 | |  ALGA has written to political leaders requesting that a portion of public funding provided to local government to promote a 2013 referendum on constitutional recognition of local government be used to reimburse councils for money spent on a national campaign prior to the referendum being cancelled for reasons beyond the sector's control. ALGA President Felicity-ann Lewis said the local government sector was surprised and disappointed when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced on 4 August that the referendum was being dropped and that the election would proceed on 7 September. "The referendum to include local government was scheduled to be held in conjunction with a 14 September federal election and local government was given $10 million in Commonwealth funds to execute a national campaign to promote the Yes Case," Mayor Lewis said. "The local government sector has spent in the order of $3 million in developing a grassroots public relations campaign for rollout under the expectation that the referendum would be held on 14 September. "The decision to drop the 2013 referendum was made without consultation with local government and for reasons which were beyond local government's control and ALGA believes it would be inequitable if councils had to bear the costs of the associated campaign. "I have written to the leaders of the major political parties emphasising that ALGA undertook development of its campaign on the basis of the overwhelming level of support from all political parties and the Parliament's decision to proceed with the referendum. "ALGA negotiated with the Commonwealth on public funding for the campaign in good faith. We secured funding from councils of up to $10 million to invest in the referendum campaign and we secured a national campaign director and relevant communications agencies to assist in the campaign effort. "We are seeking support from political parties for ALGA to use a portion of the funds received from the Commonwealth to fully reimburse local government for the costs of the referendum campaign. This will be a decision for an incoming government. "Councils across the country are rightly upset by the decision to withdraw the referendum but the strength of their disappointment will greatly increase if the incoming government determines that they will also be left to bear the costs of supporting the Parliament's decision to hold a referendum on the financial recognition of local government." | | | | |  The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) - Australia's dedicated independent regulator for vehicles weighing more than 4.5 tonnes - has postponed the introduction of a new system for coordinating the assessment of access permit applications. The NHVR was created to administer one set of rules for all heavy vehicles under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). This includes improving safety, productivity and of special interest to local councils, decision-making for access to road networks. Local councils have a stronger regulatory role and have become road managers under the HVNL, working directly with the NHVR to assess routes and decide which heavy vehicles can travel on local roads. The HVNL requires the NHVR to liaise with road managers (both local councils and state/territory road authorities) when deciding on the issue of heavy vehicle access permits. The NHVR is currently working to finalise its critical access management IT system for coordinating assessment of access permit applications. The NHVR had expected that these systems would be ready to go live on 1 September. However, the NHVR Board has proposed a new target date of 1 October, noting that this date is subject to more testing of the NHVR's IT systems and processes. NHVR's rigorous testing of this new IT system, which will need to be able to process up to 100,000 permit applications each year, identified some integration issues that need to be fixed before it goes live. Therefore, the new decision-making arrangements for heavy vehicle access to be coordinated by the NHVR will now take effect during October 2013. The NHVR Board's decision ensures that the introduction of the new NHVR-coordinated vehicle access permit arrangements will have the best possible start and offer a positive experience for its customers, stakeholders and road manager partners. The additional time also allows the NHVR further opportunity to develop and finalise important information and support for local councils. The broader implementation of the HVNL is the culmination of the decision agreed by the Council of Australian Governments on 2 July 2009 to establish a single national system of law for heavy vehicles weighing more than 4.5 tonnes. The HVNL's broad objectives are to: - Promote public safety;
- Manage the impact of heavy vehicles on the environment, road infrastructure and public amenity;
- Promote industry productivity and efficiency in the road transport of goods and passengers by heavy vehicles; and
- Encourage and promote productive, efficient, innovative and safe business practices.
