Australian road network in crisis, ALGA President warns

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has released the findings of an independent study into the funding needs of Australia's local roads which estimates that an additional $1.2 billion will need to be spent each year just to maintain the current standard of the Australian local road network.

The study, commissioned by ALGA and conducted by Jeff Roorda and Associates, was released yesterday at the 2010 National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Bunbury, Western Australia. The study examines a sample of 158 councils from across the country and calculates the rate of annual under-expenditure by all councils is $860 million. This will blow out to $1.2 billion if current expenditure settings are not improved.

ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake said, "The Australian community is being dudded by successive state and federal governments who are happy to throw billions of dollars at new toll roads and national highways but who are not prepared to properly fund the basic local road infrastructure which connects every Australian to home, work, schools, farms, markets and tourist destinations.

"If the Government is serious about focusing on regional and rural Australia, there is no better way to do that than by improving local road infrastructure. Speak to any country Mayor and they will tell you that every dollar spent on upgrading roads leads to more than a three-fold dividend to the local economy through increased productivity.

The study also finds that while councils have increased rate revenues to meet funding shortfalls, the pressures on councils in other service areas means there is simply not enough available from the local rate-base for roads.

"What this study makes crystal clear is that the magnitude of funding local roads is now well beyond cash-strapped and resource-constrained councils and a dramatic increase in commonwealth investment is desperately needed. Federal funding for local roads is woefully inadequate and even on the most generous interpretation represents only about a third of total local road expenditure.

"Boosting local road funding will also offer significant advantages to remote Indigenous communities who regularly suffer dislocation from their neighbouring communities and towns because of inadequate roads being shut because of relatively minor rainfall - sometimes for months of the year."

The full report is available on the ALGA website at www.alga.asn.au under 'Recent Updates'.

Regionalism the key to local government engagement

The federal Member for Fremantle, Melissa Parke, urged councils to 'embrace the regional paradigm' and think collaboratively, regionally and strategically.

Ms Parke delivered an address to over 300 local government representatives this morning in Bunbury on behalf of the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean. In recent weeks Minister Crean has urged local leaders to work in their communities and in their regions to develop coordinated regional plans and proposals that he can advocate around the Cabinet Table.

Ms Parke outlined the substantial funding provided by the Labor Government to local government. "Perhaps the best known of these is the $1.1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program," she said. "The RLCIP has stimulated communities across the nation by upgrading recreational, social and sporting facilities such as community centres, libraries, parklands, bike and walking trails, and civic buildings." Ms Parke said both federal and local governments had acted quickly and collaboratively to deliver community projects and soften the impact [of the global financial crisis] on the Australian economy.

Truss cements bridge with local government

Warren Truss, leader of the National Party and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, addressed the Roads Congress yesterday and committed a future Coalition government to continuing the Roads to Recovery program beyond 2014. Described by ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake as 'a good friend of local government,' Mr Truss supported constitutional recognition for local government and noted that the recent High Court decision has given this issue renewed impetus. He said the decision could cast doubt on the legality of direct funding programs such as Roads to Recovery. Mr Truss said there was a need for a program such as the Coalition's Bridges to Recovery initiative to address the bridge infrastructure deficiencies on local roads. This was an issue that ALGA has been pursuing for many years and he had been lobbied by mayors around the country.

This week I had the pleasure to chair ALGA's 2010 National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Bunbury in Western Australia - a meeting of more than 300 local government delegates from around the nation.

Local government is the owner and manager of more than 80% of the nation's road network. The efficient operation of the local road system is vital to the national economy and there is no bigger item on any Council's budget sheet.

There is no better way for the Commonwealth to invest in regional and rural Australia than by making sure that the road network that supports regional and rural Australia is up to scratch.

I had the opportunity to travel part of the way to Bunbury along the Outway Way which connects Winton in Western Queensland with Laverton in WA. This was an eye opening experience for me as we travelled through some of the more remote parts of the country on dirt roads which are highly vulnerable to wet weather. I'd like to thank Rick Britton - the Mayor of Boulia Shire in West Queensland for leading the convoy of vehicles.

