President's column
The issue of waste and recycling has reared its head again this week following the decision by Ipswich City Council to send the recycled materials it collects kerb-side to landfill. This decision came about during contractual negotiations with a new contractor whereby unsustainable cost burdens would have been put on council and its rate payers.
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Not long left for NGA early bird registrations
Don't miss the early bird registration discount for this year's National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA), which will be held from 17 to 20 June in Canberra. Early bird registrations are set to close on 4 May 2018.
Queensland govt working with councils on waste
The Queensland Government has announced that it will work with councils and industry on a zero-waste future. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the time to act was now, given the unprecedented decision of the Ipswich City Council to start dumping recycling in landfill
Latest News
Federal grant helps increase safety in Central Coast Council
Central Coast Council in NSW has installed 19 new CCTV cameras to increase the community s sense of safety in popular local neighbourhoods Terrigal and Copacabana. Now operational, the CCTV cameras were jointly funded by a $550,000 grant under round two of the Federal Government's Safer Streets Program and $90,000 from the council's operating budget.
Could biofuels generate $1.1b additional revenue in regional areas?
Increased use of 10 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E10) in Australia could create more than 8600 direct and indirect jobs, attract $1.56 billion in investment and generate more than $1.1 billion in additional revenue each year in regional areas, a new report by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers has found.
Toowoomba Regional Council first to sign up to Virtual Power Plant agreement
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has become the first council in Queensland to join a trial to optimise electricity use under a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) agreement with Yurika. The virtual power plant is a cloud-based, load control system created to manage extreme electricity demand during severe temperature events.
Apply now - Indigenous Languages and Arts program
Applications are now open for the 2018-19 Indigenous Languages and Arts grants program. The program provides funding for organisations that preserve and maintain Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and deliver Indigenous arts projects.
Changing conditions make 2018-19 challenging water year for Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) environmental watering outlook for 2018-19 anticipates a range of conditions across the Basin with most catchments currently expected to experience dry to very dry conditions while some will be moderate to wet.
ABS provides estimates of the prevalence of homelessness
Homelessness is not just the result of too few houses. Its causes are many and varied. Domestic violence, a shortage of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse all contribute to the level of homelessness in Australia.
Federal grant helps increase safety in Central Coast Council
Central Coast Council in NSW has installed 19 new CCTV cameras to increase the community s sense of safety in popular local neighbourhoods Terrigal and Copacabana. Now operational, the CCTV cameras were jointly funded by a $550,000 grant under round two of the Federal Government's Safer Streets Program and $90,000 from the council's operating budget.
Could biofuels generate $1.1b additional revenue in regional areas?
Increased use of 10 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E10) in Australia could create more than 8600 direct and indirect jobs, attract $1.56 billion in investment and generate more than $1.1 billion in additional revenue each year in regional areas, a new report by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers has found.
Toowoomba Regional Council first to sign up to Virtual Power Plant agreement
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has become the first council in Queensland to join a trial to optimise electricity use under a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) agreement with Yurika. The virtual power plant is a cloud-based, load control system created to manage extreme electricity demand during severe temperature events.
Apply now - Indigenous Languages and Arts program
Applications are now open for the 2018-19 Indigenous Languages and Arts grants program. The program provides funding for organisations that preserve and maintain Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and deliver Indigenous arts projects.
Changing conditions make 2018-19 challenging water year for Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) environmental watering outlook for 2018-19 anticipates a range of conditions across the Basin with most catchments currently expected to experience dry to very dry conditions while some will be moderate to wet.
ABS provides estimates of the prevalence of homelessness
Homelessness is not just the result of too few houses. Its causes are many and varied. Domestic violence, a shortage of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse all contribute to the level of homelessness in Australia.
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A key strategy to manage future residential growth is the provision of missing middle housing types. Momentum is clearly behind the growth of diverse housing typologies and the push is on to find quality designs and innovative housing delivery models for the middle ring suburbs of our cities, where future residential growth can best be integrated.
However, community resistance to an increase in density, as well as a tough policy and political environment, presents challenges to planners, designers and developers. The Housing Density & Diversity conference will provide a platform to address the key issues and identify the strategies that will achieve quality housing outcomes going forwards.
Hear practical insights on key issues
- Explore the missing middle and why it is critical to today's housing market
- Discover the benefits of innovation & collaboration in housing delivery
- Benchmark against local government density strategies
- Hear how to better manage community resistance to change
- Integrate density into the suburbs through quality design
- Overcome funding & development challenges
Who will attend?
Local Councils, with responsibility for:
- Strategic planning
- Urban design
- City planning & development
Along with state government representatives, developers, architects, designers and planning firms
Register now to secure early bird rates!
For more information, visit the website or contact us at customercare@criterionconferences.com.
Local Government Regulation & Compliance Conference
24 - 25 July 2018, Sydney
The national conference will examine strategic approaches to regulatory compliance. Strategies will be evaluated and successes measured. The forum will provide a platform to discuss how the sector as a whole can strive for consistency. High-level strategic themes will be tackled so that lessons can be applied across all compliance divisions within local government.
Key learnings:
- Deliver regulatory strategy whilst meeting community expectations
- Overcome the challenges of regulating growing & diverse communities
- Evaluate strategic approaches & define measures of success
- Strive for standardised & consistent approaches to regulation
- Hear from international best practice examples towards local government regulation
- Implement a strategic problem-solving approach to regulatory challenges
Download the conference program and see who is speaking
ALGA members save $100, quote CC*ALGA when registering.
National General Assembly of Local Government
Australia's Future Make It Local
17-20 June 2018 Canberra
There is not much time left to book registrations to attend the largest, most influential local government conference in Australia which occurs just once a year.
The Australian Local Government Association's National General Assembly, held in Canberra, attracts representatives from all 537 councils across the states and territories.
The theme for the 2018 Conference is Australia's Future: Let's make it local. It reflects Local Government's ability - and potential - to influence the political agenda for the upcoming federal election.
Registration are still open with limited spots left for the popular networking dinners! Also, take the opportunity to register for the National Regional Forum to engage in the most up to date and contemporary issues facing Australia's regions. This forum addresses all regions, including metro.
To view the NGA Program please click here.