategy with other relevant specialised networks of local authorities such as ICLEI, the World Mayors' Council on Climate Change and the C-40 to make the voice of local and regional government heard in the international negotiations towards a Post Kyoto Agreement.

UCLG urges councils to sign up to the World Mayors and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement. The Agreement will be presented at the COP-15, during the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. Details here.

National census 2011

The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, have announced that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been approved to conduct the 16th national Census on 9 August 2011.

The Census provides a statistical snapshot of the nation and in doing so delivers a comprehensive picture of the society in which we live. Census information is used by all sections of the community, from the Federal Government and State and Territory Governments to local governments, town planners, community groups, students and business.

A detailed Information Paper on Census 2011, including topics to be included in the Census, has been tabled in Parliament and is available here.

Murray Darling Basin

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has released a major discussion paper on the issues involved in setting new Basin-wide limits to the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin's rivers, waterways and groundwater.

The paper explores some of the key issues the MDBA will need to consider in setting sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) for the Basin Plan, including:

• environmental considerations;
• the interaction with state water management arrangements;
• the types of take and interception activities that should be limited by the SDL;
• optimisation of economic, social and environmental outcomes;
• connectivity between surface water and groundwater; and
• how SDLs will be set and expressed.

Submissions need to reach the Authority by 18 December 2009. There is no specified format for a submission. They can range from a short letter on a particular topic to a substantial document covering a range of issues. Submissions can be in any form - email, fax, audio cassette or mail. Submissions will be posted on the MDBA website's home page as soon as they can be processed. For more information download the SDLs issue paper from www.mdba.gov.au or contact engagement@mdba.gov.au for a printed copy.

More barriers to supermarket competition being torn down

The Federal Government says it is keen to work with the states and territories to ensure planning laws do not unjustifiably restrict competition in grocery retailing.

"Competition in groceries is good for consumers, and more competition is better," Competition Minister Dr Craig Emerson said.

In its grocery inquiry report, the ACCC found that planning and zoning legislation restricts competition in the supply and use of retail space. This finding was backed up by the Productivity Commission in its report on The Market for Retail Tenancy Leases in Australia.

The Federal Government's policy paper released in September, Introducing more competition and empowering consumers in grocery retailing, noted that planning laws can particularly be a problem for independent supermarkets, with most states and territories adopting centres policies which concentrate retail activities in one location and with shopping centre owners having a strong preference to lease space to the largest retailers.

"Anti-competitive planning and zoning laws are at their most blatant where they allow incumbent businesses to object to applications so as to prevent or delay entry by rivals which may affect their commercial interests", Dr Emerson said. He said that ensuring that planning laws do not unjustifiably restrict competition will open up land for competitors to Coles and Woolworths such as Aldi, Franklins, Foodworks and IGA stores.

The Government has referred this issue to COAG and has been working with the states and territories on a report which will be presented to COAG at its meeting in December. A NSW government review of anti-competitive features of its planning and zoning laws is currently underway.

Water grants close 1 December

The Australian Government has committed $254.8 million through the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns to fund practical projects that save water and reduce water losses in cities and towns nationally with populations of less than 50,000.

Applications for funding close at 5pm AEDT, Tuesday 1 December 2009.

Applicants should use the program guidelines to help prepare their application. Guidelines are available from the Department's website

For more information phone 1800 218 478 (toll free) or email NWSPCT@environment.gov.au

Migrant pilot program

A new national pilot program will provide free telephone interpreting to participating real-estate agents to help house new migrants.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), through its Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National), is piloting an extension of free telephone interpreting services to selected real estate agents around Australia.

The pilot is linked to 13 housing-related projects being delivered under the department's Settlement Grants Program (SGP) in locations of high migrant and humanitarian settlement.

Project locations include the Blacktown area in Sydney, south-east Perth and outer south-east Melbourne. Linking the pilot with these housing projects supports recently arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants in areas where assistance is most needed. The outcomes of the pilot will be used to evaluate a possible broader service extension, taking account of national settlement patterns and identified needs. Further information about TIS National can be found at 1300 655 820 or here.

Anti-discrimination guidelines

The Australian Human Rights Commission has released its Draft guidelines for ensuring income management measures are compliant with the Racial Discrimination Act for comment and feedback.

The guidelines aim to ensure that income management measures will both protect human rights and be consistent with the Race Discrimination Act. They are also intended to increase awareness in affected communities about the application of the Race Discrimination Act to income management regimes.

Comments should be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission by 12 February 2010. The Commission intends to finalise the guidelines by early 2010, following the completion of the feedback process.

The draft guidelines are available on the Commission website

CPRS scheme update

Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong's announcement that agriculture would not be covered under the CPRS, and farmers would able to be part of the solution through alternate means, has been welcomed by the National Farmers Federation (NFF). President David Crombie said the NFF was "very encouraged" and looked forward to further discussion on the details. The scheme passed through the House of Representatives this week and debate will continue in the Senate next week.

