The Government has previously announced additional funding for its Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP)  to provide $50 million for Round 3 over 2012-13 and 2013-14. 

The program guidelines have now been amended to provide greater clarity on how local government can participate in the Program.  In this regard,  state and territory governments have been encouraged to consider submissions from local government for the delivery of livestock transport industry projects.  These projects should improve heavy vehicle safety and could include:

• First and last mile projects linking to saleyards and including the associated on and off ramps, gate, wash bays and fencing,
• Rest areas associated with long distance transport spelling yards which could include truck stopping bays, fencing and other infrastructure to support the animals and drivers, and
• Saleyard ramps and gates associated with loading and unloading a livestock transport vehicle. 

The closing date for submissions under the Livestock Transport Industry Category has been extended to 31 October 2012 with the closing date applications from state and territory governments for these projects extended to 30 November 2012.  All other applications from state and territory governments for non -livestock transport related categories are due by 31 October 2012. 

The Program guidelines can be found here.

Three of NSW’s most esteemed and respected councillors, serving a combined total of 98 years in local government, have been honoured for their loyalty and commitment to the sector by the Shires Association of NSW in Sydney last week.

President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Ray Donald, thanked long serving and now retired councillors Cr Bill Bott AM, Cr Wal Mitchell AM and Cr Mike Montgomery AM, for their many years of dedication and hard work serving their communities.

Cr Adam Marshall was also thanked for his almost nine years as councillor and four years as mayor, noting his significant contribution to the Shires Association of NSW and the Local Government community. All of these councillors opted not to stand in the recent 2012 Local Government elections.

“These four highly motivated councillors have significantly contributed to building Local Government in NSW to what it is today.  I thank each of them for their consistent support, not only for their councils, but also their years of dedication to Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA),” said Cr Donald.

“Whether it is lobbying the State Government on important rural and regional matters, advocating Shire Association policies to their local areas, or donating their time to serve on the Shires Association board of Executives, Crs Bott, Mitchell, Montgomery and Marshall have maintained a heavy involvement at the LGSA over many years, and I am extremely grateful,” he said.

 “I felt it was important to acknowledge the years of fantastic achievements, valuable work, wisdom, passion and loyalty invested by these councillors into shaping their own councils, and indeed Local Government State-wide.”

 “These four former Mayors have unquestionably left a positive impact on Local Government in NSW throughout their many years of service. Their knowledge and expertise will be missed by many, leaving a strong legacy on which our industry can build upon.”

The City of Yarra is considering manning taxi ranks with council workers to increase public safety, rather than installing CCTV cameras.

Under the proposal, trained staff would manage taxi ranks on Swan, Smith and Brunswick Streets.

The call comes after the Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, promised $3 million in grants for local councils to place CCTV cameras in crime hot spots.

Yarra Councillor Anthony Main says more CCTV cameras will not make the streets safer.

"CCTV can only be used after any incidents," he said.

"We're trying to look at a situation to create preventative measures, to set a different tone and change the environment on the street."

Councillor Main says everyone in Melbourne has been touched by the death of ABC employee Jill Meagher.

"I think it's the responsibility of all public representatives to take these issues on board and put forward a progressive alternative," he said.

Low Carbon Australia is helping finance a project that will more than halve the energy costs of Wagga Wagga’s Oasis Aquatic Centre.

Low Carbon Australia Limited is an independent company established by the Australian Government in 2010 to deliver innovative programs to help the move towards a low carbon economy.  It provides financial solutions to Australian business, government and the wider community to encourage action on energy efficiency, cost-effective carbon reductions, and accreditation for carbon neutral products and organisations.

Wagga Wagga City Council will install a cogeneration unit at its aquatic centre after the summer season, as part of a $780,000 upgrade.

Low Carbon Australia’s CEO Meg McDonald congratulated Wagga Wagga City Council on its foresight and said it was among a growing number of local governments acting to reduce their energy costs.

“Councils are responsible for street lighting, recreation and cultural centres and waste facilities that can be high energy users and carbon emitters,” she said.

“Upgrading with cleaner technology and equipment can help councils make significant inroads on reducing their energy costs and lowering carbon emissions. "

Wagga Wagga City Council’s Mayor Rod Kendall said the new cogeneration unit is expected to produce annual energy cost savings of at least $320,000.

“That’s more than half the aquatic centre’s estimated annual energy costs. The gas-fired generator will create electricity for the centre and the heat the engine produces will be used to heat our pools,” he said.

The Townsville City Council has launched two DVDs designed to increase cyclone awareness in migrant and Indigenous communities.

The DVDs will be distributed at next month's Cyclone Sunday and through social media.

Mayor Jenny Hill says both communities were identified as needing tailored help when it comes to disaster preparedness.

"We dramatised and used an approach of using actual volunteers from those communities as part of the DVD presentation and as well we've created I suppose a picture book like narrative that comes with the DVDs," she said.

Councillor Hill says the entire community should cast its mind towardness preparing for the wet season.

"Whether we're allegedly going to have 10 cyclones or only one cyclone across the coast, it's trying to get people to understand that you've always got to be prepared," she said.

"The reality is it's only going to take one cyclone to hit Townsville to cause massive damage and really start to tear away at the fabric of our community."

The mayor of the rural Victorian city of Swan Hill says more asylum seekers should be sent to fill labour shortages in regional Australia.

John Katis says the Afghans in his region are hardworking and fit well into the community.

"They will work from daylight till dusk. These are the kind of people that we want to come into our country," he said.

Mr Katis says Swan Hill has residents from more than 40 countries.

He says Afghan and other asylum seekers are making a big contribution to local industries and the community.

Mr Katis says instead of using foreign labourers on temporary visas, more asylum seekers should be given the chance to work and settle in regional Australia.

"They support the community. What more can you want of anybody that is working on the land? I think they do a fantastic job," he said.

Ten councils in the western region have been asked to register as interested parties in a massive native title claim.

The claim is from the Ngemba, Ngiyampaa, Wangaaypuwan and Wayilwan people.

The area at the centre of the application stretches from Bourke and Walgett in the north to Ivanhoe and Hillston in the south.

The claim includes crown land and water within the area but free hold land is excluded.

The Mayor of the Warren shire Rex Wilson says the council will register as there will be issues that will need to be resolved as part of any Native Title determination.

"I don't think it would have a great affect at all really because a lot of the land in question is community land anyway," he said.

The claim takes in the Bogan, Brewarrina, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Lachlan, Walgett and Warren council areas.

Junior sportsmen and women find it difficult to meet the ongoing and significant costs associated with participation at sporting competitions, particularly sportsmen and women from regional areas.

The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for young people aged 12-18 towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state, national or international sporting championships or a School Sport Australia state or national championships.

Please click here for more details.

Councils are being encouraged to be part of the 2013 Diversity@Work Awards and:

• Attract and retain the best talent to your organisation by leveraging upon the national recognition of being a diversity and inclusion employer of choice.
• Be a part of the nation’s longest standing diversity and inclusion awards program and contribute to leading business in Australia.
• Receive feedback to benchmark your organisational diversity practices from a panel of judges, representing industry thought leaders, business innovators and academics.

The 2013 Awards night will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, 12 July.

For more information, click here.

The World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM) is now calling for presentations for the 23rd WCDM taking place June 23rd - 26th in Toronto, Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

WCDM is proud to be the premier annual event for disaster management professionals, providing a global perspective on current issues and concerns in the industry.

For more detailed information or to submit an abstract, visit the conference website, or click here.