National General Assembly - put 30 April in your diary

In addition to this year's National General Assembly being held in an election year, and following Dr Ken Henry's review of the tax system, the themes of NGA reflect the government's focus on economic reform workforce participation, population and productivity or "the 3 Ps". An election year offers opportunities for local government to seek commitments from the major parties on these issues as the parties look for initiatives to include in their election platforms.

The ABC 7.30 Report's Kerry O'Brien will be our keynote speaker this year to address the three themes, workforce participation, population and productivity, as well as provide insight on the current broader social and political landscape. As well as being a formidable interviewer and political commentator, he also has an interest and understanding of local government issues.

Kerry is one of Australia's most prominent and respected names in Australian journalism. As well as having over 20 years experience in political journalism, he also spent three years as a press secretary, first for Labor leader Gough Whitlam in 1977 and then in the post-Whitlam era, with Deputy Labor leader, Lionel Bowen.

In a couple of weeks, all councils will be sent the registration brochure, which contains full details of the NGA, however in the meantime this can be accessed on the NGA website. 30 April is a date for all councillors to remember as the early bird registration rate of $840, which saves you over $100. The call for motions closes on 30 April. But don't feel you need to wait until 30 April! If US President Barrack Obama schedules his visit to Australia in June, as is being predicted, accommodation in Canberra is likely to be booked out well in advance.

For more information, to register your attendance or to submit motions, go to http://nga.alga.asn.au

Earth Hour Saturday 27 March

What is your carbon footprint? Click here to find out.

On that website you can also find the Earth Hour official video plus a register and an events list. There will be a family event on Sydney's Goat Island, celebrity cooks will host an event in Brisbane and at Queensland's Sanctuary Cove it will be possible to dine by the light of 100 metres of candle light. At the website above there is also an Earth Hour blog to see who is doing what, where, for Earth Hour.

Debra Bell, Queanbeyan City Council's environmental sustainability officer, is enthusiastic about green innovation and implementing eco-initiatives. "We're hoping to focus this year on our outdoor lighting for signs, except for those ones that are needed for security and safety," Ms Bell told the Queanbeyan Age. This is the third year the council has participated in Earth Hour, and, once again, it will turn off all non-essential electrical appliances throughout its premises. The Earth Hour theme this year of 'Earth Hour, Every Hour' will align with the council's implementation of recommendations contained in its sustainability report.

Greenhouse gas emissions actually fell in Australia over the last summer, according to a survey by the non-government group, The Climate Group. Perhaps the awareness generated by Earth Hour helped. Rupert Posner, Director of the Climate Group, told the ABC that people were trying to use less power, but that there was also a substantial reduction in coal-fired power station emissions, possibly evidence of the global financial crisis having an impact. In his opinion, a carbon tax would result in a greater incentive for us to produce more of our electricity from the more greenhouse-efficient power stations, thereby reducing emissions of greenhouse gases further.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Since then the event has grown exponentially, to become the world's largest global climate change initiative. In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour with more than 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet. Earth Hour takes place at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27.

2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards

Councils are to be recognised for their mobile phone recycling efforts. The call for nominations for the 2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards is on now. MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, is calling on local councils to enter the 2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards.

The awards, established in 2007, recognise and celebrate the outstanding efforts by local government in promoting the scheme and collecting mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories for recycling. The winning councils will be announced during the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 14th June - 17th June 2010.

Rose Read, Manager of Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association's (AMTA) official recycling program, MobileMuster, encourages councils to nominate for the awards. "Councils play a major role in educating residents about waste and collecting mobile phones for recycling. With most homes having at least two old mobiles sitting in drawers either broken or unused, there is a lot of potential e-waste that could end up in landfills if not recycled. In the last 12 months to December 2010, local councils diverted almost 3,100 kg of mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories from landfill. This included over 30,000 handsets and batteries, as well as 1,100 kg in accessories," said Ms Read.

Previous winners of the awards include Eurobodalla Shire Council, Brisbane City Council, Moonee Valley City Council, Lismore City Council, City of Stirling, Lockhart Shire Council, Dalby Regional Council, Eastern Metropolitan Regional and the Shire of Lake Grace.

There are five awards offered, including Best Promoter, Working with Schools Award, Top Collector Award Overall, Top Collector per Capita and National Excellence.

