 | |  Latest results of a Nielsen poll showing the majority of Australian voters would support a referendum to include local government in the Constitution reinforce the sector's commitment to securing federal funding for vital local services and infrastructure. The poll results, published in the Australian Financial Review this week, confirm that the referendum proposal is backed by 65 per cent of voters nationally and that it has majority support in all states. "These statistics are consistent with ALGA's own research, which indicates that the majority of voters support the concept of constitutional recognition of local government and more than 60 per cent support the need for financial recognition of local government," ALGA President, Felicity-ann Lewis said. "Communities understand that without constitutional recognition of local government, programs such as Roads to Recovery are at risk of High Court challenge. We have seen recent examples of High Court challenges in which direct Commonwealth funding was called into doubt. Communities can't afford this risk to vital infrastructure." Last week, the Government released the draft constitutional alteration bill, which outlines a simple and pragmatic change to the Constitution to include local government. The draft bill includes an amendment to Section 96 of the Constitution so that it would read: "Parliament may grant financial assistance to any state or any local government body formed by a law of a State on such terms and conditions as the Parliament thinks fit." The bill will be debated in parliament in the coming weeks and ALGA has called on the Opposition to support the legislation to allow a referendum on financial recognition of local government to proceed at the time of the September federal election. Measures outlined in the 2013-14 Budget confirm that in addition to the funding provided to the Australian Electoral Commission to run the referendum, the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, the Arts and Sport will receive $11.6 million to undertake a national civics education campaign to provide information to the general public on the referendum reform process. ALGA applauds the Australian Government for its support to include local government in the Constitution. | | | | |  This year's National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) will be unlike any other, offering a key opportunity to receive the latest information about local government's national campaign to secure constitutional recognition of local government at the September referendum. The NGA, to be held from 16-19 June, will provide briefings on the campaign strategy, how it will be implemented, and most importantly, the crucial role councils can play in preparing each community to vote 'yes' to include local government in the Constitution. With just under four months until voters go to the polls, councils must do everything they can to promote the importance of financial recognition of local government in securing direct federal funding for vital community infrastructure and services like roads, libraries and sporting fields, which is currently under threat. Behind the scenes, ALGA and local government state and territory associations have laid the groundwork for the campaign. This includes a comprehensive campaign structure at the state and national level. ALGA is urging each council to ensure that at least one representative attends the NGA. To register, visit www.alga.asn.au | | | | |  Under round four of the Digital Local Government (DLG) program, 44 councils are eligible to apply for funding of up to $412,500 (including GST) per council. Unlike previous rounds, round four of the DLG program involves a competitive selection process. Eligible councils will be required to submit a business case to the Department to be considered for funding under round four. Funding will be made available to councils whose applications best demonstrate an ability to deliver an online government service to homes and businesses using high-speed broadband, in accordance with the round four guidelines. The DLG program also encourages eligible councils to implement online services which other councils can adapt for their own use. Under previous rounds, councils have delivered a range of online services, including: general customer support using high-definition videoconferencing, community engagement and consultation services using videoconferencing, planning and development services, and an emergency management system. Last week, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy announced funding of up to $5 million in administered funding (excluding GST) for an additional round of the DLG program. "Since launching in February 2012, the Digital Enterprise and Digital Local Government programs have successfully delivered expert digital training to small businesses and not for profit organisations around Australia, as well as assisting local councils take advantage of the NBN," Senator Conroy said. "Over 4,500 participants have already taken part in the training on offer, and over 30 local councils are deploying new NBN-enabled online services to transform how they interact with their communities." Funding will be made available to councils whose applications best demonstrate an ability to deliver an innovative online government service to homes and businesses, in accordance with the Round four guidelines. Further information about the Digital Enterprise program is available here. Further information about the Digital Local Government program is available here. | | |
| |  There are now 113 days until Australians take to the September polls and are invited to vote 'yes' to include local government in the Constitution. A vote to acknowledge the financial relationship between the Commonwealth and local government and allow the continuation of direct federal funding for community infrastructure and services. At the heart of our campaign is the message that without this recognition, direct federal funding for communities is under threat. The successful Chaplaincy in Schools Court Case is one example in which direct funding has been called into doubt. To allow councils to continue to receive federal funding without it having to be administered by State Governments, the Australian Government is proposing to include additional words in the Constitution so that Section 96 would read: Financial assistance to States and local government bodies. During a period of ten years after the establishment of the Commonwealth and thereafter until the Parliament otherwise provides, the Parliament may grant financial assistance to any State, or to any local government body formed by a law of a state, as such terms and conditions as the Parliament thinks fit. Far from claims by some pundits that this is a "takeover by Canberra", this is a simple and pragmatic change to Section 96 of the Constitution to acknowledge that councils require some federal funding to carry out the many community services and activities that local governments now provide. I am pleased that this message is being received in our communities, confirmed by the latest Nielsen poll results showing that the majority of voters would support a referendum to include local government in the Constitution. The results show 65 per cent would vote 'yes' in the September referendum. This reflects an understanding within communities that the proposal is a practical change to acknowledge the reality that the Commonwealth partners with local governments to deliver local roads, sporting fields, libraries, child care and other community services. Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | Nominations are now open for the 2013 Resilient Australia Awards. Natural disasters are a feature of the Australian climate and landscape and are likely to continue with increasing regularity and severity. Nationwide, there are projects and initiatives making our communities safer, stronger, more resilient and better prepared for disaster. The Resilient Australia Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and promote these activities. If you know of a project that has helped your community be more disaster resilient and has commenced or demonstrated significant outcomes after 1 January 2011, you are welcome to enter now. Entries close 5 July 2013. Visit the Resilient Australia Awards 2013 Online Entry Portal. | | | | | The Fraser Coast Council says it will train rural wardens in small communities to be the first point of call during emergencies. Residents from outlying communities isolated in the recent floods say they lacked basic information about the disaster. In response, wardens will be trained in the Burrum, Howard, Aldershot, Tiaro, Bauple and Granville areas to liaise directly with the council in emergency situations. Disaster coordinator Mal Churchill says they will be trained to use a two-way UHF radio and be the point of contact in the event of a flood, cyclone or earthquake. "It's also knowing about when a community is totally isolated how they are coping so we get that information back and can make quality decisions or valuable decisions in regards to those people," he said. "This was brought in by the floods this year of Australia Day but it's not just to respond to floods ... certainly in times of cyclones and other such events." Council is hoping to introduce the warden system next month. | | | | | A new report from an independent firm of economists has found that Australia's public libraries deliver benefits that are worth nearly three times the cost of running them - a fact that will come as no surprise to Australia's 10 million registered library users. If you put $100 into gold last year, it would be worth around $110 today. Compare that with the $290 return on every $100 invested in Australian public libraries. The report into the value of public libraries, produced by SGS Economics, states that these services provide Australians with a net annual benefit of some $1.97 billion. "Importantly, the level of investment in public library services does not display a pattern of diminishing returns ... the larger the investment made into public libraries, the larger the benefits derived by the respective communities. Collectively these findings provide a strong basis for arguing for increased levels of funding for public library services." ALIA President, Vanessa Little endorsed the findings of the report, "Libraries are just as important in the age of the ebook as they have been in the age of the print book. They are places where people can connect with each other, find out information and explore new ideas. Whether you are eight or 80, there’s plenty to experience at the library, and there is no doubt libraries improve the quality of life of everyone who uses them." A few facts about Australian public libraries in 2010-2011: - There were 1,491 public library service points across Australia
- Over 182 million items were lent to more than 10 million members of public libraries.
- Over 114 million customer visits, or more than 9 million per month.
Download the full report on the Contribution of Australian Public Libraries http://www.alia.org.au/publiclibraries/. | | | | | Newcastle Council says it is important to find out what the community wants from its city at night to ensure any future plans meet the needs of residents. A six week consultation is in progress on Newcastle After Dark, which is looking at the city's night-time economy. The discussion paper looks at a variety of issues including safety, night-time activities and transport. Council spokeswoman Jill Gaynor says they want feedback from the community before proceeding with any formal plans. "One of the things we did when we started was go and talk to the people at the City of Sydney," she said. "They're probably the national leaders in looking at their economy after dark. "One of their learnings, rather than going straight into the details of development control plan, was allowing people to have their say." "We want to get it right and we think talking to the people that use the city is certainly an important ingredient in getting it right." Matthew Endacott, who last year gathered more than 4 thousand signatures on a petition calling for improved nightlife in Newcastle, says while he welcomes community input, but believes there has already been enough discussion. | | | | | The state government will hand back planning powers to local councils for 21 significant sites across Melbourne including South Wharf and the Whitten Oval redevelopment. Planning Minister Matthew Guy said local councils were best suited to manage local planning decisions and he would return powers to them for some strategic sites in the next few weeks. "A number of these sites to be redeveloped, such as the Fountain Gate Town Centre, are sites of local significance and will require detailed council input and as such the Coalition government believes that the relevant local council is best placed to manage them." A number of the sites are completed developments in the CBD area and include the Malthouse Theatre, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Melbourne University, Melbourne Theatre Company and Recital Hall. Other sites include the Supreme Court, the Northern Sewerage Project, the former Greenvale Hospital, the CBD's Wesley Church property, Monash University in Caulfield's Western Precinct redevelopment and the Whitten Oval redevelopment in Footscray. Eleven sites are located in the City of Melbourne and the rest are in metropolitan municipalities. Municipal Association of Victoria chief executive Rob Spence welcomed the move, and said it would give the community greater input into local planning decisions.