ALGA will continue to work closely with the NHVR to develop and refine the processes and arrangements required to deliver these important access reforms, for mutual benefit and efficiency consistent with the HVNL. | | | | |  This week saw an increase in electioneering activity and program announcements as the federal election campaign crossed the half-way mark. With polling day now two weeks away, political parties are outlining their cases and sharpening their arguments. Infrastructure spending has been a significant focus of both the Government and the Opposition. The Opposition announced a policy to improve road safety, including $2.2 billion over five years to continue the Roads to Recovery, Black Spot and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programs. The Opposition also announced a small-scale project worth $25 million to improve the Great Ocean Road and the Government announced a $10 million plan to upgrade the Whitsunday Regional Airport. Another focus of this week was crime prevention, with announcements specifically for South Australia from the Government and a national anti-gang and illegal weapons crackdown from the Opposition. There were also announcements on Indigenous employment as well as plans for getting more Indigenous rangers employed in National Parks in the Northern Territory. This week also saw a major announcement from the Greens on the establishment of $100 million in seed-funding for community projects to aid in the creation of renewable energy. Without doubt, the announcement that has dominated the week is the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme, which provides payments for six months at half of the mother's previous salary up to a maximum of $75,000. | | |
| |  The National Local Roads and Transport Congress has always been and continues to be critical in influencing the Government and Opposition on road and infrastructure policies. This week, we heard details of a major road safety policy from one of the major parties, which includes the allocation of $2.2 billion over five years to continue the Roads to Recovery, Black Spot and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programs. With this year's Roads Congress to be held soon after the 2013 federal election, delegates will have a key opportunity to influence the new Government's plans for local roads and infrastructure. Our Congresses have a reputation for influencing significant change. The very first Congress resulted in the establishment of the Roads to Recovery program in 2000. The 2009 Congress called for the establishment of a national strategic transport vision particularly to address the increasing freight volume, a concept adopted by the Government with the development of the National Land Freight Strategy. The 2011 Congress Campaign to renew the Roads to Recovery was instrumental in securing the renewal of the Roads to Recovery program from 2014-2019. It is important that local government stakeholders present a united front when dealing with the new Government on road and transport issues. As such, elected representatives and council staff are encouraged to show their support when the Roads Congress meets in Alice Springs from 12-14 November. ALGA has invited the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, and the Shadow Minister for Transport, the Hon Warren Truss MP, to address the Congress. Programs such as Roads to Recovery, Black Spots and Timber Bridge renewal are critically important to local government, and programs which ALGA has consistently argued for. This November, ALGA is asking councils to provide input to the future of Australia's roads and transport system during an interactive session titled 'Roads at the Heart of the Community'. Input from councils will help ALGA to advocate for Government reforms that meet the objectives of our diverse communities. For more information about the 2013 Roads Congress, please visit our website at www.alga.asn.au Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis
ALGA President | | |
| | South Australia's regional councils are urging whichever party wins next month's federal election to more than double the allocation for the state's natural disaster recovery fund. The state currently gets $2 million a year but country mayors want that increased to $5 million. Loxton Waikerie Mayor Leon Stasinowsky says regional councils are not getting a fair portion of the natural disaster fund, as they often do not meet its minimum requirement for the amount of damage. He says it is forcing local councils to shelve important projects while they fund repairs. "We think that that's unfortunate that you should have to do that because our areas are going through tough and hard enough times in regional areas now, so we think that we should be able to get these allocations at a much more reasonable rate," he said. "The thing is that you have to have a reasonably high rate before you can actually get any funding out of that account, so we think that's pretty unfair because you shouldn't have to wait for something major, in the millions, to do that, so we're asking for a more equitable way to do this." The Local Government Association of South Australia is still in talks with the State Government over the way it funds disaster relief and mitigation. | | | | | A Western Australian community road safety program - iconic for its road side coffee stops - has been a victim of WA Government budget cuts. The WA Local Government Association has been informed that the RoadWise community road safety program has been almost halved with the removal of funding provided through the State’s Road Trauma Trust Fund. For almost 20 years the WA Local Government Association has worked with councils across the State to deliver the RoadWise program to promote community