"I encourage all councils to nominate for the 2010 MobileMuster Local Government Awards," concluded Ms Read.

Nominations close on Tuesday 1 June 2010. For more information and to nominate for the awards click here.

The momentum for constitutional change continues to build with the Senate agreeing last week to the establishment of a select committee on the Reform of the Australian Federation.

The motion to establish the select committee was put forward by Senator Marise Payne (Liberal, NSW) and it includes specific reference to financial relations between the three levels of government and foreshadows a possible constitutional amendment for the inclusion of local government in the Constitution.

Discussion will focus on (i) the distribution of constitutional powers and responsibilities between the Commonwealth and the states (including territories), (ii) financial relations between federal, state and local governments, and (iii) possible constitutional amendment, including the recognition of local government.

Senator Payne was one of the Opposition politicians ALGA spoke to about Constitutional reform last month and she was certainly very interested in the ALGA case. ALGA has now spoken to more than 25 federal MPs from across all major parties about the case for change.

There will be an opportunity for ALGA to make a submission to the select committee supporting our case for constitutional reform and this is a positive step forward in arguing for a referendum. The deadline for the committee to report is 24 August 2010 which does raise the prospect of the committee's inquiry being caught up in the forthcoming election.

The ALGA Board meets next week in Canberra on 31 March and will have an opportunity to consider in more detail the opportunities arising from this new development.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

Healthy debate on hospitals and health reform

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott appeared in their first ever public debate against each other in their respective roles. The debate, held at the National Press Club in Canberra, was televised live across Australia and focused on health and hospitals reforms.

In his opening statements, the Prime Minister noted that his mother was a nurse and that his sister still is a nurse, which he says has put health and hospitals at the forefront of his policy commitments.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott focused his opening comments on the need to end the blame-game and queried how this can be achieved under the Australian Government's policy, which will still leave states with the duty to pay 40 per cent of much of the health system. He noted Australians would still be uncertain despite the reforms about who is responsible for what in the health system, including who would be in charge of their local hospital. Tony Abbott said Australians need 'more medical doctors not spin doctors.'

Many media representatives reported after the debate that there was not much detail coming from either side, and no new information, although one source (www.news.com.au) said that and the Prime Minister "appeared to amend [his policy] on the run in the middle of the debate, promising regional hospitals could get special grants if the funding formula put them at risk. 'This wasn't the policy that he announced a couple of weeks ago,' Mr Abbott countered".

Mr Abbott refused to release the Opposition's health policy during the debate, promising instead that this will occur 'well ahead of the next election.'

Neighbour Day this Sunday

Residents across Australia will be turning on the kettle and firing up the barbecue to celebrate Neighbour Day on Sunday 28 March 2010. Now in its eighth year and with the personal endorsement of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the national event has evolved to become Australia's annual celebration of community by bringing neighbours closer together. Councils and government bodies are organising relevant events and activities in public parks and spaces.

"Our communities are only as strong as the people who live in them, which is why Neighbour Day provides a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate the people who live around us," said founder, Andrew Heslop. "We know how vital neighbours are to each other during bushfires, floods and emergencies, but everyday actions like borrowing power tools, taking in the recycling bin or walking the kids to school are often forgotten. Whether you live in the city or the bush, in a house, an apartment or on a farm Neighbour Day is the day to say thanks for being a great neighbour, thanks for helping me out and thanks for being there when I needed you most," Andrew said.

For more information, please check the website.

Mayors split on super councils

The Local Government Association has rejected the NSW Business Council's suggestion that Sydney's 41 councils should be merged to form 10 super councils, saying bigger doesn't always mean better, reports John Morcombe in the Manly Daily earlier this month.

The peninsula's mayors are divided on the issue, with Pittwater mayor, Harvey Rose, vehemently opposed to it, Warringah mayor, Michael Regan, ambivalent about it and Manly mayor, Jean Hay, resigned to it.

NSW Business Council executive director and former Liberal Upper House, MP Patricia Forsythe, said that cutting the number of Sydney councils from 41 to 10 would see a cut in the number of councillors from 520 to 120, all of whom should be paid full-time wages.

"Councillors need to see themselves as boards of directors who focus on the larger strategic issues facing their region, rather than managers lost in day-to-day administration," she said.

