 | |  The 2015 National Local Roads and Transport Congress will head to the home of the Eureka Stockade, Ballarat. ALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard announced Ballarat as the host city for the event at the conclusion of the 2014 Congress in Tamworth last week. The 2015 Congress will be held from 17 - 19 November, 2015. Keep an eye on the ALGA website in the new year for more details as event planning gets underway. | | | | |  The 2014 National Local Roads and Transport Congress has called for strong levels of support from the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to make necessary investment in the local roads network to assist local government in its capacity as the manager of some 80 percent of Australia's road network. In a media release issued at the conclusion of the Congress, ALGA President Troy Pickard said the road and transport agenda for local government is a huge commitment. On behalf of the national an estimated $7.5 billion per annum is spent on the local road component of the national network. However, unfortunately this is not enough to meet the backlog and underspend on the local road and transport infrastructure. He said despite this challenge local government is commitment to the continued efficient management of the nation's local road network; and the development and use of asset management plans at the local level, and where appropriate, regional level to assist in managing the local road assets. To read the full media release, click here. | | | | |  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss has congratulated Mayor Troy Pickard on his appointment as President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). "I warmly welcome Cr Pickard to his new position and look forward to the Australian Government continuing its good working relationship with ALGA. The Government recognises the important contribution councils make to our national economy and the leadership they provide at a local community level," Mr Truss said. Mr Truss thanked outgoing ALGA President Ms Felicity-ann Lewis for her commitment to a productive partnership with the Australian Government during her time in office. "During her time as ALGA president, Cr Lewis brought a strong voice to local government issues and an outstanding commitment to positive change," he said. "I wish Cr Lewis well in the next stage of her career." | | |
| |  Last week I attended the 2014 National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Tamworth, my first official duty as ALGA President. It was an opportunity to outline what I see as the five key challenges for local government in its relationship with the Federal Government over this period: - Securing our place in the Federation through maintaining the direct funding relationship between local government and the Commonwealth
The Prime Minister has instigated a White Paper process on the Reform of the Federation and another one on Taxation. This is an excellent initiative. ALGA wants to ensure that any change to the Federation strengthens local government, not weakens it, and that the relationship between the Commonwealth and local government remains strong for the benefit of all local communities. - Growing the funding pie
The financial sustainability of all councils is not the sole responsibility of local communities. Every council must do as much as they can to maximize their revenue - or at least raise as much local revenue as they can to meet community needs. However, it is a fact that many councils are not in a position to raise sufficient revenue from their local communities. A fair share of national taxation to ensure equity in the provision of municipal and essential services is a core responsibility of the Federal Government. - Restoring the indexation and improving the level of FAGs
Flowing from the above you can see the importance of restoring the indexation for, and improving the level of FAGs following the indexation freeze announced in the May Budget. We must push to maintain - and restore the level of general revenue support we get from the Commonwealth through FAGs. - Making roads to recovery funding permanent
The Roads to Recovery Program was introduced in 2000 and now, with the Government and Opposition's support the program is secure until 2019. In the most recent legislation for the program, the Government has sought to reduce the need to go back to Parliament for extensions of the program every few years and this has gone a long way to strengthening the permanency of the program. ALGA will still have to continue to argue for funding for the program beyond the Budget cycle and I will be a strong advocate in arguing the need for permanent funding. - Improving the capacity of the sector to manage our assets and ensure that they are fit for purpose.
