ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis attended the first meeting of the Transport and Infrastructure Council in Alice Springs at the end of last week. It was the first council meeting following the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement in December 2013 for a new Council System to better enable COAG to focus on, and progress, nationally significant reforms. The Council includes Transport, Infrastructure and Planning Ministers from the Commonwealth, States and Territories, New Zealand and ALGA.

On the agenda, a range of issues including an update of the $5billion Asset Recycling initiative where the Commonwealth will provide incentive payments to the States and Territories to privatise assets and reinvest proceeds into  new infrastructure.

Heavy vehicle charging and investment reform was discussed and major decisions were made in relation to the national transport regulation reforms.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) commenced regulating under the Heavy Vehicle National Law from 10 February 2014 in Queensland, Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. The Council noted the work undertaken by the NHVR in the operation of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme. It was also noted that the implementation of the regulator's roads access permit arrangements for over size and/or over mass vehicles was not as successful as anticipated and interim processing arrangements are currently in place.

The council noted that the draft report of the second five-year review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 had been released for a two-month consultation period.

The Communique issued by the Transport and Infrastucture Council can be found here.

A draft review of the  Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, was released earlier this month for public comment.  The standards operate under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and were last reviewed in 2007.  They are designed to enable transport operators and providers to remove discrimination from public transport services and ensure that Australia meets its international obligations.

ALGA News reported on the recommendations included in the review in the 16 May edition. Some f the findings of the report are detailed below to assist councils in framing any submissions.

The draft report was informed by 95 written submissions and 13 public consultations.  It concluded that since the 2007 Review, the Transport Standards have continued to assist in increasing the accessibility of public transport, with all levels of Government (local, state, territory and Commonwealth) reporting progress towards implementing the Transport Standards.  The draft report says "it does appear that the Transport Standards continue to be effective in bringing forward investment in accessible infrastructure..."  However, it also found that progress occurs at an uneven rate depending on location, population and demand. 

"While acknowledging that progress has been made, most submissions from the disability sector, local government and other bodies advise of continuing deficiencies in the physical accessibility of public transport conveyances and infrastructure, the quality of public transport information and engagement of public transport staff, and a lack of planning for whole-of-journey accessibility.  There was also widespread criticism of the lack of a national system of reporting on compliance."

"The review also received submissions from local governments  that, while having the best intentions to ensure accessibility for people with disability, especially through providing accessible bus stops, they bear a large part of the burden of providing infrastructure with little or no financial assistance."

Local government highlighted the fact that that the implementation of the transport standards was not accompanied by additional resources for implementation and there was no process to allow the full impact or cost shifting implications on local government to be fully assessed.  Without appropriate funding to address compliance targets, councils may be unable to resource works in the target timeframes, it said.   This was supported by  Transport for  NSW which asserted that Australian Government funding is need to support accessible infrastructure development by local government.

The draft report was released just prior to the Federal Budget, and with the funding freeze on Financial Assistance Grants announced in the Budget, local government will be under greater financial pressure and is unlikely to be able to meet targets and timeframes without further financial assistance.

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is seeking comments on the draft report by 14 July.  To access the draft report and provide feedback visit infrastructure.gov.au/transportstandards.  The Deputy PM and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development's media release is available here.

In October 2009, the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council gave strong endorsement to the "50:50 Vision Strategy," Councils for Gender Equity.

The aim of the program is to increase levels of participation for women in local government at both elected and senior management levels.

As part of the program, three levels of national awards are available to councils in Australia once formal applications are made and assessment deemed successful:

The Bronze Award is the entry level for the 50:50Visions program.  This award reflects a demonstrated commitment to improving and increasing equity within the local government workforce.

The Silver Award is the second level of recognition and requires the Bronze Award to be in place for at least six months prior to application for consideration.  To secure this Award, council will be invited to demonstrate improved levels of improvement (from Bronze Award issued) towards improving equity and access within local government.

The Gold Award is the third and highest level of recognition, and requires the Silver Award to have been issued at least twelve months prior to application for consideration.   To secure this Award, council will be invited to demonstrate significant levels of corporate improvements, policies, procedures and strategies towards increased equity and practices within their council.

For Further information on the 50:50 Vision program please contact LGAQ Coordinator on 07 3000 2175 Or email Gender@lgaq.asn.au

Deniliquin's 17km upgraded flood levee was officially opened on Thursday 23 May by Commonwealth Minister for Justice Michael Keenan.

The $15.8 million upgrade was funded by Deniliquin Council and the NSW and Australian Governments. Mayor Lindsay Renwick said the upgraded levee provides protection for more than 3,300 properties from a one in a hundred-year flood and avoids $85 million in flood damages.

In other natural disaster news... Councils and other interested stakeholders have until next Friday, 6 June to make initial submissions to the Productive Commission inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements.

For more information on how to make a submission click here.

The Federal Department of Communications will continue to accept nominations for a database of mobile phone black spots until the end of June 2014.

The database is part of the Mobile Black Spot Program which includes an $80 million Mobile Network Expansion Project to improve mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in areas that are prone to experiencing natural disasters; and the $20 million Mobile Black Spot Project to improve mobile coverage in specific locations.

Submissions on the design of the Mobile Black Spot Program closed at the end of February and are now available on the program's Submissions page.  ALGA lodged a submission on the program.

To date, the department has received reports of more than 2,000 locations with poor, or no mobile coverage. These locations have been included in the database which will be shared with mobile carriers and other parties to assist them in preparing funding proposals for the Mobile Black Spot Program. Mobile black spot locations nominated in submissions to the discussion paper are also included in this database.

