The Assistant Minister for Social Services has welcomed the introduction of a new category of the National Awards for Local Government which recognises councils for innovative work to support people with disability.

"The new Disability Access and Inclusion Award is an opportunity to acknowledge local councils making a difference for people with disability in their community," Senator Fifield said.

Each year the National Awards for Local Government showcase the achievements of councils across the country.

"I am pleased this year we are introducing a new award that recognises local governments for their work with people with disability in their communities."

"Local governments have an important role in supporting the inclusion of people with disability in their communities across a broad range of areas such as transport, community facilities, arts, sport and cultural activities.

"This award is an opportunity to highlight initiatives that make a difference."

Senator Fifield said the new award will promote innovation and best practice across local government.

"I hope this new award sparks competition between local councils on best practice in this area."

Entries for the National Awards for Local Government close on 21 March 2014.  National Grand finalists will be presented with their awards at ALGA's National General Assembly in Canberra in June 2014.

More information about the awards, including assessment criteria, is available at http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/nalg.

A $1 million Community Based Gardening Project in some of Victoria's worst 2009 bushfire regions has resulted in a new 90-page Community Gardens Manual that will extend the original project into other regional areas of Victoria.

More than 300 requests have been received for the manual, which includes the bushfire community gardens in Toolangi and Castella, Jindivick, Yinnar, Beechworth and Yackandandah.

Tabitha Barclay, the designer and facilitator of the Toolangi and Castella garden, said that the community garden has linked the geographically isolated hamlets of Toolangi and Castella and has become the living heart of the CJ Dennis Reserve, which was previously just a collection of buildings and hard landscape. 

"It has brought many people back to the reserve by creating a pleasurable space for the community to meet, spend time and work together - our common ground.  It has empowered the community to take on other projects such as the newly formed Men's Shed," Ms Barclay said.

"The Community Gardens Manual provides practical, invaluable, grass roots information, which is flexible enough to be applied to most communities."

Free copies of the manual can be downloaded from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust website, or the Sustainable Gardening Australia website.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its first experimental measures of the economic contribution of cultural and creative activity in Australia.

Cultural and creative activity is estimated to have contributed $86.0 billion (6.9 per cent) to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product in 2008-09.

"This new ABS release shows cultural and creative activity is a significant component of the Australian economy, in addition to playing an important role in the wellbeing and quality of life of the community" said ABS Director of Culture, Recreation and Migrant Statistics, Andrew Middleton.

Volunteer services to arts and heritage organisations are estimated to have been worth a further $756 million in 2008-09.

The number of persons whose main employment was in a cultural or creative industry or occupation averaged 972,200 in 2008-09.

There were 164,730 entities actively trading as a business or non-profit institution within the cultural and creative industries at the end of June 2009.

The ABS' estimates were prepared following strong interest in the economic role of these activities, such as highlighted by Australia's National Cultural Policy Creative Australia.

Estimates for cultural and creative activities have previously been published in other countries such as Canada, Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Further information can be found in Australian National Accounts: Cultural and Creative Activity Satellite Accounts (cat. no. 5271.0), available for free download from the ABS website.

Billions of extra dollars will be added to the Australian economy if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment levels reach those of other Australians by 2031 according to a new Deloitte Access Economics report.

The report, commissioned by Reconciliation Australia, finds that by 2031 the Australian economy (GDP) would be more than 1.15 per cent larger in real terms than would otherwise be the case-a gain of approximately $24 billion in 2012/13 dollars.  It also found that the larger tax base would increase Government revenues across the country by $7.2 billion and increased affluence amongst Indigenous workers would cause a substantial $4.7 billion reduction in necessary expenditure.

Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair, Dr Tom Calma, said the report made a strong economic case for current national efforts to improve outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, health and education.

"This report provides rigorous evidence for sustained investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and training, and health, both of which are key to improved employment outcomes," said Dr Calma.

"The report estimates that closing the education gap would see an additional 26,000 jobs and that raising Aboriginal and islander health outcomes would see a 9 per cent increase or 13,000 additional jobs."

