Welcome to Councillor News

Councillor News is a monthly newsletter service that has been initiated by Hallmark Editions, the publisher of the quarterly Councillor Magazine for Australia's elected members. In appreciation of your council's support in subscribing to Councillor Magazine, Hallmark Editions is pleased to provide councillors with this monthly news update to alert them to significant news and information.

There is no charge to receive this newsletter, and we hope that you will find it a useful source of information. If you have any difficulties with the newsletter's HTML format, please email Drew Buckley on drew.buckley@halledit.com.au.

Councillor News is edited by Ben Hutchison, email benh@halledit.com.au. Any feedback you may care to make about this newsletter would be greatly appreciated.

© Copyright 2007 Hallmark Editions.

Queensland Government moves to commence amalgamations

Premier Peter Beattie has announced his government will adopt “lock, stock and barrel” the amalgamations recommended by the state’s Local Government Reform Commission.

The commission’s recommendations also included:
- Creating a new class of local government, to be known as “regional councils”, in areas that represent the state’s key economic development hubs.
- reducing the number of council Mayors or Chairpersons from 156 to 72 and reducing the number of Councillors from 1094 to 454 – a total reduction of 724 local politicians.

Mr Beattie says he expects legislation that would introduce the reforms will be tabled in State Parliament some time during August.

‘Local transition committees’ will be established across the state to guide local government organisations through the transition process to the new councils, which will be formed in time for Queensland’s March 2008 local government elections

Mr Beattie says the reforms are warranted given current local government boundaries do not reflect the state’s population growth and demographic changes.

He says many of Queensland’s present councils “are no longer financially viable”, with 88 councils having rate bases of 5000 people or less.

Mr Beattie confirmed that Queensland local government staff will not lose their jobs as a result of the reforms, and that the only council officials to be affected will be Chief Executive Officers, mayors and councillors.

The Local Government Reform Commission’s report can be viewed at http://www.strongercouncils.qld.gov.au.

Local government peak body condemns council ‘slaughter’

LGAQ President Paul Bell says the reforms have been undertaken without sufficient reason, and, through the reduction in the number of councils from 156 to 72, will effectively result in local government being replaced by a regional system of government in Queensland.

“Local communities with shared interests have lost the councillors they relied on to represent their particular interests,” Cr Bell says.

Cr Bell says the Local Government Reform Commission’s recommendations “arrogantly ignored the way local community works”

“The big is better argument has been discredited in every Australian state where councils have experienced amalgamation,” Cr Bell says.

“Bigger councils have meant reduced services, rundown infrastructure and higher costs for residents.”

New Qld councils’ use of wards to be decided on case-by-case basis

Although the state’s Local Government Reform Commission has recommended that all the state’s new councils should be undivided, Premier Peter Beattie has announced the need for internal divisions or wards will be decided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the new councils.

Local governments will be able to conduct the scheduled March 2008 council elections on an undivided or divided basis, Mr Beattie says.

Mr Beattie says there are “advantages and disadvantages” for a council to operate on an undivided basis.

However, he says he recognises concerns raised by small towns and shires that, as a result of amalgamation, undivided elections may not give their local area an opportunity to be sufficiently represented on a larger council.

Queensland Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser says he has written to all local governments requesting their input into a new system for internal council boundaries.

Mr Fraser says it will be difficult to get any new internal boundaries in place before the March elections.

New tribunal to set remuneration levels of Qld councillors

Previously in Queensland, councils had been free to set councillor and mayoral remuneration levels themselves.

The new tribunal is expected to be established and to have set new remuneration levels for mayors and councillors well before Queensland’s local government elections are held next March.

Queensland Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser says the tribunal will bring the state’s local government sector in line with a similar remuneration tribunal system that sets remuneration levels for MPs.

A spokesperson for Queensland Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser says terms of reference for the establishment of the tribunal are presently being finalised.

She says the tribunal will be established after legislation containing the state’s sweeping local government reforms is passed by State Parliament. The Beattie Government is hoping the legislation can be passed before the end of September.

Labor proposes $500m fund for councils to streamline home development

A key plank of Labor’s policy response to the housing affordability crisis, the fund would feature a competitive grant application process that would see councils receive grants for measures such as reducing red tape in planning processes and curbing infrastructure charges on new developments.

