The Productivity Commission is now in the final stages of accepting submissions on the Benchmarking of Local Government regulations. This will be a sizeable task and ALGA has had discussions with Commission staff to ensure that the most appropriate format goes forward for the reporting stage.

This benchmarking process will involve state governments, state and territory associations and local councils. The possible consequences of this process would be significant for the future of the way local government operates in Australia. ALGA has been working in association with the state and territory associations to ensure that a true national picture is presented to the Productivity Commission. The ALGA submission will address several specific issues, but will focus on the need for clarity in regulations, that resources and support to enact them are available and that there is stability in regulatory activities.

Submission instructions can be found here.

Appearing before the Federal Government's Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee this week, UK Community Regeneration expert Dr Tim Williams said that local councils must play a driving role to realise the full potential of broadband in the bush - with healthcare, education, and local businesses to benefit from next-generation connectivity.

"Local councils have to get on board and plan now to bring the full benefits of broadband to the bush," said Dr Williams, speaking to the committee on behalf of broadband technology company Huawei Australia.

"Technologies like High-Definition Telepresence will enable people in regional Australia to access new healthcare services and education opportunities, while local businesses will be able to work as if they were based in a major capital. It is imperative that local councils get switched on to ensure rural and regional Australia sees the full benefits of high-speed broadband."

Dr Williams and Huawei have been meeting local councils across Australia to promote local leadership on broadband adoption. Dr Williams discovered the importance of local councils using broadband to promote regional regeneration when preparing his White Paper report Connecting Communities: The impact of broadband on communities in the UK and its implications for Australia.

"Throughout rural and regional Australia, we've seen that local councils have an enormous opportunity to engage with businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and individuals to show them how broadband can bring a new economic boom to the bush," Huawei Director of Corporate and Public Affairs Jeremy Mitchell said.

The Australian Government has announced the further expansion of the headspace program, with 15 new sites and two outpost sites to be set up across Australia.

The initiative is part of the Australian Government's $2.2 billion Delivering Mental Health Reform Package, which includes the allocation of $197.3 million over five years to expand the number of headspace sites to 90.

Mental health is the single biggest health issue facing young Australians. In any given year around Australia, one in four young people will experience a mental health disorder.

The announcement of the 15 locations will take the number of headspace sites around the country to 55. An additional 35 locations will be announced over the next four years.

Once up and running, the 90 sites will help up to 72,000 young Australians each year. The new sites have been chosen in conjunction with headspace, and in consultation with State and Territory governments on the basis of community need, youth populations, access to existing services and local capacity.

For more information, click here.

The Bellingen Council has been recognised for best practice by the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

According to Heart Foundation NSW CEO Tony Thirlwell, the council has shown leadership and innovation to create a local environment which supports physical activity, healthy lifestyles and a sense of community connection.

The council was named the National Winner of the 2011 Heart Foundation Healthy Community Awards at the NSW Local Government Association Annual Conference opening ceremony last Sunday.

"The awards are an important way for the Heart Foundation to recognise the outstanding achievements of local governments in the continuing the fight against heart disease, the number one killer of Australian men and women," Mr Thirlwell said.

The Healthy Community Awards reward Councils at a national and state level, across two categories: councils with populations of 15,000 or less and councils with populations greater than 15,000.

Bellingen Council received $7000 in prize money, a commemorative trophy and framed photo as both the State Winner and National Winner in the "councils with populations of 15,000 or less" category.

The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource economics is encouraging people to apply for the 2012 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with applications closing in less than a month.

ABARES Chief Scientist, Dr Kim Ritman, said there are 12 individual categories, with each offering up to $22,000 for project funding.

"The awards help realise big ideas from young rural innovators and have already helped more than 150 young Australians make their aspirations a reality," Dr Ritman said.

"This year's awards include 12 individual categories spanning horticulture, cotton, dairy, fisheries and aquaculture, meat and livestock, grains, red meat processing, new and emerging rural industries, animal welfare, forestry, pork, viticulture and oenology."

"Grant recipients can use their funding for a range of activities including research projects, industry visits or to attend conferences and workshops that will support their project."

Applications for the awards close at 5.00pm AEST, Friday 18 November 2011. For further information and application forms, click here.

ChemClear has just completed its largest ever collection of agvet chemicals.