The report investigates employment outcomes across urban, regional and remote areas and includes an analysis by industry and occupation and factors which disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job-seekers in the labour market.

It finds three quarters of the economic benefits would accrue from regional and urban Indigenous populations.  NSW, with the largest Aboriginal population, would receive the greatest economic benefit with an estimated increase of $7.4 billion although the benefits of closing the employment gap in remote populations such as the Northern Territory, the Kimberly and Cape York would be disproportionally large.

"This finding strongly reinforces arguments by Indigenous leaders and others against a one size fits all approach and for tailored efforts across all regions. It provides evidence to counter the argument that governments should concentrate solely on employment in remote areas," said Dr Calma.

“The report’s three case studies-Blacktown in Western Sydney, the Fitzroy region, including Rockhampton and Gladstone, in Queensland, and Alice Springs and the remote southern parts of the Northern Territory-find that industry specific and locally tailored strategies will be required.

"In Western Sydney great opportunities exist for additional Indigenous jobs in financial and professional services and the retail sector while in Alice Springs there is great potential to provide employment to local Aboriginal people in construction, food services and accommodation."

Deloitte Access Economics Partner and report author Dr Ric Simes said analysis highlighted how improving the circumstances of Indigenous Australians was not only a major social challenge, but also a significant issue for Australia being best positioned to maximise its economic fortunes.

Researchers from CSIRO and Monash University in Melbourne are putting the spending habits of retirees under the microscope in an effort to understand the finer details behind how they use and manage their superannuation funds in retirement.

"We're looking to understand what retirees need, how long their super lasts and what investment options and financial products might best suit them  throughout their retirement so we can figure out how their super could work smarter," CSIRO Research Leader Alan Dormer said.

"For example, what levels of confidence and security does superannuation provide to retirees, and how does it affect their spending behaviour throughout their retirement? The way you spend your super in retirement makes a big difference to the type of risk you take when selecting your investment options."

"We're looking to understand what retirees need, how long their super lasts and what investment options and financial products might best suit them throughout their retirement so we can figure out how their super could work smarter."

Australia's ageing population and growing pool of A$1.6 trillion in Superannuation is a national challenge and impacts anyone who has ever worked or employed anyone.

Michael O'Neill, chief executive of over-50s lobby, National Seniors, said he expected the research to debunk some of the super spending myths associated with older Australians.

"We expect claims that baby boomers are spending their super on living the high life, and then falling onto the pension, will prove unfounded," Mr O'Neill said.

The Melbourne-based researchers will use big data analytics, social science, risk and economic modelling to answer questions such as how superannuation will affect the economy as it grows ever bigger, and how we provide security in retirement for all Australians.

"The super system is maturing and changing and we need to start using an evidence based approach to understand what we need to do now and into the future to re-engineer super to best suit members and inform decision making at an Industry and Government level," Mr Dormer said.

The Government of South Australia is partnering with the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) to fast track the delivery of over 100 local council projects.

Planning Minister John Rau said the SA Government had confirmed $7.5 million in funding for the projects, which would be matched with a dollar for dollar commitment by local councils.

"This funding will enable 104 projects across the state to go ahead," Mr Rau said.

"These are smaller scale community infrastructure projects and fast tracking their delivery will help stimulate local economies and benefit communities.

"Over 600 additional jobs will be created through these stimulus projects."

Projects approved for funding are from local government areas right around the state and include playground upgrades or new playgrounds, upgrades to bike and walking tracks and boat ramp upgrades.

"These are things local communities have identified as being a priority in their area," Mr Rau said.

"For example, people in the Campbelltown local government area will see footpath and streetscape improvements along St Bernards Road and an Outback Adventure Park at Anderson Court.

"These projects are all things that improve local residents experience in their community."

LGA Acting President Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said Council works projects had a great economic impact directly and via local contractors.

"There's a double benefit," Mayor Rosenberg said.

"Bringing projects forward with State funding can make the difference for small businesses struggling as a result of the economy but it also delivers the upgraded facilities to the community earlier."