Labor’s Housing Affordability Fund would see local governments – in conjunction with the development industry – outline in their grant applications how their proposed initiatives would pass on savings to home buyers.

While Mr Rudd has confirmed that innovative project proposals from state governments are also likely to be financed through the fund, local governments are expected to be the key funding recipients.

Mr Rudd says he expects the fund would end up assisting as many as 50,000 new home buyers over the space of five years. He says he believes the fund could save home buyers up to $20,000 on the price of a new home.

In the wake of its recently-convened national housing affordability summit, Labor has also announced that, if the party wins power, it would establish a National Housing Supply Research Council that would publish an annual ‘State of Supply Report’ to analyse the adequacy of future housing and land supply.

National body proposes community infrastructure fund for coastal councils

The establishment of the fund is just one of the policy initiatives outlined in a discussion paper produced by the taskforce and recently formally adopted by its executive.

A National Sea Change Taskforce spokesperson says it is anticipated the August 19 AGM will have a strong focus on policy initiatives listed in the discussion paper.

Among its policy initiatives, the discussion paper calls for the development of a community infrastructure fund to assist “sea change” local government authorities meet demand for cultural, sporting, recreation and other community facilities to service the rapid population and tourism growth in their coastal communities.

Research conducted for the National Sea Change Taskforce by the University of Sydney’s Planning Research Centre shows that coastal councils presently are experiencing an infrastructure shortage and do not have the financial resources to expand and upgrade their services.

The discussion paper also outlines the need for collaboration between all levels of government to identify ways local councils can address climate change issues in their land-use planning systems.

The formation of a new national body representing councils, environment groups and other organisations involved in the management of coastal communities, which would be known as the National Coastal Alliance, is also listed as a policy initiative in the discussion paper.

It is anticipated the alliance would serve as an interface for discussion between councils, environment groups and other organisations about coastal management issues, and would also play a leading role in compiling research data.

It is expected about 80 to 90 National Sea Change Taskforce members will attend the AGM, representing the majority of the taskforce’s member councils. A new board will be elected at the AGM.

To view the National Sea Change Taskforce discussion paper, visit here.

NSW Gov gains increased ability to remove councils’ planning powers

The recently-gazetted Environmental Planning and Assessment (Unsatisfactory Council Performance) Order 2007 establishes the criteria under which the minister can appoint an administrator or panel to take over some or all of the planning functions of a council if the municipality is judged to be poorly exercising its planning duties.

Local Government Association of NSW President, Genia McCaffery, says the new regulations will allow the NSW Government to take away councils’ planning powers with “minimal justification”

Cr McCaffery criticised the new system’s transparency, and claims the regulations are part of a “crusade” by Mr Sartor to shift control of planning powers to the State Government.

The NSW Local Government and Shires Associations have contended that ministerial intervention in council planning can only be justified if the council is found to be performing unsatisfactorily by independent inquiries, and has, without good reason, consistently failed to meet key performance benchmarks in the exercise of its planning and development functions over a two year period.

The new Environmental Planning and Assessment (Unsatisfactory Council Performance) Order 2007 has set the criteria for ministerial intervention in council planning processes under the state’s Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

More information about the order is available on page six of the NSW Government PDF document available here.

Environs Australia 2007 Sustainability Awards

The 2007 Awards will recognise the contributions made by environment professionals as well as councillors in progressing sustainability at the local level. There will be three Gold Awards and six Silver Awards announced.

The major Gold Award will be judged from the winners of the Silver Awards. In addition there will be two Gold Outstanding Sustainability Leadership Awards, one reserved for councillors, and the other for officers. The Silver Awards will have two themes and there will be three separate categories within each, a total of six Awards to be judged by the independent panel drawn from councils and from universities.

One of the themes is ‘Achievement in Sustainability’ which recognises significant achievements within a council in progressing sustainability projects within their communities. It could be a project involving infrastructure or community or education or governance.

The second theme will be ‘Outstanding Sustainability Partnerships’ which will recognise a significant achievement by a partnership between a local council with other councils or with an external organisation in progressing sustainability within the community. It can be any sort of project.

