Briefs
ALGA President argues for new transport paradigm
ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake addressed the Bus Industry Confederation Conference on Wednesday on the topic of 'strategic alliances and what other organisations think about public transport' with emphasis on discussing the importance of active and public transport and what needs to be done.
Cr Lake said that while local government was well placed to coordinate community transport, better coordination between levels of government, the private sector and volunteer organisations would need to develop and is an area where there are opportunities for greater partnerships with the bus industry. He said an emerging role for local government was community transport and this has implications and opportunities for the bus industry. Community transport is targeted at the disabled, frail and aged who are unable to drive or use normal public transport to gain access to the care and services they need. It gives individuals the ability to choose to live independently for as long as possible. "The population growth and changing environment within which transport services will be delivered mean that a new transport paradigm must emerge in the coming years," he said. "The aging population means that there is emerging community transport role that offers new opportunities for the bus industry." ALGA and the Bus Industry Confederation worked together with other interested groups to develop and launch An Australian Vision for Active Transport during the recent election campaign. In addition to BIC and ALGA, the Vision involved input from the Cycling Promotion Fund, the National Heart Foundation and the International Association of Public Transport.
Inquiry into the Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms
The Community Affairs References Committee will inquire and and report by 30 April 2011 on the social and economic impacts of rural wind farms, and in particular:
- Any adverse health effects for people living in close proximity to wind farms;
- Concerns over the excessive noise and vibrations emitted by wind farms, which are in close proximity to people's homes;
- The impact of rural wind farms on property values, employment opportunities and farm income;
- The interface between Commonwealth, state and local planning laws as they pertain to wind farms; and
- Any other relevant matters.
The Committee is seeking written submissions from interested individuals and organisations preferably in electronic form submitted online or sent by email to community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au as an attached Adobe PDF or MS Word format document.
The email must include full postal address and contact details. Alternatively, written submissions may be sent to: Department of the Senate, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Notes to help you prepare your submission are available from the website. Alternatively, the Committee Secretariat will be able to help you with your inquiries and can be contacted on telephone +61 2 6277 3515 or facsimile +61 2 6277 5829 or by email to
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au.
Senate Inquiry into Murray Darling Basin
A Senate inquiry will look into the management of the Murray Darling Basin and the development and implementation of the Basin Plan. The Inquiry which was announced yesterday will examine the government's Murray Darling Basin Plan and its impact on farmers, farming communities and the long term effect on consumers and will be chaired by Senator Bill Heffernan, Liberal Senator for NSW and Chair of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee. Submissions are invited and should be lodged at rat.sen@aph.gov.au or with the Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Rural Affairs and Transport, Department of the Senate, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. If you wish to make a confidential submission please contact the Committee Secretary on (02) 6277 3511. The Committee is expected to report to the Senate by 30 November 2011. For further information about the inquiry click here.
Commonwealth response to Bushfires Royal Commission report
The Attorney-General Robert McClelland has released the Commonwealth Response to the Final Report of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
The Commission's report contained 67 recommendations, of which five were primarily directed at the Commonwealth. These relate to bushfire awareness and research, Commonwealth fire fighting resources, bushfire arson and environment protection legislation.
Beyond these five recommendations specifically targeted at the Commonwealth, the Commission also made a number of other recommendations and findings of broader national significance
including, for example, in relation to the development of the Commonwealth funded national telephone-based emergency warning system, 'Emergency Alert'. The Commonwealth has already committed to fund this system's enhancement to enable the delivery of warnings to mobile phones based on their location at the time of an emergency. The Attorney-General said the Commonwealth remained firmly committed to assisting the States and Territories improve their emergency management arrangements by enhancing Australia's resilience to disasters.
Coffs Harbour mayor new President of NSW LGA
Coffs Harbour mayor Cr Keith Rhoades has been elected president of the Local Government Association of NSW at its annual conference in Albury this week Cr Rhoades was certain Coffs Harbour would benefit from his new role, which also gives him a seat on the board of the Australian Local Government Association.
"I commit myself to a job which is to represent the 152 councils right across NSW in conjunction with the president of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce Miller," he said.
"Planning issues are number one at the moment - we want to see power given back to local government."
Cr Rhoades, who has been Coffs Harbour's mayor since 2004, will next month relinquish his chairmanship of the NSW Country Mayors' Association after three years at the helm.
Cost of rewiring to be met by NBN Co
The National Broadband Network Co will cover the costs of rewiring old apartment blocks to ensure they can connect to the service.
The decision comes as the national association for strata managers and body corporates, the National Community Titles Institute (NCTI) warned that landlords would not be willing to foot the bill for any extra costs needed to get the best service offered by the NBN.
