President's Column
I believe local government has a major interest in regional development with councils contributing significantly to the sustainable growth of their regions.
Councils create and maintain their region's investment environment, facilitate new local investment and attract external investment through the creation of new business and capital, among other key regional development efforts.
In my recent meeting with the Hon Fiona Nash MP, the Minister for Local Government and also Minister for Regional Development, I strongly supported a partnership approach between
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Half of successful heavy vehicle projects from councils
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport the Hon Darren Chester MP earlier this week announced the list of successful projects from Round 5 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme funding.
Minister Chester advised that 152 applications were received from state, territory and local governments, highlighting the program's importance to regional and rural communities.
The Australian Government's commitment of $97.6 million in this round will be matched by local councils and state governments
Mobile Black Spot audit report released
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has released an audit report on the first round of funding under the Mobile Blackspot Programme.
The report concluded that the Department of Communications and the Arts, which was responsible for administering the programme, established the key elements that would be expected to form part of a competitive, merit-based grants programme and, in the main, implemented these elements in accordance with the published guidelines for Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme.
Smart Cities and Suburbs Program - Industry engagement underway
Assistant Minister for Cities, the Hon Angus Taylor MP, has met with leaders of technology firms this week to explore how new public-private partnerships can develop better cities as part of the Commonwealth's new Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Speaking at the launch of Hypercat, a consortium and specification standard supporting secure Internet of Things interoperability, Mr Taylor welcomed initiatives that would provide secure technology systems for planners and developers.
Latest News
Multimillion-dollar boost to national heavy vehicle camera network
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport the Hon Darren Chester MP has announced $2.45 million to improve Australia's heavy vehicle camera monitoring network
Bill clarifying 'made in' food claims introduced into Parliament
The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016 to amend the safe harbour defences for substantial transformation has been introduced into Parliament.
Update on Census progress
With the final weeks of the 2016 Census approaching, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has received more than seven and a half million Census forms
New NHVR Customer Portal saving access time
Almost 300 national heavy vehicle permit applications a week are being delivered by the NHVR's new digital platform, just five weeks after going live.
Ride-booking services now legal in QLD
Ride-booking services such as Uber are now legal in Queensland under changes to personalised transport regulation rolled out across the state this week.
New 'Internet of Things' network goes live
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield has launched a new Internet of Things (IoT) community network at Barangaroo, NSW
Online safety in focus for libraries during National eSmart Week
This week, hundreds of libraries and schools across Australia will participate in National eSmart Week - an initiative to encourage cyber safety and digital inclusion.
Government pushes ahead with fund to protect threatened species
The Government has marked the 20th anniversary of Threatened Species Day this week by pushing ahead with a new $5 million fund
Multimillion-dollar boost to national heavy vehicle camera network
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport the Hon Darren Chester MP has announced $2.45 million to improve Australia's heavy vehicle camera monitoring network
Bill clarifying 'made in' food claims introduced into Parliament
The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016 to amend the safe harbour defences for substantial transformation has been introduced into Parliament.
Update on Census progress
With the final weeks of the 2016 Census approaching, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has received more than seven and a half million Census forms
New NHVR Customer Portal saving access time
Almost 300 national heavy vehicle permit applications a week are being delivered by the NHVR's new digital platform, just five weeks after going live.
Ride-booking services now legal in QLD
Ride-booking services such as Uber are now legal in Queensland under changes to personalised transport regulation rolled out across the state this week.
New 'Internet of Things' network goes live
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield has launched a new Internet of Things (IoT) community network at Barangaroo, NSW
Online safety in focus for libraries during National eSmart Week
This week, hundreds of libraries and schools across Australia will participate in National eSmart Week - an initiative to encourage cyber safety and digital inclusion.
Government pushes ahead with fund to protect threatened species
The Government has marked the 20th anniversary of Threatened Species Day this week by pushing ahead with a new $5 million fund
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27th ARBB Conference - Early bird registration is now open!
16th- 18th November 2016 | Melbourne, Australia
The ARRB Research Conference creates the opportunity for road and transport professionals to share and explore the latest ideas, knowledge and technologies in order to maximise the total economic and social benefit of road infrastructure.
The 27th Conference in this series is to explore infrastructure and its associated technologies in the context of the reasons for which the roads exist and the users for whom they exist.
The theme of the conference is therefore: LINKING PEOPLE, PLACES & OPPORTUNITIES.
The ARRB Conference provides a perfect platform to share knowledge and technical insights from national and international government and industry perspectives. In order to create greater opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas amongst delegates, the conference and the 38th Australasian Transportation Researchers' Forum (ATRF) will run in parallel with one another at the same venue.
National Local Roads and Transport Congress 2016
Toowoomba QLD
9 - 11 November 2016
Meeting the current and future demand of Australia's transport industry is one of the most important challenges facing the nation's economy and transport infrastructure providers. Local roads underpin the freight movement and productivity of our nation. Effective road financing and appropriate asset management are critical to the successful management of our local roads.
This is reflected in the theme of this year's National Local Roads and Transport Congress 'Local Infrastructure - Developing Region'. The Congress will be held in Toowoomba from 9 - 11 November.
The Congress has always been, and continues to be, critical in providing a platform to engage with the Federal Government and Opposition on road and infrastructure policies and initiatives.
Your council's attendance at this year's Roads Congress strengthens the work that ALGA and your state and territory association is doing to secure better funding for local government roads and infrastructure. Your voices and your knowledge will show the Government the value you place on working together to deliver positive results for all our communities.
For more information or to register your attendance, please click here.