ALGA and the representatives from a number of councils attended a roundtable on water infrastructure convened by the Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce in Canberra on 29 October.  More than 80 participants at the roundtable talked about the practical issues around planning and funding for 27 high priority water projects identified in a Water Infrastructure Options Paper prepared for a Federal Government Ministerial Working Group chaired by Minister Joyce

The 27 high priority projects, which are in addition to 4 projects which have already received Commonwealth funding, range from those which could proceed in the next twelve months to those which might be suitable for assistance to accelerate feasibility studies, cost benefits analyses or design. They cover all states and territories, except the ACT, and address water security, agriculture and power generation needs.      

The water infrastructure projects are included in the recently released Agricultural Competitiveness Green Paper and Minister Joyce has urged interested parties, including local councils, to lodge submissions and have their views on water infrastructure heard.  Submissions are open online until 12 December 2014.

ALGA has used its appearance at a public hearing on the Productivity Commission's Draft Report on Natural Disaster Funding on 28 October to reinforce concerns about some of the report's recommendations while welcoming others.  Of specific concern to ALGA and state and territory local government associations (many of whom are also appearing at the various Commission hearings on the draft report) are recommendations to reduce the level of support provided by the Commonwealth to the states and territories for relief and recovery efforts and to make any increased funding for disaster mitigation conditional upon such a reduction. 

ALGA is concerned that a reduction in support to the states will see a consequent reduction in support for councils.  There is also concern about the recommendation to dramatically lift the qualifying threshold for a natural disaster from a damage level of $240,000 to $2,000,000. 

While ALGA welcomed the Commission’s draft recommendation that annual federal funding for mitigation should increase from $20m to $200m ALGA strongly urged that this increase not be linked to a reduction in relief and recovery support, arguing that the benefits of mitigation spoke for themselves and supported greater funding as a prudent investment.  ALGA also welcomed the recommendation to provide greater flexibility for the use council day labour in post disaster clean ups and for expenditure on betterment (ie improving the resilience of a damaged asset rather than just returning it to its pre-disaster condition)  

The Commission is seeking to finalise its report to the Government by the end of this year. 

Tasmania's Local Government Elections have brought sweeping change across the State's 29 councils.

Alderman Sue Hickey has taken out the top job as the Lord Mayor of Hobart, becoming Hobart's second female Lord Mayor.  A business woman and former Miss Tasmania, Alderman Hickey will follow in the footsteps of Hobart's first female Lord Mayor, Doone Kennedy.

The introduction of all in, all out elections and the removal of the twelve-month qualification period for the positions of mayor and deputy mayor resulted in a record number of candidates running in the Local Government Elections.  A total of 476 candidates nominated for 263 councillor positions, 91 candidates nominated for 29 mayoral positions, and 143 candidates nominated for 29 deputy mayoral positions.

Among the suite of changes, 14 new mayors were elected across the State, including one mayor who is completely new the sector.  Women have also gained a stronger foothold within Local Government, with 9 women being elected to the position of mayor and a further 9 women to the position of deputy mayor.

The response rate of eligible voters in Tasmania remained at 54.28%, the same percentage that voted at the 2011 Local Government Elections.  Voting in the Tasmanian Local Government Elections is not compulsory.

The Government is calling for tenders to deliver around 240,000 assessments to people seeking aged care support in the home from 1 July 2015.

The tender will establish a consistent approach to assessment services for people seeking support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).

The CHSP will commence on 1 July 2015 and will act as a single, streamlined programme that rolls several existing programmes into one, including Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) and the National Respite for Carers Programme.

Organisations who successfully tender will form part of a national network of My Aged Care Regional Assessment Services, undertaking face-to-face assessments of older people using a standardised framework. They will then make a referral to locally available services.

As part of these changes, home support assessments will be separated from service delivery.

Organisations from all jurisdictions will have the opportunity to apply to provide home support assessments, including those which currently receive funding under the Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) programme.

Organisations can apply - individually or as part of a consortium - to deliver services across a region.