For each theme, there will be three Award categories – urban and larger councils (population exceeding 50,000); smaller urban (population less than 50,000) and rural councils. The winners of each of these Silver Awards will then be entered into the Gold Award for Outstanding Sustainability Achievement.

Entries close on August 10. To enter the Awards please go to the Environs Australia website www.environs.org.au A PDF of the Award details can be found here

The Award winners will be announced at the 2007 Local Government Sustainable Development conference to be held this year on September 11 & 12 in Melbourne. For details please visit www.halledit.com.au/conferences.

Submissions received for national study of councils’ revenue-raising issues

The Federal Government commissioned the Productivity Commission study earlier this year. Local government peak bodies believe the study could provide a major boost to the ongoing push for reform of local government financing.

Earlier this year, the commission released an issues paper designed to provoke feedback on the topic of councils’ revenue-raising capabilities.

A total of 36 submissions on the issues paper were sent to the commission by the recently-passed cut-off date for feedback.

The commission is expected to again invite submissions after it releases a draft report in October. The commission’s final report is expected to be completed in April next year.

The Productivity Commission study will examine the revenue-raising capacity of all types of councils – ranging from large metropolitan local governments to small rural shires. It will also take into account the likely impact on residents, businesses and other organisations of changes to tax or user charge systems applied by local governments.

The Federal Government promised to commission the study as part of its formal response to the findings of the landmark 2003 cost shifting inquiry.

For more information about the study visit the Productivity Commission website here.

Places filling fast for the Innovation and Best Practice in Development Assessment Summit

More than 200 delegates have already registered from across the continent for the two-day conference. The conference will include an examination of the South Australian Government’s controversial use of independent development assessment panels, a system that is now reportedly being considered by the NSW, Victorian and ACT Governments. The use of development assessment panels will be discussed by Sue Holliday, Chair of the Development Assessment Forum (DAF), Bronwyn Halliday, Executive Director of Planning SA, Jacqui Lavis, Deputy Chief Planning Executive, ACT Planning and Land Authority, and Cr John Rich, immediate past president of the Local Government Association of South Australia and Board Member, ALGA.

The important two-day conference will also review the latest innovations, including new technologies, and best practice in development assessment, with a focus on practical case studies within local government. It will examine, in depth, the respective roles of planners, councillors and state agencies in the DA processes. Former Commissioner of the Tweed Shire Council inquiry, Emeritus Professor Maurice Daly, will elaborate on governance and the role of councillors in development assessment, while Dick Gross, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria, will also address the summit.

For access to the conference registration brochure visit here. For registration inquiries, please contact Hallmark Conferences+Events on (03) 8534 5000 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au.

For further information about conference sponsorship opportunities please contact Scott McKinnon on (03) 8534 5005 or email scott.mckinnon@halledit.com.au.

Report lists best practice council greenhouse gas reduction methods

The report, by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Oceania division, provides information on the projects and programs councils can undertake to assist in the deployment of greenhouse gas abatement technologies in local communities.

ICLEI Oceania’s report is intended for use by Victorian councils but could also be applicable to local governments across Australia.

The report shows the opportunities and barriers local governments face in implementing greenhouse gas abatement technologies and highlights the role local government can play in the uptake of the technologies.

The report lists more than 20 recommended actions local governments can take to help reduce greenhouse emissions. Recommendations have been made in the key areas of: improving and expanding existing programs; establishing more effective communication and marketing of councils’ greenhouse gas abatement actions; improving networking with relevant energy stakeholders; and identifying opportunities to introduce greenhouse gas abatement technology.

The report has found the biggest barrier to the introduction of greenhouse gas technologies by local governments is a lack of staff and financial resources for their implementation. The difficulty of obtaining accurate energy usage data within municipalities and the lack of top-level council budget commitment to greenhouse gas abatement technologies have also been identified as barriers to councils introducing the technology.

The report acknowledges Victorian councils are already involved in a range of programs to implement greenhouse gas abatement technologies, including regional environmental alliances with other councils and energy stakeholders.

The information in the report was compiled from a review of existing Victorian Government strategies and policies regarding greenhouse abatement technologies and interviews with key stakeholders from industry, state and local government.