The Mayors of Longreach, Winton, Boulia and Alice Springs all gave generously of their time in answering my various naive questions about the importance of the Outback Way route to their communities and in particular - to their local economies. I couldn't believe it when Rick told me that Boulia - a shire of about 600 residents - had to maintain the section of the road from Boulia to the Northern Territory border, because the Queensland government does not class this section as anything more than a mere access route to the pastoral stations. The presence at the Congress of Rick and I, along with others in convoy shows the absurdity of their position.

I now can say I have a much better appreciation of road issues from the perspective of small rural councils and this is important for someone like me from the middle suburbs of Melbourne. I also now know a thing or two about the economics of cattle grazing!

The Outback Way is a great example of councils working together - the seven councils along route from Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia - all working cooperatively and effectively together to argue the toss of why the Outback Way - what they term Australia's 'longest short cut' - should be made a paved route from Winton to Laverton.

Not only would this represent an iconic alternative crossing of the Australian continent from east to west through the middle of the country with vast tourism potential, but more importantly than that, it would be a big boost to the pastoral stations and towns along the route and it would provide all weather road access to the many remote Indigenous communities who rely on parts of the route for access to their next closest towns. Too often, they face isolation for long periods because of the road being closed after rainfall.

The independent modelling these seven councils have commissioned demonstrates a potential boost to the various local economies along the route of $2.50 for every $1.00 invested in the road. They are seeking federal funding to the tune of $70 million over 10 years. I wish them well in their efforts, and congratulate them for their professional approach to prosecuting the argument - an approach that includes a well presented web presence and the employment of an Executive Director to develop the case.

This is one of hundreds of examples of critical local road infrastructure needed by local communities across the country. I'm sure your council or region has some equally compelling projects.

To underpin discussion at the Congress, ALGA released a study into local road funding and called for urgent action by State and Federal Governments to address the findings. The damning results show expenditure on local roads in the next 15 years, based upon current funding levels, is likely to be amount to a shortfall of $1.2 billion annually. The report is available on ALGA's website at www.alga.asn.au and I urge you to read it. It makes for sobering reading.

The Conference Communique will be emailed to delegates next week and will also be available on our website. Thank you to all those who attended the conference and made an important contribution to the public debate and ALGA's advocacy work on this very important issue. I was particularly impressed by the over 200 photos submitted for the inaugural honour of being awarded the title of Australia's worst road and worst bridge. It was very difficult to pick the finalists and the winners will be published in next week's edition of 'ALGA News.'

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

Senator Ludlam calls for leadership in transport policy

Transport and local government spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam has reiterated the Greens' support for constitutional recognition for local government. Speaking at the National Local Roads and Transport Congress, Senator Ludlam also said that leadership was needed in transport planning to move away from the current transport model with its focus on growth and associated congestion and carbon emissions to a new economic model. Senator Ludlam said one of the major challenges was moving away from our dependence on oil to a mix of old and new technologies. This would include shifting the freight task onto rail, public transport in regional areas and recognising that the 'bicycle is back.'

Mayors call for study on irrigation cut implications

Following representations from angry irrigators in Victoria and NSW, The Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean, the Minister for Water, Tony Burke and the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, will invite the new Parliamentary committee for Regional Australia chaired by Independent MP Tony Windsor to conduct an inquiry into the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The inquiry is set to examine the impact of the Murray Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan on regional communities. It is likely to have a strong focus on understanding the human impact of any proposed changes and will have the opportunity to consult widely as it is not due to report back until the end of April, 2011.

The Campaspe Shire Mayor, Peter Williams says the proposals have not fully considered the effects on local communities. "A whole lot of work needs to be done," he said. "We actually need the Government to step in and give the same sorts of resourcing, to identifying potential ways of moving forward to make sure our communities do not suffer."

Banks who do business in the basin also believe some towns such as Griffith, Deniliquin and Moree will not survive if there are severe cuts to water allocations. The guide has sparked anger in some communities, with heated scenes at a meeting in Deniliquin in New South Wales on Wednesday. Shepparton held two meetings and there was one held in Griffith where a large crowd turned out and businesses were shut down for the morning.

The unrest has prompted Independent MP Tony Windsor, whose electorate of New England is in the basin, to urge communities to remain calm as the authority holds a series of consultation meetings across the region.