Local and specialist organisations, such as those which support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Indigenous communities, are encouraged to apply as part of a larger consortium.

Information regarding the tender opportunity is available at www.tenders.gov.au and information about My Aged Care can be found at www.myagedcare.gov.au.

The next stage of the 2014 Review of the National Partnership Agreement on the National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care (2014 Review) will involve consultation on the proposed options for changes to the National Quality Framework using a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS).

The consultation sessions are an opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback on the proposed options for changes to the National Quality Framework and how it affects the sector, families and community.

The Regulation Impact Statement is expected to be released in November and public consultation sessions will be held in each state and territory in captial cities and regional areas to provide further information.

For locations, dates and venues and to register click here.

Minister for Veterans Affairs Senator Michael Ronaldson has announced a further 231 grants totalling $1.96 million under the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. This brings the total number of grants approved to 605 grants across 123 electorates, with $5.5 million being made available to date for communities to implement commemorative projects.

Senator Ronaldson said there are a wide range of commemorative stories and activities being funded through this program spanning from school projects, war memorials and honour rolls and community events to remember those who were involved in the war, and encapsulating the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the nation's uniform.

Some projects recently funded include:

• Gallipoli and Beyond: a range of events, educational and artistic activities in the City of Borrondara to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli in April
• Oberon Council and Oberon RSL sub-branch will construct a new "Spirit Lives On" First World War memorial

The Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program is a key element of the Australian Government's Anzac Centenary Program. Up to $125,000 in funding has been made available to each of the 150 Federal electorates to commemorate the First World War.

More information about the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program is available at www.anzaccentenary.gov.au.

A new productivity and performance project will encourage Queensland councils to provide value for money and better connect with their communities by using a range of data to benchmark their performance against other councils and the local government sector as a whole.

The project, dubbed Better Councils Better Communities, is driven by the need for councils to improve their productivity in response to heavy cuts in funding and subsidies from the Federal and State governments as well as reductions in their ability to raise their own revenue.

Local Government Association of Queensland President Margaret de Wit said Better Councils, Better Communities would help councils continue to deliver value to ratepayers and residents despite.

The project was launched before 600 delegates and observers at the LGAQ's annual conference in Mackay on Tuesday 28 October.

The Bureau of Meteorology has released a new online groundwater data tool, providing a comprehensive picture of Australia's groundwater resources.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Senator Simon Birmingham said the Australian Groundwater Explorer brings together comprehensive groundwater information from state and territory water agencies, making it publicly available in a nationally consistent format on the Bureau's website.

The website provides access to a wide range of groundwater data including 800,000 bore locations and bore logs.

View the Australian Groundwater Explorer here.

A new assessment bilateral agreement that removes duplication and provides a single process for environmental assessments in Victoria has been signed by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments.

The agreement reduces the regulatory burden on business, meets the requirements of both Victorian and the Commonwealth governments and maintains high environmental standards.

Under this agreement, the Commonwealth will retain the power to approve or refuse actions, and to attach conditions to approved actions.

In late 2013, the Commonwealth and Victoria signed a Memorandum of Understanding which set out the process and underlying principles for developing a One-Stop Shop in Victoria.

Having now completed the important step of streamlining assessments, the next step in the One-Stop Shop reform process is to accredit the Victorian environmental approval system under national environment law.

Further information can be found here.

Twenty-three outstanding individuals and organisations have been named as finalists in the 2014 National Disability Awards.

They were chosen from more than 200 nominations received across the eight categories of the awards.

Achievements by the finalists include:

• creating inclusive play spaces for children and their families,
• forming a partnership to increase fire safety awareness for the hearing impaired,
• establishing facilities to ensure wheelchair users can be included on cruise tours,
• raising the profile of the unmet needs of Aboriginal people with disability, and
• developing inclusive performing arts.

The eight categories of the awards reflect the priorities of the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020.

All finalists will be invited to attend the national awards event at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, 25 November.

The National Disability Awards are a major part of celebrations marking the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December each year.

For more information about the finalists visit www.idpwd.com.au.