The report was funded by the State Government of Victoria and compiled by the Sustainability Initiatives Network for ICLEI Oceania. To view the Greenhouse Gas Technology Deployment and Victorian Local Government report, visit here.

Local Government Minister to address Sustainable Development Conference

Victoria's Minister for Local Government and Housing, Richard Wynne, will be among a host of speakers to address next week's Local Government Sustainable Development Conference in Melbourne.

More than 180 delegates from local government and the planning industry are to attend the conference, which will run from September 11-12.

The conference will focus on reducing the carbon footprint, water sustainability, developments in the built environment, and waste initiatives within the local government field.

The 2007 conference is being organised by Hallmark Editions and Environs Australia, the local government environment network, and follows the successful inaugural sustainable development conference held in Sydney last year.

The 2007 conference will incorporate the Sustainability Awards organised by Environs Australia. The 2007 Awards will recognise the contributions made by environment professionals as well as councillors in progressing sustainability at the local level. There will be three Gold Awards and six Silver Awards announced. For more details of how to enter the Awards, please visit www.environs.org.au

The conference has been designed to assist local government practitioners to identify, plan and implement best practice sustainable development solutions, particularly related to reducing the carbon footprint. It will showcase leading edge examples of outstanding environmental initiatives by Australian local governments.

Local Government professionals, at the forefront of developing sustainability strategies, will present their experiences and lessons learnt in implementing sustainable development programs.

Best practice case studies on water minimisation, greenhouse emissions control, minimising environment impacts of the built environment, and waste and recycling will be revealed. The conference has been structured as an intensive learning experience to enable attendees to immediately use the information.

At a Gala Dinner on the evening of Day 1, Environs Australia, the local government environment network, will announce the winners of the Sustainability 2007 Awards for Local Government.

The detailed Agenda for the 2007 Conference can be found on the website here.

Guest speaker for the dinner and awards presentation will be Dr Ian McPhail AM, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victoria. A keynote address will be delivered by Mike Hill, Chair of the Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee and Board Member, Sustainability Victoria.
Chris Derksema, Manager Sustainability, City of Sydney, will present on the innovative 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative.
Other conference speakers will include: Tom Mollenkopf, CEO of the Australian Water Association; and Stephen Sawtell, General Manager of Coffs Harbour City Council, who will detail his council's leading approach to sustainability and environmental management.

For registration inquiries, please contact Denise McQueen on (03) 8534 5021 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries please contact Scott McKinnon on (03) 8534 5005 or email scott.mckinnon@halledit.com.au

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Leading local government projects revealed

The award winners included Willoughby City Council for its strategic property management, Randwick City Council’s innovative project to reduce its electricity bill through building retrofits and Narrandera Shire’s project to improve its operational efficiency.

The National Awards for Local Government, Australia’s top awards program recognising local government best practice and innovation, are annually held by the Federal Government.

A total of 26 council projects were declared winners under the awards’ 15 categories, with another 27 projects receiving commendations. The overall national winners of the awards will be announced in Canberra on October 23.

A full list of this year’s category and commendation winners is available on the Department of Transport and Regional Services’ website here.

Submissions sought for Victorian councillor remuneration review

The Local Government (Councillor Remuneration) Review Panel was formed by the Victorian Government earlier this year to conduct a formal review of Victorian councillors’ remuneration levels.

Written submissions to the panel close on September 1. Oral submission hearings will be conducted in October.

The Victorian Local Governance Association will deliver the results of its state-wide survey of the work habits and expenses of Victorian councillors in its first submission to the review panel.

The VLGA’s survey has been conducted as part of the association’s campaign for improved remuneration for elected members of local government. A total of 167 of the state’s councillors have responded to the association’s survey.

VLGA CEO Rae Perry says that, in addition to conducting the survey, recent visits by VLGA officials to more than 50 of the state’s councils has shown the association has “overwhelming support” for its campaign for improved councillor remuneration.

The Local Government (Councillor Remuneration) Review Panel will issue its findings to Victorian Local Government Minister Richard Wynne by December this year. It is expected the panel will suggest new guidelines for councils on issues such as reimbursement of expenses and provision of council resources for elected members.