road safety with initiatives including the Child Car Restraints Fitting Service, Driver Reviver, Local Government Safe System Project and community grants and road safety network. WALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard said the Association was last week called into a meeting at the Police Minister's office to be told the project would be drastically cut. Mayor Pickard said it was announced that the previously funded $3.1 million program, which operated in 11 regions across the State, would be reduced by $1.5m, with WALGA requested to carry on going administration costs. After discussion the Minister accepted the Association's compromise to include administration costs in the scaled down program. "This arbitrary decision came as a complete surprise, with an unacceptably short timeframe for implementation and a lack of rationale as to the reasons for the cut," Mayor Pickard said. "To the contrary, these programs are directly responsible for saving lives on our roads, particularly in regional areas and have been proven to be some of the most effective programs funded from the Road Trauma Trust. "It’s even more disappointing to see that the funding removed is raised through red light and speeding fines and specifically dedicated for initiatives achieving road safety outcomes, an outcome which is the sole mission of the RoadWise program." Mayor Pickard said the Association was working through the impact the funding cuts would have on initiatives supported by the program. | | | | | The New South Wales Government appears divided over whether it should intervene to ensure councils add fluoride to their water supplies. The issue has been thrown into the spotlight by a number of council decisions on the state's north coast. Last week the Lismore City Council followed the lead set by the neighbouring Byron Shire Council by deciding not to fluoridate its water. Health Minister Jillian Skinner says she is seeking legal advice on whether the State Government can force councils to add fluoride. "I am discussing with the Local Government Association and other peak bodies the proposition of taking to my Cabinet colleagues the idea of the State Government taking over responsibility for fluoridisation (sic)," Ms Skinner said. "There are very, very clear linkages between oral health problems, gum disease and other major illnesses and anyone who has seen very, very young children with black stubs for teeth will understand how important it is that we have water fluoridisation." But there already appears to be resistance to such a move from Premier Barry O'Farrell, even though he is not impressed with councils that decide against fluoride. "Ultimately we've delivered the current system through local councils. It's appropriate that local councils should continue to make these decisions," Mr O'Farrell said. | | | | | Earlier this month, the Productivity Commission released a draft report on Major Project Development Assessment Processes. It describes the current legislative systems that operate in Australia and outlines the process involved in assessing developments. It also includes international comparisons through benchmarking. The draft report makes numerous recommendations and includes findings which essentially argue that existing development assessment systems are sound. While the findings have identified room for improvement, international comparisons conclude that none of the countries benchmarked have performed significantly better than Australia. While councils have a relatively small role to play in assessing and approving major developments, their role is extremely important, as they represent the broader interests of their communities and have an interest in how developments are regulated. Major development assessments could include activities related to mining, transport and utility infrastructure. To access the draft report, click here. | | | | | The Victorian Government says changes to rural planning zones will protect farmland and give rural councils more independence. It has introduced new zones covering the use of rural land, including the Rural Living Zone, the Rural Activity Zone and the Farming Zone. Planning Minister Matthew Guy says the new zones will give rural councils more flexibility to make planning decisions that suit their area. He says the changes respond to a number of issues country councils raised. "Identifying good farming areas that need protection, issues such as looking at greater use of former farmland for lifestyle lots to obtain population management and sustainable population growth in areas, and of course ensuring that country councils themselves have a greater level of control over what goes on in their own zones," he said. "All of the councils I've seen over three years now had very consistent messages that they needed more flexibility, they needed to be able to work the zones as best [for] their own municipality and importantly that Victorian country areas are not a one size fits all. "That's why we've given this increased flexibility to councils." | | | | | Queensland's Toowoomba Regional Council says relaxing certain infrastructure charges has led to a spike in building applications. Sixty-eight applications have been received since the council introduced a scheme in January to increase the amount of multi-unit developments in the region. Planning portfolio councillor Chris Tait says the region is already enjoying the economic benefits. "Well it's certainly creating extra jobs in the city for tradesmen and apprentices and also consumption of building type goods," he said. "It's a positive right across the board in relation to the city, particularly the construction area but of course that flows on to everything. "I saw some figure recently and they're saying that for units