Summit discusses urban congestion problems

Former New South Wales Premier, Bob Carr was among the high-profile speakers addressing this week's Emerging Crises Summit - Cities, Population, Climate Change and Energy in Canberra, which heard that Australian cities will have to become denser to ensure more people are living in walking distance from public transport hubs.

Bob Carr said that high population growth, coupled with freight volumes, which are expected to double by 2020, provides a strong argument for people to make better use of public transport.

Such views were echoed by ALGA's Deputy President, Mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis, who indicated that the Federal Government needed to be more involved in future infrastructure planning and funding to assist communities in managing the effects of population growth.

"There is no question that our cities are facing major issues with their transport systems as they deal with congestion, escalating prices for fuel and the pressure to reduce all forms of pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions," Mayor Lewis said.

"Governments need to work with their communities to guide the evolution of our cities to meet the transport and lifestyle challenges of the future. These challenges include Australia's high rate of obesity and the need to create environments that support physical activity and active transport. In doing so, expectations need to be realistic, recognise emerging new technologies and accept that change will be slow."

Mayor Lewis said that local government welcomed the involvement of the Federal Government in the strategic oversight planning and funding of transport infrastructure in our cities.

"Local government is ready to work with industry and other levels of government to address congestion and emerging transport issues in developing our cities for future generations."

Business Regulation Benchmarking Study

The Australian Government has requested that the Productivity Commission undertake a benchmarking study into the role of local government as a regulator. This study is the fourth in a series of reviews benchmarking Australian business regulatory burdens.

In undertaking this study, the Productivity Commission has been requested to benchmark the extent to which particular approaches to the exercise of regulatory responsibilities by local government authorities affects costs incurred by business and specifically to:

• identify the scope of local government regulatory responsibilities in each state and territory;
• clarify the extent to which the local government role includes implementing policies of national and state/territory governments;
• assess whether different responsibilities and the approach taken to their exercise has a material impact on business costs; and
• identify best practices which have the capacity to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs for business.

The study will develop indicators to benchmark the performance of jurisdictions and facilitate regulatory improvements, and will draw on leading practice approaches from Australia and overseas.

Consistent with the original terms of reference for the Commission's benchmarking program, the Commission is convening an Advisory Panel, comprising representatives from all levels of governments, to facilitate consultation and improve the quality of information in the final report. As has been the case in previous years of the Commission's benchmarking program, the Commissioner and study team meet with the Advisory Panel at several key points throughout the course of the study. ALGA CEO Adrian Beresford-Wylie will represent the ALGA on the Advisory Panel.

Healthy Communities Initiative: Call for Applications

To promote healthy living at the community level, the Australian Government is providing up to $71.8 million over four years from 2009/10 through the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) under the COAG National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

The Initiative supports local governments across Australia to deliver effective community-based physical activity and healthy eating programs and activities, increase the capacity of local communities to promote healthy living, and develop a range of policies to support healthy lifestyle behaviours.

The HCI aims to help reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in participating communities with a particular focus on socio-economically disadvantaged areas and adults predominantly not in the paid workforce. The Initiative is comprised of four components: Local Government Area (LGA) Grants, National Program Grants, a Quality Framework and registration system linked to a web-based Information Portal, and an evaluation.

Grants to LGAs account for $61.5 million under the HCI and the program is being progressively implemented over three phases with up to 92 potential recipients. Funds can be used to deliver or purchase programs and activities; provide or subsidise training and education; and promote the healthy lifestyle agenda trough community marketing, and policy and infrastructure development.

Forty-five LGAs across Australia are currently funded under the HCI. The third funding round is open from 6 July to 19 August 2011 and provides an opportunity for up to 47 additional LGAs to join the Initiative.

Further information about the HCI is available here.

As outlined above, ALGA joined with six other organisations to host the Emerging Crises Summit - Cities, Population, Climate Change and Energy at Parliament House in Canberra on 6 July. The event attracted hundreds and ALGA was represented by our Deputy President, Mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis.

The Summit was organised to highlight and call on the Australian Government to address the emerging issues of congested cities, a growing and aging population, climate change and future energy challenges. The timing was excellent as it coincided with the Government's announcements about the carbon tax on fuel (including confusion over whether public transport will be exempt) and the release of Infrastructure Australia's report to the Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG), which analyses the condition of the country's infrastructure.

Results of a national poll of 1510 residents was released at the Summit, indicating that 82 per cent of the those surveyed support the Federal Government increasing funding for public transport and that 70 per cent support the Federal Government becoming more directly involved in the planning of public transport in Australia's major cities. A further 72 per cent said that they wanted the proceeds of a carbon tax, if it is introduced, used to fund public transport improvements.

Infrastructure Australia, in its report to COAG, comments: "Australians experience the consequences of poor or inadequate infrastructure planning, investment and regulation in their daily lives. They experience the frustration of congestion in our cities and the absence of effective public transport leaves people stranded, both figuratively and literally."

But what does this mean for local governments which are often at the receiving end of community frustration?

In her presentation to the Summit, Mayor Lewis reinforced that local roads, footpaths and cycle ways were the capillaries of the local urban transport system that connected key state and federally funded transport arteries and that more than 80 per cent of the road network was owned, financed and maintained by local government.

The reality in all the discussion of urban transport is that local government is the provider of the most extensive urban transport infrastructure and understands that it needs to be properly integrated with any new urban transport developments to achieve full value from those investments. It is this local infrastructure that everyone first uses in their journey, no matter how long or short or by what mode of transport.

This key role of local government should not be forgotten when major funding for new public transport infrastructure is announced. Only when all three levels of government work together to plan and fund these developments as a whole, will the full value of major urban transport initiatives is realised.