Further nominations of mobile black spot locations can be reported to the Department via email at mobilecoverage@communications.gov.au.

The HIA said a recovery in new home building is underway. It said the strength of leading indicators provides cause to upwardly revise forecasts for residential building activity.

The HIA forecast said there were 180,000 dwelling commencements across the country in 2014, representing an annual increase of 8.2 per cent on 2013 levels.

The report said beyond 2014 activity is expected to remain at elevated levels relative to recent history, however sustaining the high level of activity expected in 2014 appears unlikely.

Substantial revisions to ABS data tracking renovations investment required a recalibration of the renovations activity forecasts.

After reaching decade lows in 2013, renovations activity is forecast to lift by around 8.2 per cent in 2014.

A comprehensive analysis of contemporary and future new home building conditions will be included in the forthcoming edition of the HIA National and State Outlooks, which will be released on Monday 16 June.

To read the housing forecast update click here.

The Minister for Small Business, the Hon Bruce Billson, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash are encouraging the community to celebrate brilliant local businesswomen by nominating them for the 2014 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.

Minister Billson said the awards recognise the important role women play - from the small business sector through to the corporate world.

"Communities around Australia are filled with vibrant, hardworking and innovative women who have worked hard to build livelihoods, support communities and promote women in the workforce," Minister Billson said.

"As the longest-running state/territory and national awards program for businesswomen, the Telstra Business Women's Awards provide a great opportunity to showcase inspirational business women across the nation.

"Women operate almost a third of businesses in Australia across all industries and many do this while also raising children and running a household.

"We all have a role to play to ensure that Australia is economically strong, and our workforce is innovative, productive and above all, full of opportunities for all Australians.

"I encourage the community to get behind our local businesswomen by nominating them for the 2014 Telstra Business Women's Awards," Minister Billson said.

Winners and finalists across Australia will share in a total prize pool of more than $650,000.

The Awards have three qualifying categories for business owners, employees in the private and corporate sector and employees in community and government agencies. Entrants can also be considered for two specialist categories for innovation and young business women.

For more information please call 1800 817 536.

Entries close on 14 July and winners of the 2014 Telstra Victorian Business Women's Awards will be named at a gala dinner on 21 October.

Renowned Victorian cardiologist Dr Jennifer Johns has been elected President of the National Heart Foundation of Australia - the first woman to take the role since the charity was established in 1959.

Dr Johns most recently held the position of Medical Director of Specialty Services CSU at Melbourne's Austin Hospital, where she has worked since 1987. Dr Johns also practices in the Victorian Heart Centre at Epworth Hospital and has been President of the Victorian Heart Foundation Board since 2009.

Dr Johns said it was a great honour to be elected to the role, and she looked forward to working with the National CEO, Ms Mary Barry and her fellow Directors.

"The Heart Foundation is a very important organisation and makes a great contribution to improving the cardiovascular health and wellbeing of all Australians," Dr Johns said.

Planning scholars and practitioners are invited to contribute to a special edition of Australian Planner co-edited by Dr. Tooran Alizadeh, Dr. Heather Shearer, and Assoc. Prof. Neil Sipe.

The theme is Planning Implications of Telecommunication. The intention is to highlight the contemporary significance, challenges and opportunities that telecommunication has provided for urban and regional planning and policy in a range of areas such as socioeconomic development  (social justice, teleworking and digital economy); spatial planning (new land-uses such as digital/smart work hubs, data centres, and live/work community developments); and e-governance (e-planning, e-democracy, and public engagement).

For more information on the special issue, please access the brief. Please feel free to contact the leading editor, Tooran Alizadeh via t.alizadeh@griffith.edu if you have any questions.

Abstracts are due June 15 2014.

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and ABC Radio have launched the 2014 Heywire Youth Innovation grants program.

FRRR, with the support of the Pratt Foundation, has pledged $100,000 in grants for rural, regional and remote communities to implement eight ideas to improve the lives of young Australians and their communities.

The ideas, which originated at the 2014 Heywire Regional Youth Summit, cover a range of big issues, including gender equality, positive mental health, community spirit and volunteering, youth in agriculture, anti-racism and migration. The solutions involve family fun days, social media, film, television, the arts, education and advocacy campaigns. This short video provides an overview of the ideas.

FRRR CEO, Alexandra Gartmann, who was one of the mentors at the 2014 Heywire Regional Youth Summit, said that the grants are designed to help bring these ideas to reality in the bush.

"The spirit, passion and drive of the 2014 Heywire participants is inspirational. These young people are experiencing the issues first hand and have thought through how best to achieve impact and make a lasting difference.

"By combining the insights of the Heywire youth together with the experience and networks of on-the-ground community leaders and groups in regional Australia, we aim to make a positive change for the future. I strongly encourage communities to apply for up to $10,000 in seed funding to adopt, adapt and act on one of these ideas in their community,” Ms Gartmann explained.

The impact of this program is far more than just the project outcomes themselves: it's also encouraging young people to speak up.

Dayna Duncan, Heywire Winner from Arno Bay, SA says she is thrilled to see their ideas taken up by communities around the nation. "It's an incredible feeling. It changes your life knowing that even as a teenager from the country you can make a real difference," said Ms Duncan.

Grant applications close 13 June, 2014. The communities selected to pilot the programs will be announced mid- August. Note, projects must be implemented in rural, regional or remote Australia (projects located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney are not eligible.)

For more information about the ideas and a grant application form, visit www.frrr.org.au/heywire , or email info@frrr.org.au for a hard copy of the report. Applicants can also call 1800 170 020.