Council leaders’ growing focus on sustainability to be analysed in ‘Councillor’

The edition examines the role that councillors should undertake to promote sustainable council decision-making. This article also looks at what the present leading-edge local government actions are in the area of sustainability, and provides insight on the likely future extent to which sustainability will be ingrained in council decision-making.

Other articles in Councillor’s September/October edition include full coverage of Queensland’s amalgamation process, including the opinions of councillors impacted by the reforms.

Articles in this edition also include Manningham City Council’s leading-edge planning for managing issues caused by the ageing of the population, and Glen Eira City Council’s innovative OH&S strategies, which have resulted in the council saving significant costs through reduced insurance premiums.

For more information about Councillor Magazine contact Denise at Hallmark Editions on (03) 8534 5000, email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au or visit http://www.halledit.com.au.

Darebin the latest council to aim to become carbon neutral

A new climate change action plan adopted by Darebin City Council has set a target for its organisation to become carbon neutral by 2020. Under the plan, the metropolitan Melbourne council expects to achieve by 2009 its goal to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 20% from 1995 levels.

The City of Port Phillip and the Shire of Yarra Ranges recently adopted their own highly stringent targets to reduce greenhouse emissions.

As part of its plan, Darebin expects to use green power to supply electricity to all the council’s facilities by 2008/2009. The council also plans to design any new municipal buildings to be carbon neutral.

Darebin City Council Mayor, Marlene Kairouz, says council buildings’ energy use, street lighting, vehicles and waste management are the four key areas where the council can cut its greenhouse emissions.

The council has identified the replacement of current mercury vapour streetlights with more energy-efficient T5 street lights, as well as the incorporation of more environmentally friendly vehicles in the council’s car fleet, as future actions Darebin could take to reduce its greenhouse emissions.

The climate change action plan defines the priorities for Darebin’s energy use. The first priority is to only use the amount of electricity necessary to conduct council operations; the second is to use available technology to make the council’s operations more energy efficient; and the third is to purchase GreenPower-accredited renewable electricity.

The council will also seek to offset greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as investing in tree planting programs or other energy efficiency technology. To contact Darebin City Council phone (03) 8470 8888.

Minister assures councils Victoria will not use contentious planning panels

The South Australian Government’s panels are dominated by independent planning experts and have resulted in councillors having a severely diminished role in approving development applications.

The Victorian Government recently decided to investigate the merits of South Australia’s use of the panels.

However, Victorian Local Governance Association President, Beth Davidson, says she has personally received assurance from Planning Minister Justin Madden that the South Australian approach would not be replicated in Victoria without first gaining the support of local government.

Cr Davidson has called on other local government peak bodies and community groups to reject any future imposition of the South Australian model.

A spokesperson for Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden said the minister had asked officials from Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and the Environment to obtain “more information” on how South Australia’s planning system operates.

He stressed the review of the SA model was in its very early stages, and that there was, as yet, no timeline for when the Victorian Government would make a decision over whether to adopt any part of the South Australian development assessment system.

Drought crisis meeting to be held next week for NSW councils

The meeting, to be held on August 10, will be hosted by Parkes Shire Council.

Local governments from across the state are expected to be invited to attend the crisis meeting.

The meeting is expected to focus upon the design of new strategies for lobbying state and federal government for assistance for drought-affected communities.

The decision to hold the crisis meeting was decided at a recent drought forum convened in Forbes. The forum was chaired by the Shires Association of NSW President Bruce Miller, who will also chair next week’s forum.

For more information about the forum contact the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations on (02) 9242 4000.

Maribyrnong’s road safety plan helps reduce road toll

Maribyrnong City Council recently released a draft of its new road safety strategic plan for 2007 to 2011, which aims to further reduce the city’s road toll.

Initiatives contained within the new draft plan include: driver education sessions; strategies to address road risks for young people; encouraging residents to take up walking or cycling instead of car travel; programs for parents to protect young children as passengers and pedestrians on the roads; and implementing safety schemes for roads and paths.

Maribyrnong City Council’s Cr Catherine Cumming says a review of the original plan, which was adopted in 2000, found that the council has made “significant progress” in reducing road casualties in the City of Maribyrnong.