In his covering letter to the report to COAG, the Chairman of Infrastructure Australia, Sir Rodd Eddington states: "The country needs leadership in this area."

Governments need to work with their communities to guide the evolution of our cities to meet the challenges of the future. In doing so, expectations need to be realistic and we need recognise emerging new technologies and accept that change will be slow.

Local government welcomes the involvement of the Australian Government in the strategic oversight planning and funding of transport infrastructure in our cities. Local government is ready to work with industry and other levels of government to address congestion and emerging transport issues in developing our cities for future generations.

The full transcript of Mayor Lewis's presentation to the Summit can be found on the ALGA website.

Mayor Genia McCaffery
ALGA President

Briefs

More support for constitutional recognition

ALGA has been advised that 355 councils have now passed resolutions supporting constitutional recognition - this is a national average of 54 per cent.

South Australia continues to lead the states with 86 per cent of councils passing resolutions, followed by New South Wales at 70 per cent, Northern Territory at 64 per cent, Queensland at 56 per cent, Tasmania and Victoria both with 55 per cent and Western Australia at 53 per cent.

The councils listed below have recently advised ALGA that they have passed resolutions.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2011

NAIDOC Week celebrations are being held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated each July, not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Many local government authorities have been taking part in this important week of celebrations. There have been flag-raising ceremonies, dreamtime stories have been read to children in libraries, there are displays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and cultural performances.

Each annual NAIDOC Week has a theme, this year's is Change: the next step is ours. Considering the upcoming referendum on Indigenous Constitutional recognition, this carries a very important message for all Australians, not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Infrastructure Australia releases report

Infrastructure Australia's (IA) annual report to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has emphasised the urgent need to reform the financing of major infrastructure projects across Australia.

In releasing the report - Communicating the Imperative for Action - the Chairman of Infrastructure Australia, Sir Rod Eddington, said that government reforms to infrastructure planning and delivery was frustratingly slow and had resulted in a slowing of Australia's productivity.

Infrastructure Australia has recently set up an Infrastructure Financing Working Group to identify new ways of financing infrastructure.

Sir Rod said that the establishment of the Working Group, Infrastructure Australia would focus on financial reform and developing practical ways to secure additional private funds for investment in infrastructure.

Infrastructure Australia's report can be found here.

Rural doctors seek council feedback on classification impacts

The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) is seeking feedback from regional, rural and remote councils on the impact of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification -Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system on medical services in their communities.

RDAA has growing evidence that ASGC-RA is significantly adding to difficulties in recruiting and retaining doctors in many rural locations. The new system places many smaller rural towns in the same classification category as larger regional centres and even Hobart (RA2 - Inner Regional), meaning doctors can now receive the same incentive payments whether they practise in the smaller towns or larger centres. In comparative terms, this has substantially reduced the incentive for doctors to relocate to or remain in the smaller towns, as the larger centres can offer additional supports and services.

RDAA is urging the Federal Government to implement an immediate and independent review of the system. Additional case studies from local councils will assist RDAA in its ongoing advocacy on this issue.

Feedback can be provided to policy@rdaa.com.au or by calling RDAA on 02 6239 7730.An RDAA policy on the new classification system can be found here while some examples of the anomalies introduced by the system can be found here.

Dwelling approvals weakened in May

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that building approvals for the total number of dwellings fell by 7.9 per cent in May 2011.

Dwelling approvals decreased during the month of May in Victoria ( by 18.5 per cent), New South Wales (by 15.6 per cent) and Tasmania ( by 0.4 per cent) while South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland recorded increases.

The value of total buildings approved fell 2.8 per cent in May in seasonally adjusted terms.

Widespread flooding, and other natural disasters, in the eastern states during late 2010 and early 2011 have not adversely affected participation by providers in the building approvals collection or the quality of estimates in this release. However, these events may have had an impact on the number of approved dwellings and the value of approved work.

Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0): click here for access.

Australian Government to deliver suicide prevention initiatives

The Australian Government will deliver more services for people who are at risk of suicide.

The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler confirmed that from 1 July:

• Calls to Lifeline will be free for all mobile services in Australia.
• Lifeline has been provided with additional funding to increase the capacity of existing services ensuring around 700,000 calls are being answered.
• Funding will be available for Divisions of General Practice to provide 37,500 people who have attempted or are at risk of suicide with access to psychological services.
• The highly successful KidsMatter Primary initiative will be rolled out to a further 1,700 schools over the next three years, providing these schools with resources to support the development of good social and emotional wellbeing.
• The current 30 youth friendly headspace services have all received a significant increase in their base level of funding to provide additional services to boost their capacity to provide care and support to young Australians.
• Funding has already been provided for Indigenous communities in the Kimberley Region for suicide prevention initiatives, psychological services and associated education and training.

Click here for more information.

Indexation increases from 1 July

From 1 July, more than two million Australian families will benefit from indexation increases in family payments.

The maximum fortnightly rate for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A has increased by $4.34, which is an extra$113.15 a year, bringing the yearly amount to just over $4292 a year for each child under 13.

For parents of a child aged between 13 and 15, the maximum fortnightly rate of payment has increased by $5.60, which is an extra $146 a year, bringing the yearly amount to just over $5580 for each child.

For families receiving FTB Part B, the fortnightly rate has increased by $3.64, which is an extra $94.90 a year, bringing the yearly amount to $3650 where the youngest child is under five.

A full list of indexation increases is available here.

Conference to Advance Multiculturalism - call for papers

The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) Advancing Multiculturalism Conference will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 17 and 18 November. Proposed conference presentations or workshops may outline relevant research, initiatives or experiences, and may have a local government policy, program or service delivery focus. Abstract proposals are sought by 31 July.

For more information visit the conference website, or contact conference administrator Victoria Erlichster.