"We would encourage landlords to make the NBN available to tenants but inevitably there could be a cost involved and in most situations like this, landlords are less willing than owner-occupied units to meet those costs," NCTI executive officer Mark Lever told The Australian. "This might have to be something that body corporates resolve themselves, and also pay for it."
Those fears should be assuaged as the NBN Co confirmed to The Australian that it had recently formalised its position on connecting multi-dwelling units (MDU) to the NBN. The formal position is in line with one of the 84 recommendations outlined in the $25 million McKinsey KPMG implementation study, which the government is yet to respond to.
The NCTI - which represents the vast majority of the 270,000 body corporates around the nation - has warned that unless the government and NBN Co start engaging with strata managers and body corporates about how the network will be connected to apartments, then many of the multi-dwelling units could miss out on the NBN.
However, the NBN Co said it would use the first five release sites in its mainland build - in Willunga, Brunswick, Townsville, Kiama and Armidale - to test a range of installation and deployment methods in MDUs.
NSW Opposition promises to return planning powers to councils
Returning planning powers to communities would mean "more work" for councils, the NSW Premier said during an attack on the Coalition's election promise to reform the planning system by empowering local government.
Kristina Keneally endured jeers from mayors and councillors during her address to the Local Government Association conference in Albury as she defended state Labor's resumption of planning powers from councils, in particular Part 3A of the planning rules, which give the government authority to determine all major projects.
The association has campaigned against Part 3A, which it says increases the "potential for undue influence and corruption in the development process".
The Coalition has promised to scrap Part 3A and return powers to councils but has not provided detail on what the new law would be, instead committing to a review of the planning system in the first year of government.
Mr O'Farrell also pledged to accommodate the rising population by encouraging growth of regional centres, and to provide incentives to support voluntary council amalgamations.
Melbourne most liveable city
Melbourne has continued its dominance as Australia's most liveable city and most popular interstate tourist destination with new research by Roy Morgan showing Melbourne continues to outperform Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
After the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Melbourne was well behind Sydney as the leading city for hosting major sporting and cultural events. Now 54 per cent of people think Melbourne is the leading events city compared to only 35 per cent for Sydney.
In 2000, Melbourne trailed Sydney as the leading city for cafes, bars and nightclubs. Today, 52 per cent of people say Melbourne's cafe culture and diverse nightlife is the best compared to only 25 per cent for Sydney. The research is supported by the latest domestic visitor numbers which show Melbourne is the most popular city in Australia for interstate visitors.
NFF CEO resigns
National Farmers' Federation (NFF) President David Crombie announced that NFF Chief Executive Ben Fargher has informed him of his decision to resign from the organisation.
"After almost six years as Chief Executive and 11 at the NFF, Ben has informed me and the NFF Board of his decision to step down," Mr Crombie said.
"Ben is passionate about agriculture and the NFF, and has made a huge contribution over many years. He will leave the NFF as a lifelong friend of the organisation and the NFF Board wishes to express its sincere thanks and best wishes to him and his family."
Population growth divides nation
More than half of all Australians believe the country doesn't need any more people but the issue of population growth still divides the nation.
A new Australian National University poll has found that 52 per cent of Australians are against population growth while 44 per cent are in favour.
More than two-thirds (71 per cent) also believe the world's population is too large and is damaging the environment.
ANU political scientist Professor Ian McAllister, who led the poll team, said people opposed population growth for a variety of reasons, including the cost to the environment, urban overcrowding and a lack of housing and transport.
But 52 per cent of Australians believed that if the population should increase, growth should come through higher birth rates rather than immigration.
Just 16 per cent believed immigration was a better method of increasing the population. The ANU poll is a quarterly phone survey and compares Australian results to international opinion polls.
Board scholarship program for women
Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis has called on Australian women to apply for a new scholarship program aimed at increasing the number of women on boards.
Applications have opened for the Board Diversity Scholarship Program, a $400,000 election commitment from the Australian Government, which is jointly funded with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
The program will offer more than 70 scholarships to board-ready women to assist them to attend the AICD's highly regarded Company Directors course or Mastering the Boardroom course. Participating women will also receive a one-year membership of the AICD.
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace's Census of Women in Leadership shows that only 8.4 per cent of board directorships and 8 per cent of Executive Key Management Personnel positions in the ASX 200 are held by women.
The Government has committed to a 40:40:20 membership ratio on Australian Government Boards by 2015. Applications close on 12 November 2010. For more information on applying for the scholarships, click here.
Clean energy from toxic waste
A team of Australian and Chinese scientists has pioneered a new way to make clean energy from land so contaminated with toxic waste that it is good for little else. A collaboration between researchers from Australia's CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) and its offshore partners HLM Asia Group and Shaoguan University has delivered proof of concept for a new system for cleaning up badly polluted land that produces greenhouse-friendly energy for homes and industry at the same time. The Australia-China team has demonstrated that a fast growing plant called Giant Napier Grass can not only be used to cleanse affected soils of contaminants - but can then be converted to ethanol for transport fuel or steam for electricity production.