In a discussion paper, the NSW Business Council stated that "local councils have become emasculated by a stripping of council powers, a tightening of revenue sources through rate pegging and by council decision-making upended by suburban and personal pettiness".

Women in management

The male-dominated makeup of Hornsby Council reflects a statewide trend, according to a recent survey of 148 NSW councils.

Hornsby councilor, Wendy McMurdo, is the only female councillor on Hornsby Council. Last year she threw her support behind new measures to increase female representation on local councils but warned the job had challenges, especially for mothers. "Anything that would encourage a better balance is marvellous," she said.

The challenge facing Australian local governments to increase the number of women in council manager and Chief Executive positions is analysed in-depth in the latest edition of Council Manager magazine. In recognition of 2010 being the Year of Women in Local Government, the February/March edition of Australia's national magazine for senior managers in local government features commentary from a number of current local government women CEOs about how they believe councils can improve the proportion of women in key management roles.

Published by Hallmark Editions, which also produces LG News and Councillor Magazine, Council Manager is a quarterly magazine that provides senior management of local governments across Australia with case studies about leading-edge council management practices that managers can use to benchmark their own council's performance. For information about how to subscribe to Council Manager, please phone Naomi Braham at Hallmark Editions on (03) 8534 5000, email naomi.braham@halledit.com.au or visit here.

Council's living rooftop

Victoria's City of Monash is cooperating with Melbourne Water and Monash and Melbourne universities as a partner to research the benefits of an innovative rooftop garden that will be installed on the top of the council's chambers.

Melbourne Water is funding the Living Roof Research project, which involves retrofitting the 92 square metre concrete roof over the council chambers with a shallow garden. As part of the development, the existing waterproof membrane will be removed and replaced with a new high-performance membrane.

The project will allow staff from Monash University to test the quality of stormwater discharging from the roof and to measure the reduction in roof rainwater runoff. Researchers from Melbourne University will assess the benefits of living roofs for application in urban Melbourne, including their insulating properties and improved building performance, and potential advantages for bird and wildlife habitat. The researchers will monitor plant and soil substrate performance over three years.

City of Monash Mayor, Charlotte Baines, said that green roofs offer potential solutions for reducing pollution and improving stormwater management in urban areas. Stormwater run-off from suburban streets and gutters is the main polluter of Melbourne's waterways because the water carries debris and high levels of nutrients into rivers and creeks. Mayor Baines said that Chicago City Hall has a rooftop garden that saves nearly US$10,000 annually in energy costs.

Mayor Baines also stated that green roofs can help mitigate the effects of climate change and alleviate the heat island effect - the term used to describe built-up areas in cities that are hotter than nearby parks with trees and greenery. She said that living roofs will be one of the important elements of the design of liveable buildings and cities in the 21^st Century.

Framework for Sustainable Communities

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released a new national framework for sustainable communities at the opening of the Green Cities 2010 conference.

Launching the new Green Star - Communities framework, GBCA Chair Tony Arnel said that the framework would establish an independent, national language to guide the development of sustainable communities and precincts. The national framework has been developed by the GBCA and its partner VicUrban, in collaboration with industry and government, and outlines five national principles for sustainable communities:

1. Create liveable communities
2. Provide opportunities for economic prosperity
3. Enhance environmental quality
4. Design great places
5. Promote good urban governance.

According to the GBCA's Chief Executive, Romilly Madew, launching the framework at Green Cities 2010 reflects the evolution in the GBCA's focus - from individual buildings to communities, precincts and cities themselves.

The new framework complements the Australian Government's new reforms, which require states and territories to develop capital city strategic plans by 2012 that meet national criteria for transport, housing, urban development and sustainability.

The framework can be downloaded from the GBCA website and is open for comment.

ASBEC Cities for the Future report

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council's report points to a bleak future where transport-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increases by almost 50 per cent and travel times increase by a quarter. ASBEC is calling for swift, decisive action from all levels of government to deliver better transport systems in Australia's cities.

A new agreement between Australia's two leading environmental rating tools for buildings - Green Star and NABERS - will deliver a more consistent and compatible approach to building rating.

A memorandum of understanding between the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), which manages Green Star, the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), which administers NABERS, outlines the parties' commitment to share information on rating tool development, calculators, benchmarks and methodologies to strengthen both rating systems.

Nelson Bay conflict

Port Stephens has long been a holiday haven from the hassles of the big city. But is over-development threatening to tarnish its appeal?