and detached constructions across Queensland that they've been falling but Toowoomba has been holding its own in relation to that and I attribute that to the incentive policy that we have in place." | | | | | A Senate inquiry into the health impacts of air quality has recommended buffer zones be introduced to protect populated areas from large-scale polluters. The committee examined a range of factors, including major air pollution sources such as the mining industry, cars and wood heaters. The inquiry report says while air quality has improved over the past 20 years, it remains a significant problem for certain parts of the population. Committee members pored over 160 submissions and held public hearings in Canberra, Brisbane and Newcastle before making their findings. The report includes 13 recommendations, some general and some relating to specific pollution sources. In addition to the buffer zones, the report recommends that monitoring and real-time air quality data should be a condition of all federal environmental approvals, and that health impact assessments should be similarly required. The committee also says all coal train wagons across the nation should be covered. Greens Senator Richard Di Natale was part of the committee for the inquiry and says air quality remains a major issue for residents in places such as Newcastle. "What we have concluded through the report is that in some areas air quality has improved but in some areas it's actually got worse and it's particularly a problem for people in Newcastle and the Upper Hunter," Senator Di Natale said. "That's largely because of the impact of new coal mines opening and of course the coal transport corridors and coal export routes." John Hayes, a Newcastle resident who has campaigned for years over coal dust levels in inner city suburbs, says he hopes health will be put ahead of coal profits as a result of the report. "We've been keen for a long time to discover how much coal dust, coarse particles and fine particles, come off the wagons," he said. | | | | | Skills Connect works with Australian employers and industries to help them improve their productivity by building and recognising the skills of their workers, to ensure Australia has an appropriately qualified workforce both now and into the future. Assistance is available to enterprises to help them train their workers or to encourage them to take on apprentices and trainees. Co-funding of $45 million is available for the 2013-14 financial year to proponents, or consortia/partnerships, to assist with workforce development projects that will meet identified need and contribute to the Skills Connect Fund objectives, meet funding criteria and represent efficient, effective, ethical and economical use of Australian Government funds. For more information about Skills Connect, click here. | | | | | This year, Adult Learners' Week celebrates the myriad of learning pathways available through adult education in Australia. You might be surprised to hear that almost 1.6 million people access an adult education program via adult and senior education organisations each year in Australia. And each learner has a unique story to tell about his or her own learning journey. Adult Learners' Week is the ideal time to promote your centre and the courses and activities run by your organisation within your own community. To enable you to take advantage of this great opportunity for your centre, Adult Learning Australia has put together a free simple media and promotion kit and video for you to use. To find out more about Adult Learners' Week, click here. | | | | | Bicycle sales for adults are rising while children's models are falling, reflecting an increase of middle-aged men overtaking kids who no longer ride to school. Latest figures from Bicycle Industries Australia reveal 1.4 million sales were recorded last financial year, including a 21 per cent increase in adult bicycle sales since 2009. Children's sales fell by 7 per cent in the same period, which experts say reflects safety concerns, a decrease in children's exercise and childhood obesity levels. For more on the latest figures provided to Bicycle Industries Australia, click here. | | |
| | |  The ALC is a major biennial landscape design conference culminating from two years intense research and planning to secure leading designers from around the world. The 2013 conference, proudly sponsored by Warner's Nurseries, will feature brilliant speakers, from overseas and Australia with 13 world class presentations at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Speakers comprise Ken Smith from New York presenting on urban design and cityscapes, Mediterranean gardening expert Louisa Jones from Provence, renowned Chilean Landscape Architect Juan Grimm from Chile, Aniket Bhagwat with his unique garden tales from India, Raymond Jungles bringing Burle Marx into the 21st century, Toshio Watanable with a new take on Japanese landscapes, Paul Bangay in a rare public presentation and Anne Latreille, author of Garden Voices, an in depth analysis of Australian designers.
In addition to the two day presentations, there is a pre-conference garden tour, a speakers' dinner (special guest presentation from Moira Kelly regarding her Global Gardens of Peace project) and post conference workshops by renowned experts on installation gardens, vertical walls/green roofs, plant composition, horticultural therapy, edible landscapes and children's garden. The ALC is a must for anyone interested in the elements of design across a range of disciplines.
To subscribe to updates, download the conference brochure, online registration and all further details visit www.landscapeconference.com or email jennywade@bigpond.com for a brochure by post.
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