Indigenous Economic Development Strategy comment
The closing date for submissions on the draft Indigenous Economic Development Strategy has been extended to 17 December 2010.
It is a framework for increasing the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians by supporting greater economic participation and self reliance. Details here.
NBN submissions due by 5 November
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released a discussion paper to facilitate stakeholder feedback on implementing the Government's universal service reforms.
The reforms include establishing a new entity, USO Co, which will commence operations in July 2012. The responsibilities of USO Co will include:
- ensuring all Australians have reasonable access to a standard telephone service
- ensuring that payphones are reasonably accessible to all Australians
- emergency call handling and the National Relay Service
Submissions to the discussion paper are due by 3.00pm AEDST 5 November 2010. Copies of the discussion paper are available here.
Bushfire detection cameras
Commonwealth Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron have released an independent report into the trial of bushfire detection cameras conducted earlier this year.
The report, 'Remote Fire Detection Trials Evaluation of Three Fire Detection Systems', by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), undertaken by the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO), examines whether the critical time between a fire starting and it being detected could be reduced by the use of remotely controlled bushfire detection cameras.
The Commonwealth has agreed to conduct a national workshop next week to discuss the outcomes of the trial and to review the report in detail to consider the use of fire detection cameras in Australia. The workshop will bring together senior representatives from the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, emergency management agencies, as well as key members of the scientific and research community. A report on the outcomes of the workshop will be provided to the National Emergency Management Committee for consideration. The Report is available here.
State governments threaten affordable housing, holidays
The days of pitching the family tent at a simple seaside caravan park may be numbered, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald on the weekend. This month the Land and Property Management Authority took control of parks at Forster, Tuncurry, Hawks Nest, Seal Rocks and Jimmys Beach in the Great Lakes shire. Earlier this year, Ballina Central, Lake Ainsworth and Shaws Bayparks on the north coast were handed over.
But the takeovers have raised fears the traditional egalitarian beach holiday - and cheap housing for pensioners - will be swept away by park redevelopment, making access to the most popular holiday beaches the preserve of the rich.
"There's concern among councils that some of these caravan parks are being resumed for development - it's not just here in NSW, it's happening in other states as well," said Alan Stokes, the executive director of the National Sea Change Taskforce, which represents 68 coastal councils. "What our members are concerned about is that it's reducing affordable housing."
Teenager stirs a nation's conscience
A message from a Sydney teenager calling for an end to indigenous inequality was aired across every satellite and free-to-air television network this week, sending not-for-profit group Generation One's website into meltdown as Australian's signed up to join the cause.
Madeleine Madden, 13, spoke on behalf the group about job creation and building a better future for her people.
"This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talk to you, Australia, about my people," she said, talking to the camera for two minutes from a stool in a studio. "I do want to talk to you about the real things that can make our lives better. With a job, a real job, you can look after yourself, your family, and help your community," she said.
The broadcast received more than $4 million in free media space and organisers believe her message reached more than 6 million people. Madeleine is the daughter of Hetti Perkins and Lee Madden, and the granddaughter of Chikka Madden and Charles Perkins.
"If a huge effort is made, the gap between my people and other Australians can be closed in one generation - that's in the next 20 years," she said. Generation One was founded by the West Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest." All Australians have the chance to make a difference and be a part of the generation for change," its chief executive, Tim Gartrell, said. (Source Indaily/Fairfax)
Carbon Market Institute for Victoria
Victoria will become home to the national Carbon Market Institute, giving Melbourne the advantage to become a major centre for carbon market business in the Asia-Pacific region, the State Government has said.
The Institute will be an independent, not-for-profit organisation established in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Emissions Trading Forum. It will be located in VECCI's East Melbourne headquarters.
"The new institute will help businesses develop and implement new ways to cut their carbon emissions effectively.
The Institute will provide the Australian industry with business networking, research and market analysis, education and training, professional standards and accreditation and international engagement. "The Victorian Climate Change White Paper launched earlier this year puts us at the forefront of Australian action to combat global warming and sets a new target to cut greenhouse emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020," Mr Lenders said.
Green Star ratings
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see both organisations work together on the development and delivery of the Green Star Communities rating tool.
According to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of PIA, Kirsty Kelly, the MoU is a clear signal that planners are committed to sustainable communities.
"PIA is excited to be collaborating with the GBCA on the Green Star Communities tool. Members of PIA will play an important role in the success of Green Star Communities by contributing urban, environmental and social planning information that will help establish best practice standards in the tool," Ms Kelly says.
