President's column
IN AN IDEAL world, councils should be capable of keeping their community infrastructure functional and fit for purpose. And it's crucial that we do because our communities rely upon it. However, our asset base is extensive, our funding base is limited, and 11 per cent of or assets are in poor or very poor condition.
More
Regions 'will embrace decentralisation'
QUEENSLAND Federal MP John McVeigh told Parliament on Monday there is much enthusiasm and capacity in rural and regional Australia to house Commonwealth departments. Mr McVeigh was presenting a regional development and decentralisation Issues Paper prepared by the House of Representatives Select Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation.
How Bellingen won a better broadband deal
BELLINGEN Shire Council has negotiated with NBN Co for fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) broadband access to be provided across the board to Bellingen ratepayers and business owners. NBN Co had originally planned for only half the Bellingen township to receive fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) with the other half being provided with FTTC.
Latest News
Victorian Government unveils cyber security strategy
THE VICTORIAN State Government has unveiled a cyber security strategy designed to uplift the cyber security capacity of government and restore confidence in government IT and digital service delivery.
NSW councils act on recycling industry woes
MAITLAND City Council is joining three other Hunter Valley and Central Coast councils, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Singleton, to make submissions to the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to address the current failures in the recycled products market.
Inquiry calls for import ban on combustible cladding
A FEDERAL Parliamentary Committee inquiry on non-conforming building products has recommended an immediate ban on the importation, sale and use of flammable aluminium cladding.
Push for audit of Community Development Grants Program
THE NEWCASTLE Herald newspaper has editorialised on the need for an audit of the Community Development Grants program, arguing 'the distribution of funds to communities across the country does not stand up well to scrutiny'.
ALGA Congress to look at CSO funding for roads
FUTURE road funding arrangements and, in particular, how Community Service Obligations might be needed to help councils fund their roads, will be discussed at the 2017 ALGA Local Roads and Transport Congress to be held in Albany in November.
News in brief
A DEPUTATION of council mayors and chief executives from Melbourne's outer western suburbs flew to Canberra on Wednesday to argue for increased Commonwealth and state investment to enable their region to better cope with rapid population growth.
Victorian Government unveils cyber security strategy
THE VICTORIAN State Government has unveiled a cyber security strategy designed to uplift the cyber security capacity of government and restore confidence in government IT and digital service delivery.
NSW councils act on recycling industry woes
MAITLAND City Council is joining three other Hunter Valley and Central Coast councils, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Singleton, to make submissions to the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to address the current failures in the recycled products market.
Inquiry calls for import ban on combustible cladding
A FEDERAL Parliamentary Committee inquiry on non-conforming building products has recommended an immediate ban on the importation, sale and use of flammable aluminium cladding.
Push for audit of Community Development Grants Program
THE NEWCASTLE Herald newspaper has editorialised on the need for an audit of the Community Development Grants program, arguing 'the distribution of funds to communities across the country does not stand up well to scrutiny'.
ALGA Congress to look at CSO funding for roads
FUTURE road funding arrangements and, in particular, how Community Service Obligations might be needed to help councils fund their roads, will be discussed at the 2017 ALGA Local Roads and Transport Congress to be held in Albany in November.
News in brief
A DEPUTATION of council mayors and chief executives from Melbourne's outer western suburbs flew to Canberra on Wednesday to argue for increased Commonwealth and state investment to enable their region to better cope with rapid population growth.
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#PIACONGRESS18 ABSTRACTS OPEN!
The Planning Institute of Australia is delighted to hold the 2018 National Planning Congress in
Perth, 9 - 11 May 2018
The 2018 Congress aspires to address what is effectual planning practice on the global frontier - whether that's planning for the local community, a metropolitan area, a regional area, a mega-city or an emergent region.
Good planning doesn't simply mitigate and fix problems: it strives to reimagine and recreate our communities to be more inclusive, sustainable, resilient and productive.
PIA invites all local government planners and related affiliates to submit an abstract to speak on the following topics:
- Cities + Regions
- Movement + Infrastructure
- Smart Technology + Data
- Demographics + Communities
- Prosperity + Governance
- Landscape + Sustainability
- Culture + Place
We are looking for presentations that provide:
- Case studies of projects, policy and development in practice, including the lessons learned, both good and bad;
- New information, evidence and tools to support better planning;
- Innovative approaches that generate new ways of thinking and challenge to the status quo; and/or
- Perspectives and experiences from the end users and stakeholders of planning.
INTERESTED?
Submissions close Friday 29th September 2017
Registrations open November