Boom gates for NSW

Over the coming fortnight work will start installing boom gates and other safety measures at a further eight priority level rail crossings in NSW, with funding coming from the Federal Government's Economic Stimulus Plan.

Nationally, the $150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program will fund the installation of boom gates and other safety measures at 292 level crossings. More details here.

New cycling infrastructure in Tasmania

The Federal Government is investing more than $2.2 million in six cycling infrastructure projects in Tasmania from the $40 million National Bike Paths Projects fund.

This key element of the Economic Stimulus Plan was announced on National Ride to Work Day in Claremont recently with Australian Greens Senator, Bob Brown, Member for Denison, Duncan Kerr, and Mayor of Glenorchy City Council, Adriana Taylor.

All up, the Government is funding 170 projects across Australia, supporting more than 1,900 jobs and traineeships. Details here

LGAQ takes lead on population policy

Encouraging first home owners to include regional Queensland in their plans with a $3000 boost to the federal grant was a welcome debut into the population policy debate by the state government, Local Government Association of Queensland president, Cr Paul Bell said.

The LGAQ is in the process of establishing an Inquiry into Population Policy to be held in February and March next year with a view to handing down its report in June.

Cr Bell said the association was in discussions with one of the world's leading urban demographers to chair the inquiry. Leading urban planning, infrastructure and finance expert, Alan Morton, had already accepted an invitation to be the inquiry's secretary.

"Our inquiry is aiming to tackle the myriad of problems which will arise as Brisbane, as predicted, more than doubles its size by 2049," he said. "The inquiry will be seeking a wide range of presentations and submissions, including those of the state government. We are confident we can come up with recommendations on policy options and initiatives worthy of consideration by federal, state and local governments." The inquiry will be the fourth undertaken by the LGAQ. Its Roads and Transport Inquiry, chaired by Professor Alan Layton in 2002, was followed by a federal and state funding boost to south-east Queensland roads from $250 million to $2.4 billion annually by 2009/10.

Fire alert

For the first time Australia issued a "catastrophic" or "code red" fire danger warning this week with extreme temperatures in South Australia, Victoria, ACT and New South Wales.

The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre recently warned of "above normal" fire frequency this summer, with Monash University scientists early this year confirming the link between drought and rising carbon emissions.

"We need to tackle climate change as quickly as possible if we are to have any hope of mitigating or reversing the extreme weather patterns that are becoming commonplace in Australia," Peter Marshall, National Secretary of the United Firefighters Union said. "Fires, storms and floods not only cost lives, they will also cost the nation dearly in social dislocation, as well as the economic cost of rebuilding, rising insurance premiums and compensation claims," said Mr Marshall.

Animal welfare

The Tasmanian Government has published a range of materials for use in encouraging hobby farmers to provide good welfare for their animals at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/hobbyfarmers. It is a useful resource with information on advanced husbandry techniques such as feeding them, how to recognise they are starving before they actually die, why animals that are scouring badly might need help and so on. The horse welfare guidelines are a basic "how to" that make an ideal gift for anyone thinking about buying a horse.

Pandemic vaccine update

A survey published in the 'Medical Journal of Australia, 'shows that enough people will have the vaccine to achieve coverage that will ensure herd immunity to pandemic influenza. The survey, of more than 800 people, found almost 80% believed the current H1N1 pandemic influenza was mild and only 25% thought they were at increased risk of infection. The 'Financial Review' reports that it is possible that a third of the national stockpile of pandemic vaccine might go unused and could be donated to more needy developing countries.

Mayor is Local Hero

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has been being honoured as Queensland's Local Hero in the lead-up to the 2010 Australian of the Year Awards.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship sponsors Australia's Local Hero Award which celebrates the extraordinary work of ordinary Australians who make their local community a better place. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards. Mayor Pisasale, from Ipswich, received the award for his dedication to improving the community's economic, social and environmental qualities. The national Local Hero Award recipient will be announced on 25 January 2010 in Canberra.

White ribbon day

Next Wednesday, 25 November, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In Federal Parliament this week, speakers including the Member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, took the opportunity to support White Ribbon Day and its awareness-raising of the issue of violence against women. Mr Danby mentioned that rape is prevalent throughout the crisis in Darfur with Doctors Without Borders reported treating nearly 500 rape survivors from October 2004 to February 2005. In late 2006 the International Rescue Committee recorded that there had been more than 200 sexual assaults within a five-week period around one IDP camp. He said that support services "as as fragile as they were," had been swept away. "This occurred in March this year when the Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court," he said. "His response to the indictment was to eject 13 international aid agencies from Darfur and to disband three other domestic relief groups. Khartoum claims that the organisations were sharing information with the International Criminal Court, which both the groups and the court deny. The void left, however, by the ousted organisations means that the emergency measures to help provide food, water and vital aid for the rape survivors is virtually decimated. On Wednesday next week, when 300,000 white ribbons will be distributed in Australia for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I will be wearing one with special thoughts for the women of Darfur." More information here.