It is imperative that local government continues its work on asset management. We have made great progress. Asset management is the key to quantifying our needs and therefore securing the investments in local and regional roads that will increase local, regional and national productivity as well as meet community expectations. We have more work to do in this regard. Whilst they are not the only issues, they will certainly dominate our agenda. I and the ALGA Board look forward to working with State and Territory Associations, and local government in general, to ensure we maintain a focus on meeting these objectives over the next two years. To read a copy of the 2014-2016 Priorities document in full, click here Mayor Troy Pickard President | | |
| | ALGA has lodged a submission in response to the Competition Policy Review - Draft Report (September 2014), also referred to as the Harper Review. ALGA welcomes the review and supports the need for competitive neutrality policies to be reviewed and updated against best practice. It also supports the need for improvements to be made to competition policy complaints-handling processes and monitoring. However, ALGA has concerns with a number of the draft recommendations, namely those relating to human services and planning and zoning that it believes over simplify how competition policy impacts these public services. A copy of ALGA's submission can be found on the ALGA website | | | | | As speaker presentations from the 2014 National Local Roads and Transport congress are provided to ALGA by speakers they will be placed on the ALGA website for reference. The opening and closing addressed from ALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard are available on the ALGA website, along with the presentation from Jeff Roorda of JRA; Deputy Prime Minister Truss' speech to the congress can be accessed on the Deputy Prime Minister's website and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO Sal Petroccitto's presentation can be accessed here. Keep an eye of the website over coming weeks for more information. | | | | | Applications are now open for Round Two of the community-led Green Army projects Projects must run for 20-26 weeks and may be carried out across urban, regional and remote Australia on public land, Indigenous-held lands, or private land where there is a clear community and environmental and heritage benefit. Green Army projects may involve restoring and protecting native habitat, weeding, revegetation, cleaning up waterways, creeks and rivers, fencing, gully remediation, preventing erosion, protecting and conserving heritage places and values, or monitoring and surveying on Indigenous and non Indigenous lands. Successful applicants will receive a team of up to nine Green Army participants, a team supervisor and project specific materials, such as seedlings, herbicide, mulch, matting and tree guards, in addition to the basic materials required to deliver a project. Service Providers, appointed by the Australian Government will work with project sponsors to deliver projects. Applications for projects under this second round of the Programme are now open and will close on Tuesday 9 December 2014 at 2:00pm AEDT. To be eligible, projects must be ready to commence between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2015. Project guidelines for Round 2 and more information on the Green Army Programme is available here. | | | | | The Government welcomed the release of NBN Co Limited's (NBN Co) 2014-17 Corporate Plan, which shows ambitious targets for the rollout of the network through the current financial year, on Monday. The 2014-17 Corporate Plan is NBN Co's first since the December 2013 Strategic Review, which recommended switching to a multi-technology mix rollout. Key forecasts for the current financial year include: - Increasing the number of premises that are serviceable by NBN Co's various networks from 552,600 to 1.03 million
- An increase in revenue from $61 million in FY2013-14 to $160 million in 2014-15
- An increase in the proportion of serviceable premises in brownfield areas from 67 per cent of premises passed to 81 per cent of premises passed.
More information on the 2014-17 Corporate Plan is available on NBN Co's website. | | | | | More than 5,100 homes and businesses will soon be the first in Western Australia to complete the transition to the National Broadband Network (NBN). As part of a national upgrade to Australia's fixed-line infrastructure, services over the NBN are scheduled to progressively replace most existing landline phone and internet services in parts of Victoria Park, South Perth, Meadow Springs and Mandurah from 20 March 2015. NBN Co today urged the remaining homes and businesses in these regions that have not placed an order for services over the NBN to contact their preferred internet service provider or phone company as soon as possible. You can find out whether you are eligible to connect to the NBN as well as more information about the steps you need to take to make the switch by visiting www.nbnco.com.au/switch. | | | | | The Australian Government has released four additional draft Emissions Reduction Fund methods for public consultation - for household energy efficiency, industrial energy efficiency, soil carbon and improving the efficiency of fertiliser use in irrigated cotton. The draft methods have been developed in consultation with technical working groups and industry. Businesses, community organisations and individuals are invited to make submissions on the draft methods by 5pm AEDT 12th December 2014. Further details about the draft methods and how to make a submission are available here. | | | | | Young people have only got a few days left to nominate for the 2015 National Youth Awards. Applications for the 2015 National Youth Awards close at midday on Thursday, 27 November 2014 (AEDT). The awards, which include a $2000 prize and national recognition, acknowledge the achievements of Australians aged 12-25 years. Young people can either nominate themselves or a friend in the seven awards categories, which include: Youth Safety; Youth Courage; Youth Culture and Diversity; Youth Employment; Youth Health; Youth Leadership Award; and Youth in Media, an award open to journalists of all ages who have portrayed young people in a positive light. The awards, which are in their third year, are judged by a panel of young people. Winners will be announced during National Youth Week, which runs from 10-19 April 2015. Application forms for the National Youth Awards, together with more information, are available here. | | | | | Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy haved announced that the Australian Government will deliver $500,000 to Queanbeyan City Council for the Upgrade of Seiffert Oval and Stadium project. Dr Hendy said the project will improve the facilities at the Seiffert Oval, including upgrading the grandstand and canteen facilities, as well as a field surface upgrade. Mr Briggs said the funding is part of more than $300 million being invested in almost 300 community projects across Australia. The programme is administered by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. | | | | | The Productivity Commission released its 2014 Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage 2014 on Wednesday. The 2014 OID Report shows that, nationally, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: - economic outcomes have improved over the longer term, with higher incomes, lower reliance on income support, increased home ownership, and higher rates of full time and professional employment. However, improvements have slowed in recent years
- several health outcomes have improved, including increased life expectancy and lower child mortality. However, rates of disability and chronic disease remain high, mental health outcomes have not improved, and hospitalisation rates for self-harm have increased
- post-secondary education outcomes have improved, but there has been virtually no change in literacy and numeracy results at school, which are particularly poor in remote areas
- justice outcomes continue to decline, with adult imprisonment rates worsening and no change in high rates of juvenile detention and family and community violence.