The shire is a microcosm of the challenges facing local governments up and down the coast. Councils starved of cash from rate-pegging need growth to generate revenue to provide services; residents see once sleepy fishing hamlets turning into high-rise resorts for the well-heeled, and native fauna and flora dying by a thousand cuts, as Harvey Grennan observes in the Sydney Morning Herald this week.

In one corner are the blunt-talking mayor of Port Stephens, Bruce MacKenzie, and his "Magnificent Seven" majority of unashamedly pro-development councillors. In the other are the Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association and EcoNetwork, a coalition of 20 local environmental groups striving to preserve the Nelson Bay waterfront and the extraordinary biodiversity of the Tomaree peninsula.

The stunning beauty of the port triples the population to 100,000 at Christmas, but for most of the year, hundreds of units remain empty and shopkeepers struggle to survive. Dozens of new apartments remain unsold, and developers take a severe haircut when they do sell.

Yet there is pressure for more development. Consultants for the council have recommended five-storey development for the two-storey Nelson Bay town centre, with 12 storeys to be permitted on the hill overlooking the town. Residents say the report is flawed because it is based on a misinterpretation of the Lower Hunter Strategy Plan. The plan calls for 1,200 more houses and 1,500 more jobs on the whole of the Tomaree peninsula, not just in Nelson Bay, as provided for in the report.

The council's consultants have recommended that five-storey development be extended right to the waterfront. Such development would be contrary to the state government's own coastal policy guidelines, which limit foreshore development to three storeys and prohibit the alienation of parkland. There is little doubt that the overriding motive is to maximise lease revenue for the Lands Department.

Geoff Washington, of the residents and ratepayers' association, stated. "People come here for the water and the views, they don't come to see a five-storey block of cement that cuts off the foreshore from everything else."

But the mayor is unrepentant. "I am pro-development and proud of it," Mr McKenzie said on the occasion of his recent re-election.

National Tree Day

National Tree Day Sunday 1 August 2010

Schools Tree Day Friday 30 August 2010

For 15 years, local councils from all over Australia have been hosting tree-planting events for National Tree Day, allowing volunteers of all ages to enjoy time with nature and their community. As well as promoting councils' environmental initiatives, National Tree Day is an opportunity to revegetate local bushland and green spaces.

Planet Ark is calling on Australian councils to coordinate tree-planting sites or continue care to existing native trees and shrubs. By taking part, your council will be helping future generations understand the value of trees and why life is better with them.

If planting trees is not an option for your council this year, you could invite residents to continue the maintenance of a former tree-planting site. This year's National Tree Day, sponsored by Toyota, will take place around the country on Sunday 1 August. Councils can host their own site or provide support to a participating school or community group.

Planet Ark provides support to all councils who register through its National Tree Day Hotline and website, where downloadable resources and a step-by-step guide, as well as tools to help you promote your tree planting, are readily available.

For a Council information kit click here or call the National Tree Day Hotline on 1300 88 5000.

New Chairperson for NBN

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced the appointment of Harrison Young as Chairperson of the board of NBN Co Limited. NBN Co has been established to deliver the National Broadband Network.

Senator Conroy said that Mr Young would be leading NBN Co through a period of rapid growth as it rolls out high speed broadband across Australia.

Senator Conroy said that the appointment of Mr Young further extends the already strong set of skills possessed by the NBN Co board. Senator Conroy also acknowledged the leadership of Mike Quigley and his achievements in establishing NBN Co.

The appointment will allow Mr Quigley to focus his attention on the substantial management demands of rolling out the NBN. Mr Quigley will continue his role as CEO of NBN Co and as a director on the NBN Co board.

The Development Assessment Forum (DAF)

DAF met in Adelaide last week and appointed a new chair. Mr Paul Waterhouse, the Executive Director, National Policy from the Property Council of Australia was elected for a two year term. Ms Allison Hailes, Executive Manager, Planning and Community Development, Western Australian Local Government Association, was elected as the Deputy Chair.

Mr Waterhouse thanked the outgoing Chair, Mr Peter Allen, Executive Director, Statutory Planning Systems Reform, from the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development, for his leadership and commitment to implementing and promoting the leading practice model and strongly supported Peter's continuing participation in the work of the forum. The Forum debated numerous opportunities for future action, as well as considering the implications of the range of significant development assessment reform initiatives being undertaken by the Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council and COAG.