During a period of several months, the chemical collection program made its way around the state of Queensland to pick up more than 60,000 litres of unwanted, obsolete and inherited agvet chemicals.

For National Program Manager Lisa Nixon, the last stop at Goondiwindi marked a significant milestone for the monumental collection run.

"We are proud to be the only industry stewardship program collecting and responsibly disposing of agvet chemicals at the end of their use in Australia. Queenslanders have endured a tough past 12 months and we were delighted to be able to help them remove potentially hazardous agvet chemicals from their properties in their post-flood clean-ups," Ms Nixon said.

Minister for Agriculture Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin, said the Queensland Government played a key role in helping waste holders, by providing financial assistance to users living in 37 local government areas that were particularly affected by the natural disasters.

"The Queensland Government identified chemical clean-up and collection in flood and cyclone-affected areas as vital to recovery, and as part of the $2.35 million flood recovery package for Central and Southern Queensland, provided funding to ChemClear," the Minister said.

"I would like to acknowledge the role of the ChemClear program in providing such a professional service that has benefitted many industry participants and landholders right across the state after our summer of natural disasters."

To register for the next collection or for further information, call 1800 008 707 or log on to www.chemclear.com.au

Workers can put their health at great risk if they sit at their desks all day without a break, according to a trial by federal work health and safety regulator Comcare.

Coinciding with Health and Safety Month, Comcare has revealed that taking regular breaks from sitting in the one spot can significantly reduce health risks.

Figures show that the typical office worker spends over two-thirds of their day remaining seated and inactive. It also found that even 30 minutes of exercise a day cannot offset the high risk of cardiovascular disease and death associated with prolonged sitting.

Comcare is currently piloting sit/stand workstations to reduce sedentary time by promoting more standing and increased movement.

Initial results indicate a reduction in sitting time across the day for the workers who were given these special workstations.

Comcare CEO Paul O'Connor says sit/stand workstations are just one of many avenues open to employers to promote movement in their workplaces.

"Leading by example is important. If more frontline managers model strategies to reduce sedentary behaviours, such as taking regular breaks to get some fresh air, and standing up when they're on the phone, we'll see the behaviour of employees change too," Mr O'Connor said.

"However, it's about promoting movement, not just standing. Our research has shown that remaining in any posture for a prolonged period is a health risk. We need to promote movement and regular changing of work postures."

Councils across Australia are being encouraged to support National Close the Gap Day on 22 March, 2012, to raise awareness about Indigenous health.

The Close the Gap campaign, established by more than 40 peak Indigenous organisations in 2006, aims to assist in improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who die 10 to 17 years younger than other Australians.

Local councils are exceptionally well placed to support and promote the Close the Gap campaign as they work closely with communities.

Councils are being asked to hold a public community event, a workplace event for employees, promote this day to networks and contacts or better still, do all of the above.

To become involved in National Close the Gap Day and join the thousands of people and organisations around Australia holding events to raise awareness about Indigenous health, register an event by clicking here.

The Bureau of Meteorology will conduct water information briefings in all capital cities during November and early December 2011. The briefings will explore the latest developments in national water information, showcasing a range of new products including the National Water Account, the Bureau's first Australian Water Resources Assessment, and the latest water forecasting applications.

The briefings are designed for water industry professionals involved in water resources policy, planning and management. There is no charge to attend and places are limited.

Key locations and dates are:

Melbourne	Tues, 8 Nov
Brisbane	Thurs, 10 Nov
Darwin	Tues, 15 Nov
Sydney	Wed, 23 Nov
Hobart	Thurs, 24 Nov
Adelaide	Wed, 30 Nov
Perth	Thurs, 1 Dec
Canberra	Tues, 6 Dec

For more information, click here.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)is an official supporter of the 2011 FECCA Conference - "Advancing Multiculturalism", on 17 and 18 November in Adelaide. The Conference is being jointly hosted by the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia and the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia and will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The FECCA Biennial Conference is Australia's pre-eminent multicultural conference. Every two years the Conference draws together leading decision-makers, thinkers and practitioners to discuss and debate key issues that relate to Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity. These are explored through a series of plenary addresses, panel discussions and presentations. This year, the Conference will explore the theme of Advancing Multiculturalism and promises to be a vibrant and exciting program.

Pre-conference workshops will be held on Wednesday 16 November.   For more information, contact MAV.