The report is available on the Productivity Commission website. | | | | | The national winners in the 2014 Resilient Australia Awards will be announced in a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Monday 24 November. Every year, Australian communities face devastating losses caused by disasters. Bushfires, floods, storms, other hazards and their associated consequences have significant impacts on communities, the economy, infrastructure and the environment. The Resilient Australia Awards recognise innovative practices and achievements across the nation that are making our communities safer, stronger, more resilient and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. The awards cover all aspects of community safety and resilience with an emergency management focus including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery; risk assessment; research; education and training and information and knowledge management. | | |
| | |  The pressure on local councils to demonstrate efficiencies, including better use of Information Technology, increases. However, the conundrum of adequately measuring IT contribution to business outcomes is hard to address because IT value may not be directly evident or is affected by organizational changes. The use of common standardized measures (pertinent to priorities and conditions of Local Government) helps local councils get past the struggle and effort of ICT performance measurement & reporting and focus on effective steering of IT strategies. Please contact service@tech-indicators.com.au or +61 2 9879 7115 to register. |
| | | | | |  Bring your community together this Australia Day with the Affirmation Across the country, there are thousands of organised events held on Australia Day, from fun runs first thing in the morning to the fireworks in the evening. And in most towns across Australia, a citizenship ceremony is held. Citizenship ceremonies are an integral part of Australia Day, with tens of thousands of people becoming Australian citizens on 26 January each year. A great way to welcome these new citizens into the community is to include an Australia Citizenship ceremony at official Australia Day events. The Australian Citizenship Affirmation can be included as part of every citizenship ceremony and gives the whole community the opportunity to affirm their loyalty to Australia and its people. It’s a wonderful way to bring the whole community together to celebrate our values on Australia Day. All the resources and information you need to include the Affirmation are sent to you free of charge, so why not bring the whole community together at your event with an Affirmation ceremony this Australia Day? For information and free resources, visit australianaffirmation.org.au |
| | | | | |  The Australian Refrigeration Association (ARA) is staging the HVACR Energy Efficiency Seminar Series 2014 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in November offering all HVACR stakeholders an intensive one day programme highlighting the future transition of the Australian HVACR industry to adopt existing and emerging energy efficient technologies and low GWP natural refrigerant solutions, to drive cost efficiencies and reduce Carbon emissions in Australia's HVACR plant. With the potential of a vast majority of commercial, industrial and residential HVACR infrastructure being replaced over the coming decade with new technology and new plant, it is important to appreciate the energy efficient and low emissions nature of natural refrigerant based technologies and explore alternative methods, solutions and thinking to better manage the heat load within the Australian built environment. If you are responsible for improving the efficient operation of your organisation's HVACR plant you are invited to attend the HVACR Energy Efficiency Seminar Series in your local city. Typical job titles attending include: - Facilities & real estate executives
- Property managers
- HVACR specifiers
- Engineers
- Contractors
- Operations & sustainability executives
- HVACR end users
$120 (incl:GST) secures your place and includes all catering and one day seminar pass. Register Today. |
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