Brisbane's NBN roll-out

Brisbane has turned its back on the federal Labor government's national broadband network (NBN), announcing it would go it alone and build its own network within four years. The fibre optic network will be installed in the city's wastewater network and sewer pipes from next year. It's expected that about 15,000 homes per month would receive access to the network once the rollout begins. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he "was not prepared to wait" for the federal Labor government's network to be built in Brisbane. Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy welcomed the project. "This is a voluntary scheme, there will be no opt-out deals or compulsion to force people onto this scheme," he said. Senator Conroy said that the decision to go with fibre vindicated the government's choice to go with fibre for the NBN. "The government looks forward to seeing more details on the Mayor's proposal," Senator Conroy said in a statement.

Councils heading down a new path for recycled glass

Delegates at the annual National Local Roads and Transport Congress, hosted by the Australian Local Government Association, heard that more councils across Australia were turning to recycled crushed glass which is being used in pavements, roads, and car parks.

PSF General Manager, Jenny Pickles, told the conference that there has been a positive shift towards the use of recycled crushed glass during 2010.

"More and more local authorities have recognised the environmental and economic benefits of replacing sand and natural resources with a new recycled crushed glass product which has proven to be an effective medium in asphalt and concrete engineering works," Ms Pickles said.

"We are delighted with the uptake in projects in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland where proactive councils have together now diverted the equivalent of almost 1 million stubbies from landfill and reduced the need for mining resources or taking sand from our pristine beaches. "PSF is also delighted to announce a new glass initiative in WA, where we will be partnering with Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council on a demonstration project using recycled crushed glass in asphalt."

Government releases energy efficiency report

The Government has released the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy Efficiency Report which will assist in the development of the Government's climate change policy.

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, welcomed the report, which reinforces the Government's wider climate change strategy and the need for a price on carbon. The Government's Multi-Party Climate Change Committee is currently exploring options for the introduction of a price on carbon.

The key recommendations are:

• Setting a national energy efficiency target of improving our primary energy intensity by 30 per cent by 2020;
• Establishing an energy savings initiative;
• Resetting the Government's framework for energy efficiency;
• Providing a stronger enabling environment for energy efficiency; and
• Building an energy efficiency culture in Australia.

The Government has already committed to a number of initiatives recommended in the Report. They are:

• Implementing emissions standard for new power stations and extending the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program to electricity generators;
• New mandatory CO2 emissions standards for light vehicles; and
• Tax breaks for Green Buildings

The recommendations of this report will also be considered as part of the Government's Energy White Paper process. The report is available here.

WA toughest on smoking

Western Australia has implemented the toughest anti-smoking laws in the country. Smoking will be banned in cars with children, between the flags at beaches and within 10 metres of playgrounds. There will also be smoking restrictions in alfresco areas and retailers will be banned from displaying tobacco products (Source: AAP)

Chemicals - how local government can help get the message out

There are over 40,000 chemicals currently approved for use in Australia, many of these are used daily by local governments to fertilise recreational areas, control weeds, and clean public pools, sports centres, toilets and halls. Unfortunately, as we have seen in terror attacks around the world, in the wrong hands, some of these chemicals can be used to make home-made explosives or misused due to their toxic properties.

For this reason, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a national approach for assessing the risk of chemicals, and providing targeted controls to reduce this risk.

Australian, State and Territory Governments, along with key industry groups, have developed and implemented an Australia-wide campaign to raise community awareness about the national security risks posed by some everyday household chemicals. The campaign also serves to build vigilance in the community and encourage people to report suspicious (chemical) activity to enable jurisdictional police or intelligence agencies to investigate further, if required.

Local government can also play an important role.

How can councils help?

It's easy; you can help by getting the message out. This includes:

1. displaying posters and brochures: In the coming weeks you will receive an email from the Attorney-General's Department inviting you to support the Chemicals of Security Concern Campaign by displaying posters and brochures in staff areas and around your local community. Ensure that you respond and request these materials.
2. encouraging staff to be alert, and report: Using the brochures and posters provided encourage staff to look out for unusual or suspicious chemical activity, and to report it to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
   Suspicious activity is anything that just doesn?t feel right. This could include, a council worker noticing chemicals missing from their storeroom or, an excessive and explainable number of chemical bottles in a garbage bin-the smallest clue could be the glue that helps piece together an investigation.
3. Linking to the Chemical Security website: The campaign has a dedicated website where people can get information or download posters and brochures. Providing a link to this website from your Local Government website enables your community to have easy access to this resource, and helps us get the message out.