"When matters are called in by the minister you lose that input," he said. | | | | | The City of Sydney is set to embark on a record infrastructure program costing almost $2 billion. The work will be carried out over the next 10 years and includes building six new child care centres and upgrading the city's roads, parks and footpaths. Almost $400 million of the money will go towards further developing the suburb of Green Square, while at least $37 million has been set aside to integrate the Barangaroo development with Millers Point. Sydney's controversial bike path network will be expanded with the council spending $17 million on projects including stage two of the Kent Street cycleway and new connections at Broadway. Lord Mayor Clover Moore says the works are essential for the city's future. "For the people who come into the city, the 600,000 people who come into the city each day, it's really about ensuring that Sydney continues as a global city," she said. "It's about our economy, it's about our tourism, it's especially about our sustainability and it's about making Sydney a beautiful city with a very good lifestyle. "Our financial position is very strong and we have a positive outlook and we do believe that we will be able to carry this program out." The Mayor has used the announcement to reject a recent report calling for Sydney's local councils to amalgamate. The Sansom report proposed the City of Sydney should merge with Botany Randwick Waverley and Woollahra Councils as well as possibly Leichhardt and Marrickville. "Putting the City's strong financial position and long term capital works program at risk by manipulating boundaries as the recent Sansom report recommends, is dangerous and incredibly reckless," Ms Moore said in a statement. The draft 2013/14 Budget and Corporate Plan will be on public exhibition until June 12. | | | | | The National Timber Councils Association (NTCA) has organised visitations with many federal politicians as a part of their annual visit to Canberra. Many issues are to be raised in these meetings regarding the many policy issues facing local government who host the forest industry. Be a part of this and represent your council's views on this topic at the coming general meeting, which will be held in Canberra after the second day of the National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA). NTCA provides a local government voice at the national level, on issues affecting local communities, industry, the environment and government in timber regions. 166 councils in Australia are in some way impacted by the timber industry. The NTCA President, Cr Malcolm Hole, invites you to meet him for complimentary drinks and finger food at 5:00pm on Monday 17 June with a general meeting to follow from 5:30pm - 6:30pm in the Crossing Room, Crowne Plaza. NTCA members and non-members are most welcome to attend. For more information please email the NTCA Coordinator kpeachey@mav.asn.au | | | | | The Alice Springs Town Council hosted a delegation of local government officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week. Dr Matar Mohammed Al Nuaimi is the general manager of the Al Ain municipality and says the group is interested in how the council operates. He says there are a lot of similarities between the local government areas, particularly in relation to climate and habitat. "We do have the same environment and there could be the same challenges that we are having in Al Ain city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," he said. He says there are more than 5.5 million people in his locality but the issues facing local government officials are similar to those in central Australia. "Water is scarce there, nearly the same temperatures and definitely there will be shared challenges between the two cities Al Ain and Alice Springs," he said. | | | | | Local councils are now invited to nominate for the 2013 MobileMuster Local Government Awards. Nominations are sought for the "National Excellence", "Best Promoter" and "Working with Schools" awards. These three awards, along with "Top Collector/Recycler (Overall)" and "Top Collector/Recycler (Per Capita)" will be presented at the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra from 17-20 June 2013. Nominations close on Friday, 7th June 2013. Click here for more information. | | | | | The City of Joondalup, in collaboration with the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), will host 200 delegates from around the globe for the 2013 International BiodiverCities Conference in September. The three-day conference will be held at the Joondalup Resort from 9-11 September, and will address biodiversity conservation in a changing climate. Topics covered will be: - Managing impacts of climate change on local biodiversity
- Assessing and managing coastal vulnerability
- Partnerships to enhance biodiversity
- Community education and public participation
- Biodiversity for carbon sequestration
- Integration of biodiversity into the urban landscape.
The first day of the conference will be opened by Australian of the Year for 2007, Professor Tim Flannery. Other keynote speakers include: - Professor Stephen Hopper, Director (CEO and Chief Scientist), University of Western Australia, Australia
- Dr Michael Dunlop, Land Water Biodiversity Climate Analyst, CSIRO, Australia
- Dr Paul Hardisty, Director of the National Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO, Australia
- Dr Debra Roberts, Director of Climate Change, EThewini Municipality, Durban, South Africa
- Professor Bruce Clarkson, Director of Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, New Zealand
- Anissa Lawrence, Director, TierraMar Consulting, Australia
- Dr Asa Gren, Researcher, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden
- Professor Kingsley Dixon, Director of Science - Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Australia (Conference Dinner Speaker)
- Professor Haripriya Gundimeda, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India
- Dr Berthold Seibert, Project Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard said hosting the 2013 International BiodiverCities Conference strengthened the City's standing as a Global City. "We are proud to welcome visitors from all over the world to the beautiful Joondalup Resort for this exciting and significant event," Mayor Pickard said. "The City is committed to addressing challenges to biodiversity conservation within the context of a changing climate by hosting the first international conference of its kind to be held in Western Australia. "We are particularly excited that Professor Tim Flannery will open the conference. Professor Flannery was named Australian of the Year Award in 2007 which recognised his outstanding contribution to research on climate change and the environment. You can register for the Conference at http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/Live/Environment/BiodiversityConference2013.aspx or by visiting the City of Joondalup website. | | |
|
