Constitutional recognition gains momentum

A steady stream of councils are advising ALGA that they have passed resolutions supporting constitutional recognition. At this early stage, the number of councils passing resolutions in NSW is double that of any other state or territory! ALGA urges all councils to pass resolutions prior to the National General Assembly in June, at which we are expecting the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean, to make a presentation. Minister Crean has been tasked with responsibility for the local government referendum, and the Assembly will provide a timely opportunity to demonstrate the level of local government support to Minister Crean and to all parties. There will be a further chance at the Assembly for councils to pledge their support for constitutional recognition.

Momentum is building with the following councils advising ALGA of their resolutions this week:

• District Council of Kimba (SA)
• Horsham Rural City Council (Vic)
• Moreland City Council (Vic)
• Shire of Brookton (WA)
• Upper Lachlan Shire Council (NSW)
• Lachlan Shire Council (NSW)
• Shire of Northam (WA)
• Hobart City Council (Tas)
• Tatiara District Council (SA)
• Auburn City Council (NSW)
• Lockhart Shire Council (NSW)
• Shire of Gunnedah (NSW)
• Kempsey Shire Council (NSW)
• Richmond Valley (NSW)
• Morawa Shire Council (WA)
• Charters Towers Regional Council (Qld)
• Shire of Corrigin (WA)
• Rural City of Murray Bridge (SA)
• Wakefield Regional Council (SA)
• City of Salisbury (SA)

Any councils requiring further information should contact Monica Telesny on 02 61229433 or at monica.telesny@alga.asn.au.

Council input sought on national infrastructure strategies

Infrastructure Australia is seeking input from interested parties, including councils, on the National Land Freight Strategy. The draft Strategy proposes the following actions: One national integrated system; effective local planning; long-term targeted funding; smarter regulations; and more accountability. Input is sought by 30 April 2011. The full draft strategy and details of how to make a submission can be found here.

ALGA lodges planning submission

ALGA has lodged its submission to the Productivity Commission's draft report into Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Planning, Zoning and Development Assessments. In its submission, ALGA stated that whilst local government plays an important role in planning and development assessment, it does so within the legislative directions given to it by the state jurisdiction. Planning in Australia is a highly political and complex public policy activity and ALGA was pleased that the Productivity Commission's draft report acknowledged these facts and recognized the difficult, yet highly important, role played by local governments in all phases of the planning process - strategic planning, development assessment, planning enforcement, and most importantly community engagement.

Whilst the ALGA submission raised several concerns regarding some of the draft report's findings and methodology, it nevertheless thought that the Commission did a good job in describing the state of planning in Australia today, and identifying a range of sensible leading practices. ALGA reinforced its position that local government in Australia can not be held responsible for adding unnecessary complexity or costs on businesses in the way in which it undertakes planning or the decisions or non-decisions it subsequently makes in dealing with development proposals. Local communities understand and demand that planning should be undertaken in a rational and transparent manner and, subject to potential impact risks, should always involve the community in such processes.

The Commission intends to publicly release the final report on Friday 29 April. For further details on the Inquiry and the draft report findings click here. ALGA's submission can be accessed here.

Earlier this year ALGA put forward its submission for the 2011-12 Federal Budget. In collating that document ALGA considered many different factors and the state and territory associations were consulted to ensure that we presented a document that reflects a true national picture of our financial needs.

We're also aware of the current budgetary pressure the Commonwealth faces. The pledge to return the Budget to surplus by 2012-13 is fundamental to the Gillard Government's economic credibility, as it featured so prominently in the 2010 election campaign. However, in that period we have the seen trade impacts of a strong dollar, reduced taxation revenue and, of course, a summer full of natural disasters, with direct and indirect consequences. These issues placed greater strain on the Budget and because of this, we know that the outlook for the Budget in May, may well not be a bright one.

In spite of this, ALGA is determined to advocate for the needs of local government across the country. We have argued strongly for the need to re-assess local government financing to reflect the role we play in the community. We also addressed the need for Commonwealth support across a wide-range of critical areas including ensuring the continuation of Roads to Recovery funding, assisting local government manage with the effects of climate change and to help local government in the transition to the digital economy.

ALGA will shortly be sending out printed copies of the 2011-12 Budget submission 'Boosting regional capacity and supporting our urban communities' to all councils and to state and territory associations in advance of the Budget announcement on 10 May. Regardless of the result on Budget night, ALGA will continue to work to ensure that local government gets the support we need to continue to provide vital services and infrastructure for our communities.

Mayor Genia McCaffery
ALGA President

Briefs

Guideline on the application of the Premises Standards

As you will be aware the Disability (Access to Premises - buildings) Standards 2010 (Cth) (Premises Standards) commence on 1 May 2011. Any application for a building approval for a new building or upgrade of an existing building on or after that date will trigger the application of the Premises Standards.

The purpose of the Premises Standards is:

• to ensure that dignified, equitable, cost-effective and reasonably achievable access to buildings, and facilities and services within buildings, is provided for people with disability, and
• to give certainty to building certifiers, developers and managers that if the Standards are complied with they cannot be subject to a successful complaint under the DDA in relation to those matters covered by the Premises Standards.

The introduction of the Premises Standards should lead to widespread and important improvements in the accessibility and safety of all new and upgraded buildings that it covers throughout Australia. The aim of these changes is to improve the opportunities for people with disability to participate in and contribute to the economic, cultural, social and political life of our community as equal citizens. They will also help in creating a more sustainable built environment capable of responding to our changing circumstances and family and community needs.