The council review showed that road-related deaths in the municipality had dropped by 27% from 2000-2005. Since the launch of the original plan in 2000, the council has undertaken driver education programs for older drivers, for parents responsible for picking up and dropping off children at school and for non-English speaking residents.

Under the council’s highly successful 2000-2005 road safety plan, the council also sought to upgrade its road design by making pedestrian improvements such as installing more flashing lights at pedestrian crossings, as well as creating more on-road bicycle lanes, and improving signage and line-marking.

Cr Cumming says the council will be working closely with the Victorian Police and VicRoads to implement their new road safety plan. For more information about the City of Maribyrnong’s new Draft Road Safety Strategic Plan 2007-2011, contact City of Maribyrnong Coordinator Transport Special Projects, Malcolm McDonald, on (03) 9688 0393.

Guidelines for council regulation of home businesses to be developed

The guidelines, which aim to provide councils with a nationally consistent approach to regulating home-businesses, are expected to be developed by early 2008.

More details about the guidelines are expected to be released after relevant ministers and government officials formalise the agreement to develop the guidelines, which was made at a recent meeting of the Small Business Ministerial Council.

The contents of the guidelines are expected to include examples of the ways councils can best regulate home-based businesses, and will also help to create a more nationally consistent approach to councils’ use of online forms.

The guidelines aim to draw on the experience of councils that are already performing well in their regulation of home-based businesses by detailing their best practice procedures. It is hoped other councils across Australia will adopt these best practice guidelines when regulating home-based businesses in their own municipalities.

The Development Assessment Forum, a regulatory reform body comprised of government, industry and professional representation, is expected to be charged with preparing the guidelines, which are anticipated to be finalised by March 2008.

The Small Business Ministerial Council has been established by the Commonwealth Government to provide a forum to develop a national approach to dealing with small business issues and policy development.

Hume develops Victorian-first strategic health plan

Hume City Council’s unique strategic health plan has been established to ensure health services in the city fulfil the needs of Hume’s fast-growing population over the five-year period of 2007-2012.

According to the council, no other Victorian local government has prepared such an all-encompassing strategic health plan that has been prepared in partnership with local health service providers, community groups, residents and the Victorian Department of Human Services.

Hume City Council’s Mayor, Gary Jungwirth, says the council has developed a “much more comprehensive and accurate” picture of Hume’s health care needs by consulting with representatives from across the community, including public and community health planning groups, in order to create the strategic health plan.

Hume City Council faces the rare issue of population growth in the 65-plus age group as well as an increase in the number of families and children in the municipality. Cr Jungwirth says to deal with this uncommon situation, the council found it necessary to take an innovative approach to developing its strategic health plan.

The strategic plan includes initiatives such as: encouraging vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to use the city’s health services; ensuring hospitals, health services and specialist services are located in easily accessible sites; and promoting increased access and availability to mental health services.

The strategic plan is also innovative in its recognition of holistic health treatments, including natural therapies, as part of its overall approach to health services. To contact Hume City Council phone (03) 9205 2200.

Date set for rural councils’ summit meeting

The summit is to be held in the Buloke Shire town of Birchip from August 23 to 25.

The summit is an initiative of Rural Councils Victoria, a relatively new organisation representing the interests of 38 small rural councils in the state.

State Government agency Regional Development Victoria and local government peak body the Municipal Association of Victoria are also helping to organise the summit through the Small Towns Victoria project. Rural Councils Victoria is chaired by Hindmarsh Shire councillor Rob Gersch.

Capital cities seek to form partnership with Federal Government

The Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCLM) recently released details of the alliance it is attempting to establish with the Federal Government.

City of Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman says it is the first time the CCLM has attempted to establish such a working framework with the Federal Government.

The CCLM has identified three major projects in each capital city that, if they received Federal Government financial support, would make a “critical difference to national prosperity”.

The projects range from major infrastructure construction to efforts to improve social conditions.

The CCLM is proposing that the partnership arrangements with the capital cities be orchestrated by a new Capital City Unit that would be established within the Federal Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

For more information about the Council for Capital City Lord Mayors visit http://www.lordmayors.org.