Rising input costs are the biggest threat to the future of Australian vegetable growers, according to grower responses released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

80 per cent of vegetable growers have reported that increasing costs of production are the largest threat to their future viability.

"These results come as no surprise to the vegetable industry. Australian vegetable growers have been suffering due to rising input costs, especially electricity prices, for some time," AUSVEG Spokesman, Kurt Hermann said.

In 2012-13, hired labour is estimated to have been the largest production cost, followed by contracts paid, fertiliser, seed, and fuel, oil and grease.  Moreover, it is estimated that electricity prices will increase by 13 per cent from 2011-12.

"Many vegetable growers have already implemented and exhausted potential productivity improvements. As such, reducing operating costs, which are generally out of growers’ control, is essential to ensuring the future viability of the vegetable industry," Mr Hermann said.

AUSVEG is the leading voice in Australian horticulture, representing 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

"The ABARES results show that most vegetable growers believe that they are operating as productively as possible. As such, if operating costs continue to increase, this is likely to reduce returns for growers," Mr Hermann said.

"Those vegetable growers that indicated they could improve productivity, noted higher yielding crop varieties as the key to improving their productivity," Mr Hermann said.

"Whilst planting higher yielding crop varieties could lead to productivity improvements, this may not be possible for many growers," Mr Hermann said.

"Apart from rising input costs, more than 50 per cent of vegetable growers identified low prices and increased marketing costs as alternative impediments to future business viability," Mr Hermann said.

The annual Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Water Management Conference presents Local Government with a broad range of information, from a Local Government perspective, on water management and issues associated with water supply and sewerage services provided by council owned and operated local water utilities.

The 2014 conference will be co-hosted by LGNSW and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council at the Glasshouse from Monday 25 August to Wednesday 27 August 2014.

Councils and other stakeholders are invited to forward papers and/or suggestions for the conference program. In particular, papers are invited on the main topics planned for the conference:

• Review of institutional arrangement for local water utilities in regional NSW 

​The conference will continue discussing proposals to reform local water utilities in regional NSW and implications from the recommendations of the Independent Local Government Review Panel.

• Water recycling 

The conference will look at trends in, and the ongoing reform of the regulatory framework for water recycling including economic feasibility and direct potable reuse.

• Drinking water quality management

The conference will continue looking at progress and challenges of implementing drinking water quality management frameworks in regional NSW.

Papers/suggestions should include:

• A brief outline of the issue/main focus of your paper/suggestion
• The preferred format for its inclusion in the program (conference paper, presentation, display, workshop topic)
• Possible presenter/s and a brief bio (50 words maximum)
• The type of outcome that could be expected by conference delegates.

Please note that the LGNSW does not accept presentations which are solely commercial in nature.

Papers are due by Friday, 11 April.  For further information, visit: lgnsw.org.au/waterconference

The 2013/14 Australian Tidy Towns Awards program will include a series of activities, celebrations and networking functions over two days.  It will take place on 3-4 April 2014 in Victor Harbor, South Australia.

The Tidy Towns program encourages, motivates and celebrates the achievements of rural and regional communities across Australia.

This year our state and territory finalists are:

• Kingston South East, SA
• Mundubbera, QLD
• Nundle, NSW
• Sheffield, TAS
• Titjikala, NT
• Walpole, WA
• Wangaratta, VIC

For the itinerary, booking form, guest accommodation Information and tourist Information, please see the Keep Australia Beautiful website.

Contact stacey@kab.org.au or (02) 8626 9396 for further information.

The Universal Design conference 2014 is sponsored by COTA NSW and the City of Sydney and will be held in Sydney on 20-21 August 2014. 

The theme for this first Australian universal design conference is "universal design for inclusive and liveable environments".  

The international keynote speakers will be:

• Dr Ger Craddock, the inaugural Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, a statutory body established by the Irish Government in 2007.
• Ms Kay Saville-Smith, sociologist and director of the Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment - CRESA in New Zealand.

For further information, please click here or contact the convenors with the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design:

David Brant and Margaret Ward
0402540383/0409898498