Projects to boost natural disaster resilience
Sixty-eight projects worth more than $26 million will be undertaken across Queensland to enhance community resilience to natural disasters.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the Queensland and Commonwealth governments would contribute more than $12 million to the total cost of the projects under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, with the applicant and partner organisations also contributing funding.
"With climate change effecting weather patterns, it is likely natural disaster events in Queensland will be more regular and more severe in coming years," Mr McClelland said. "The Bureau of Meteorology has already warned Queenslanders to be prepared for a potentially intense storm season this year, with the chance of more cyclones, storms and associated flooding. Queenslanders are well-practiced in preparing for storms, however we need to look further ahead and build resilience to natural disasters in communities across the state."
Projects funded in the second and latest round of the NDRP ranged from flood mapping, to back-up power and generators for essential services and flood surveillance cameras.
One hundred and twenty-four funding applications for projects with a combined value of close to $64 million were made in the program's second funding round.
National preventative health agency plan
A fat tax would not be slapped on junk food as part of the fight against flab, the Prime Minister has promised.
Julia Gillard's pledge comes as a raft of health groups backed the Government's plans to create a national preventative health agency to promote the importance of healthy lifestyles.
The Government has reintroduced legislation to set up the agency, which will attempt to reverse rising rates of obesity, binge drinking and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Breast cancer research register
On Monday 25th October, Pink Ribbon Day, Sarah Murdoch, Patron of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, launched Register4, Australia's first national online community research register. All Australians aged 18 and over, with or without a breast cancer diagnosis are encouraged to join. Participants are invited to provide basic information about themselves and their lifestyle. They will also be emailed about each new approved research project that they may be eligible to participate in. If breast cancer has touched someone you know, or if you're a supporter of Australian medical research, click here to find out more about what you can do.
Indigenous employment green paper
The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) recently released a Local Government Employment Program Green Paper to explore untapped labour pools and invest in the recruitment and development of Australian Indigenous workers. The Green Paper can be downloaded here.
One of the program's key objectives will be to advocate and promote the employment of Indigenous people by local government at a rate that reflects the local Indigenous population. The local government sector is uniquely positioned to play a greater role in Indigenous employment, as it is a place-based employer with national reach that offers secure and diverse occupational opportunities. For more information, please contact Angela Zivkovic, Project Manager, Local Government Practice Unit.
Climate change working paper
ACELG has produced a working paper to provide a snapshot of what is happening in local government in Australia in relation to climate change. It explores the resources available to councils on the science and potential impacts at the local government level; current national, state and local initiatives that local government decision makers should know about; actions that the local government sector are taking in response to climate change; and, the gaps, needs and challenges related to these actions. Click here to download the working paper.
The working paper is part of ACELG's broader Research and Policy Foresight Program, which is now well underway following the appointment of a Program Co-ordinator and Senior Research Officer. ACELG has prepared a short information paper on the objectives, purpose and priorities for the Research and Policy Foresight Program, and an overview of the principles underpinning the Centre's approach to funding, supporting and undertaking research for the local government sector. This document, and research activities currently underway can be viewed here.
For further information or to make suggestions for future working papers contact Stefanie Pillora, Senior Research Officer.
City of Prospect wins digital award
City of Prospect was announced the winner of the Economic Development Strategic Planning Award - National for the Digital Economy Strategy at the Economic Development Australia conference in Sydney.
The Digital Economy Strategy was prepared by City of Prospect's Director - Business and Economic Development, Mr Steve Harrison and was declared by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy as the "best digital economy strategy in Australia".
The strategy since has been adopted by seven member councils of the Eastern Region Alliance of Councils in Adelaide and is in demand from Regional Development Australia boards, local government authorities and state government departments as a model 'how to' digital economy engagement strategy. The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has subsequently named City of Prospect one of 19 NBN Phase II roll out sites.
Quote of the week
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
International news 
Effective sustainable transport is vital to the operation of most economic and social services in our communities. The National Department of Transport launched October Transport Month at Bridge City in KwaZulu Natal to emphasise the importance of rail as a key part of the Department's plans into the future. At the launch Minister of Transport, Sibusiso Ndebele, stated that "rail is a key part of [the Department of Transport's] strategy to reduce transport related emissions into the environment and to reduce our country's carbon footprint". According to www.freightonrail.org.uk "rail freight has a key role to play in the low carbon economy as rail produces seventy percent less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent road journey". Ndebele reiterated that "rail remains a pillar of our strategy to move towards safer roads and to reduce accidents on our roads". Ndebele further affirmed that South Africa's future will see more taxis and buses on our roads carrying passengers and fewer privately owned vehicles. He maintained that together with rail, South Africa's public transport system which includes taxis and buses must ready itself to carry more and more people and not fewer.
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