If you are concerned about the misuse of chemicals in your local community, call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.

Smart grid, smart city program

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced the signing of the $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City project funding agreement.

Smart grids use advanced information and communications technology that allow energy providers to better manage and maintain the electricity network and provide Australian householders with information to more effectively use energy at home.

Lead partner EnergyAustralia will work with industry and community consortium partners including AGL Energy, IBM Australia, GE Energy Australia, Sydney Water, Hunter Water Australia and the Newcastle City Council to deliver the project.

The focal point of the demonstration will be in Newcastle though smaller trial elements will be undertaken in Newington, the Sydney CBD, Ku-ring-gai and the rural township of Scone.

Warning of backlash against Qld Government

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam has said the unilateral declaration of the Caloundra South development by Premier Anna Bligh as an Urban Land Development Authority area was a dangerous precedent.

"There's no doubt it will stir significant community unrest - not just on the Sunshine Coast, but across Queensland," Mr Hallam said.

"This is the first time a state government has used its exceptional powers to suspend democracy for what effectively will be a city with an end population of 50,000. It's quite clear there are no appeal rights against any decisions of the ULDA," he said.

"It's a developers dream - fast tracking, no community say and no appeals."

Mr Hallam said that the state government had reneged on a written commitment from former Premier Peter Beattie to relocate the Caloundra Airport and bear all costs associated with that action.

The government had also overturned the decisions of the former Caloundra Council and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council that the southern part of the development was decades premature.

Identity fraud

As part of National Identity Fraud Awareness Week, the National Manager of AFP High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan has urged the public to learn how they can protect themselves against identity fraud.

Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said the public has an important role to play in alerting groups such as SCAMWatch to possible identity fraud scams. This helps the AFP and other law enforcement agencies identify and prevent instances of identity theft in Australia.

The AFP is represented on Identity Security Strike Teams in several capital cities. These multi-agency teams are dedicated to the detection, investigation, disruption and prosecution of serious and organised identity related crime syndicates. To find out more on how to protect yourself from identity theft, visit the Attorney-General's Department.

Paid parental leave for local government

A progressive new Industrial Award has been endorsed by the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA), with NSW Local Government set to become one of the first industries to offer 18 weeks parental leave at full pay to both mothers and fathers as an Award entitlement.

The parental leave provisions under the proposed new Local Government (State) Award 2010 (the Award) will operate in conjunction with the Federal Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme. Under the Federal Scheme, from 1 January 2011, eligible female and male employees will receive up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave installments at the national minimum wage, currently $569.90. Under the Award, female and male employees who receive paid parental leave instalments under the Federal Scheme will have their salary "topped-up" to their ordinary rate of pay from 1 January 2011.

President of the Local Government Association of NSW, Cr. Genia McCaffery, said that the new Award is a better package for everyone. "The new Award not only increases the previous Award paid maternity leave provisions from nine to 18 weeks full pay for mums, it's also giving dads the opportunity to take that leave," said Cr. McCaffery. "Unlike the Federal Scheme, the period of paid parental leave will count as service for the purpose of accruing additional annual leave, sick leave, and long service leave and the employee will also receive superannuation payments. This is a unique and favourable aspect of our Award," she said.

President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr. Bruce Miller, said the new parental leave entitlements would mean that councils could attract and retain the best employees, who might otherwise be lost to the industry.

Call for planning abstracts

Due to popular demand the Call for Abstracts for the Planning Institute of Australia 2011 National Congress has been reopened until 5pm Friday 22 October. This is your last chance to submit an abstract to be considered for inclusion in the 2011 Congress Program. The 2011 Congress Theme 'Critical Mass' symbolises some serious soul searching for the profession as well as the need to create effective partnerships to make the changes needed. Abstracts are called for under three major themes 'Thinking, Working & Living' planning. For more information and to submit an abstract to be a part of this exciting event please follow the link Submit an Abstract.