The changes will also require the development of new skills, knowledge and approaches from those in the building industry including developers, designers and architects, builders, project managers, certifiers and building operators.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has issued a Guideline on the application of the Premises Standards to assist in their application.

The Guideline is available on-line.

Population audit

Federal and state governments talk a lot about population growth, but Australia's more than 560 local councils have to deal with the day to day consequences. More people make our communities more vibrant, but they take their toll on local roads and community services, and make long-term town planning more challenging.

The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), a think tank in Sydney, would like to know how mayors and council CEOs believe population growth affects their local communities. In particular, the CIS is interested in how the number of residents affects councils' budgets, and whether existing council revenue sources are perceived to be adequate.

The CIS's online survey can be found here.

Women in local government - the challenges

Local Government Management Challenge 2010 is the summary of the findings of 123 councils on the current issues and challenges for women in Local Government. An initiative of Local Government Managers Australia, with support from the Commonwealth Office of Women, the challenge was conducted during the Year of Women in Local Government.

The report identified six (6) themes which were key issues for women in Local Government - corporate culture and attitudes; limited communications and low equity awareness levels; minimal performance accounting and measurement; strong and often negative self-perceptions of women; complexities of people management and leadership; and the extent of family flexibility options.

The report says there is a lot of work to be done.

The next generation is looking at portfolio careers and continuous up-skilling to maintain their employability and a job for life is not a motivator for that generation. Local Government, the report suggests, will need to analyse what women and the next generation are looking for from the workplace and provide appropriate career options on a short and long-term basis.

Women in local government earn less than men, but the gap is smaller in local government than in other spheres. Women in local government are better qualified than men. Women are in the majority amongst local government professionals but not managers, with a much higher proportion of women working part-time. You can read the full Local Government Management Challenge here or via the Year of Women in Local Government website.

Earlier this month Governor-General Quentin Bryce spoke on the eve of the 100^th anniversary of International Women's Day to express her disappointment that Australia was so far behind other countries in areas of economic participation and opportunity for women. Quoting the latest World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index she said that Australia ranks 44^th in female labour force participation and 59^th in wage equity. As one of the oldest democracies in the world and one of the first to grant women the vote and stand for election, she described the figures as disappointing.

drumMuster recycles rural waste

Australian farmers have contributed more than 2,000 tonnes of rubbish for recycling as part of one of the country's most successful industry-driven waste collection schemes, according to survey results released today.

The survey found farmers returned 41.8 per cent (by weight) of non-refundable farm chemical containers sold nationally during 2009 as part of the drumMUSTER program.

Conducted every two years, the survey was carried out on behalf of AgStewardship Australia, the body responsible for overseeing drumMUSTER, and another environmental stewardship program ChemClear.

AgStewardship Australia Chairman Lauchlan McIntosh says the results represent a substantial increase in the proportion of drums collected since the last survey period in 2007, which saw only 30.8 per cent of all drums sold being removed from the waste stream. More information available here. The state by state breakdown is below:

Austroads launches cycling guide

The Cycling Aspects of Austroads Guides has been released by Austroads. The publication brings together cycling-related information found in various Austroads guides, primarily the Guide to Road Design and the Guide to Traffic Management.

It contains key information on planning, design and traffic management of cycling facilities. The publication has been produced to ensure that this information is easily accessible by practitioners who have a specific interest in cycling issues and facilities.

It provides an overview of planning and traffic management considerations, and a summary of design guidance and criteria relating to on-road and off-road bicycle facilities.

Cycling Aspects of Austroads Guides cross-references the Austroads Guides for more detailed information. It can be downloaded for free from the Austroads Publications Online

NT has highest population turnover of any state or territory

The Northern Territory recorded an average annual growth rate of 2.3% during the five years to 31 December 2009, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This makes the NT the third fastest growing of all the states and territories after Western Australia and Queensland.

During the year ending 31 December 2009, natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) accounted for 58% of the NT's total population growth, followed by net overseas migration which accounted for 38%.

Net interstate migration accounted for the remaining 4% of the NT's total growth in 2009. All states, except New South Wales and Victoria, gained more people from the NT than they lost to the NT in 2009. Queensland remained the most popular destination for people departing the NT, as well as the most popular state of origin for people arriving into the NT.

Further information here.

Neighbourhood Walkability Checklist

The checklist is a national consumer advocacy tool that asks community residents to be the 'eyes and feet' of their council to provide feedback on the 'walkability' of their local neighbourhoods. The Heart Foundation thinks local residents often know and understand their neighbourhoods as well as anyone else and their feedback can assist planners and other relevant professionals in local government to identify features that either support or discourage residents from walking for transport or recreation. Click here for the checklist

First female speaker

The New South Wales Parliament is to get its first female Speaker, Liberal MP Shelley Hancock. Ms Hancock is confident she can keep control of proceedings, after eight years in Parliament.

"I mean I have had a lot of experience in local government before this and also 27 years as a school teacher in secondary high school I guess could give me some pretty good credentials for that too," Ms Hancock said.

"I think the bear pit is sometimes worse than a classroom of 14 and 15 year olds but nevertheless that kind of experience of keeping everybody I guess under control, making sure that everybody is listened to and heard and everybody is shown respect."

Environmental levy for ACT mooted in report

A report to the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment recommends imposing an environment/tree/bushland levy for environmental management fund and the renewal of Canberra's urban forest. The paper outlines the results of a review of funding mechanisms adopted by local and state governments around Australia and possible criteria for a levy. The report is available here.