A key result of the meeting was the agreement that a more detailed work program will be developed by the DAF working group, who meet in between full DAF meetings to progress identified priorities. Potential projects shortlisted include: an overarching DAF communication framework, notification and referral guidelines, private sector guidelines to support track based assessments, and developing templates for model development/permit applications forms.

DAF was formed in 1998 to bring key stakeholders together to reach agreement on ways to streamline and harmonise the processes used for development assessment while preserving high quality decision making. DAF membership includes ALGA and the state/territory local government associations in addition to Commonwealth, state/territory governments, the development industry and related professional associations. For further information on membership and work undertaken to date, please click here.

Recognising Excellence in Parks Management

The Parks Forum Awards celebrate and promote excellence within the parks industry, by an individual, project team or an agency. By identifying excellence in park management we can communicate our success and achievements to the broader community and promote the diverse values of parks.

The Awards are open to all Australian and New Zealand park management agencies and are designed to identify

• an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the parks industry (Individual Award)
• the projects that exhibits excellence (Excellence in Parks Award) in the areas of
  • social management or
  • environmental management or
  • cultural management or
  • economic management
• the organisation that best displays excellence across management of its business (Organisational Excellence Award).

We welcome submissions from now until 30 April 2010. The winners will be announced at the Conference Dinner at the 4th International Biennial Parks Leadership Conference, Common Ground, in Sydney on Wednesday 25 August 2010.

The forms are easy to fill in. Download a free PDF copy of the Parks Forum Awards Program Information and Nomination Package and Nomination Forms from here.

Parks Forum is the peak body for park management organisations, with members across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Their vision is for a strong and vibrant parks industry recognised and supported by the whole community. For more information please visit the website.

Prospect's digital strategy the best

Senator Stephen Conroy, Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy launched the City of Prospect's Digital Economy Strategy on 5 March, declaring the Strategy the very best in Australia. City of Prospect CEO, Mark Goldstone, said, "The development of the strategy was in response to demand from our local business community for bigger and faster broadband, research into the potential of our economy and the future roll out of the National Broadband Network".

Mr Goldstone said there is little point in declaring your desire for your council to be first to see the roll out of the NBN in your city, if your businesses and residents don't understand what to do with the fibre. "Prospect has been developing projects around the NBN that we have proven deliver real benefits to the community and council. The results have been outstanding".

City of Prospect has marched ahead of the NBN and is currently rolling out its own optical fibre to service its library, Civic Centre and Depot. The route of the fibre bundle has been strategically planned to roll past two local primary schools and a main retail shopping street precinct to encourage further take up the fibre by local schools and businesses.

A core project of the released digital strategy is to support local small businesses in understanding how to trade over the internet. This project won pilot funding from the state government's Department for Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. From this pilot project, 140 local SME's undertook the two and one half day program, which in many instances transformed the business model of the participating businesses.

Australia's number one digital economy strategy has also created some Australian firsts such as a digital daily newspaper Prospect INDAILY. A collaboration with Solstice Media, INDAILY is emailed to over 1,000 volunteer residents and businesses that have registered to receive the e-newspaper. The e-newspaper includes international, national and regional news with one page daily devoted to council news, which is not subject to editorial change. Prospect has also introduced an open access wireless service at its library to support 'digital warriors' who like to have access to their laptops as they travel around the city.

City of Prospect's Digital Economy Strategy is the foundation strategy used to create a National Broadband Network proposal from the Eastern Region Alliance of Councils which was also presented to Senator Conroy at the Prospect breakfast.

Smart Infrastructure awards

Nominations are now open for the inaugural Australian Smart Infrastructure Awards for innovative, technology-driven solutions to infrastructure bottlenecks and urban congestion. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese announced the new annual awards at the ThinkSmart 2010 conference held today in Parliament House as part of the House of Representatives Committee Inquiry into Smart Infrastructure. The awards will recognise project excellence in design, delivery, and use of infrastructure in any of Infrastructure Australia's national priority areas, including the rail freight, water and urban development: - The Australian Smart Infrastructure Project Award will go to an innovative technology based project. - The Australian Smart Infrastructure Research Award will provide a $25,000 grant for an innovative proposal supporting excellence in smart infrastructure research and development.