Climate change and youth

Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)'s 'Climate Change, Children and Young People and Decision Making' project has passed its first milestone. Its research partners from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health (NCEPH) recently interviewed well-regarded climate change advocates and child and youth wellbeing experts to determine their views on the likely impacts of climate change on the health and wellbeing of children and young people. They were also asked to suggest how children and young people themselves could contribute to policy solutions to impending challenges. Follow-up interviews with the original group of experts will seek to identify constructive ways to place children and young people at the forefront of decisions and actions affecting their lives. The contributions of the people interviewed, together with a preliminary review of the current research on the social, economic, health and wellbeing impacts of climate change in the Australian context, will then be incorporated into the final project paper. This will mark the end of the 'scoping' stage of this project, and, pending funding, the beginning of the next stage - a comprehensive research report on the best evidence for building a climate safe future for children and young people.

ARACY would like to hear from people who are interested in participating in an ongoing conversation about the potential impacts of climate change on the health and wellbeing of children and how children and young people's perspectives can be taken into account in policy decision-making. Please confirm your interest to Jaya Negi at jaya.negi@aracy.org.au.

Kindergarten crisis in Victoria

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has renewed its call for the new Gillard Government to urgently commit $600 million for Victorian kindergarten facilities or risk failure of the national commitment to provide all children with 'universal access' to preschool in their year before school.

The Prime Minister has also been advised that her Lalor electorate is one of Victoria's most at-risk regions for children to miss out, with an exploding demand for four-year old preschool enrolments in 2011, and a likely crisis by 2013 when 15 hours preschool per week is introduced.

Cr Bill McArthur, MAV President said a shortage of kindergarten facilities in parts of the state had left some municipalities struggling to meet enrolment demands following Victoria's unpredicted baby boom in the early 2000's.

"The MAV has been working in partnership with the State Government to maintain Victoria's high participation rates. While the State is committed to funding all four-year old enrolments, this can only occur if the Commonwealth funds the extra facilities to meet the demand.

"Children are now trying to secure a place in facilities that are bursting at the seams. We've recently started to see the first casualties of Victoria's kindergarten crisis, which relies too heavily on goodwill and fundraising from councils and community groups to maintain the service.The MAV is aware of three-year old preschool programs being axed for 2011 to meet the growing demand for four-year old places, and some municipalities have seen an surge in waiting lists.

"The Prime Minister must urgently rewrite the 2008 Commonwealth-Victorian Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education, and must also fast-track the findings of the COAG mid-term review, which isn't expected to be finalised for another six months."

Flooding in south east Queensland

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has announced the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by flooding in South East Queensland.

"The recent flooding has caused wide spread damage to infrastructure and a significant cleanup will be required," Mr McClelland said. Commonwealth assistance is being provided to the Queensland Government through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and applies to South Burnett, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba Regional Councils and Brisbane City Council. Funding will include assistance for the restoration of essential public infrastructure and counter disaster operations.

Individuals suffering from personal hardship as a result of the flooding may be eligible for emergency assistance. Inquiries in relation to this assistance should be made to the Queensland Department of Communities on 1800 173 349.

Warmer cities

If you thought our cities are getting warmer, you're right. Bureau of Meteorology researchers have found that daytime temperatures in our cities are warming more rapidly than those of the surrounding countryside and that this is due to the cities themselves.

Bureau climate scientist, Belinda Campbell, said "we've known for a while that city night time temperatures have been warmer because the heat's retained after sunset just that much longer than the countryside, and that city daytime temperatures have been warming too."

"But what we didn't know was whether city day time temperatures were also warmer because of the urbanisation or whether it was due to the overall warming of the planet associated with the enhanced greenhouse effect. We can now confidently say that the reason our cities are warmer and warming faster than the surrounding countryside during the day is because of the urbanisation, the fact that all those offices, houses and factories absorb the heat and retain it a little bit longer," Ms Campbell said.

On average, the enhanced greenhouse effect is responsible for about 0.5 to 1.0 degree of observed warming around the globe (more in some areas, less in other areas). The additional effect of urbanisation on warming varies from city to city (depending on the buildings and open parkland close to the observation site).