Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Local input shaping our nation's future
Last month, national attention turned to Old Parliament House Canberra, where history was being made as 152 elected and appointed delegates debated whether Australia should become a republic and the preferred shape it should take. Elsewhere around the nation, some 3,200 people from a broad range of backgrounds and across the age spectrum have also been meeting to discuss our nation's future.

Editorial
With national attention focused on the recent Constitutional Convention, people are certainly taking an increased interest in our system of government and how it might best serve us as we move into our second century of Federation. To assist this process, the Local Constitutional Convention Program is providing an excellent means for people across the nation to come together to discuss our future. At the same time, these local conventions are cementing in people's minds the important role Local Government plays in our system of government.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a State Local Government Association President. The following is from Mayor Rosemary Craddock, President Local Government Association of South Australia.

Leader in sustainable development
The City of mandurah is recognised as a leader in sustainable development in Western Australia. Its strength in this area highlights why Mandurah was selected to host the National Conference, Best Practice Planning and Design for Sustainable Development, to be staged on 27-30 May.

Recycling wastewater at Hervey Bay
In February, Hervey Bay City Council's innovative wastewater recycling program was officially opened. At its Eli Creek site, Council is treating the City's wastewater and then providing it to local cane farmers for irrigation.

Successful tree planting made easy*
The recent launch of Edgemasta™, a tree protection guard by Melbourne manufacturer LINPAC Mouldings, has revolutionised the approach to tree and shrub planting in Australia. It is also considered to be one of the most environmentally sound products ever marketed in this country.

Borroloola plans for the future
To mark 10 years as a Community Government Council, last year Borroloola Council began working with its local community to plan for a better future. Located 450 kilometres east of the Stuart Highway and close to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Borroloola's recently completed Corporate Plan, 'Beyond 2000', is working to achieve its stated vision, 'To become the regional centre for the Gulf'.

Federal assistance to attack river pest
A cooperative effort by Local Government is set to tackle one of Australia's major pests. Rabbits, foxes and blackberries have been the subject of extensive campaigns to reduce their destructive impact on the environment but the devastating effects of European carp in our waterways receive less publicity.

Another safe year to school
School children in Western Australia are once again enjoying the protection of the Local Government Road Safety Strategy, RoadWise, through the Safe Routes to School program.

LGANT meets in Darwin
A cheque for $25,000 was presented to the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) by the Minister for Local Government, Tim Baldwin, at the recent LGANT General Committee Meeting in Darwin. This, together with $190,000 pledged by ATSIC to cover the next three years, will enable LGANT to establish a specialised recruitment service for Local Government and remote area Councils.

Wide support for Katherine region
Councils throughout the Northern Territory and nationwide have come to the assistance of people in the Katherine region in the wake of the devastating floods in late January.

Sutherland residents benefit from Council Intranet
Sutherland Shire Council is cutting days off its response time to residents' enquiries following the implementation of a new system based on Internet technologies. One of Australia's largest local authorities, Sutherland Shire has adopted this new Customer Request Management System (CRMS) as part of a wider plan to transform its business processes.

e.Community - servicing the community via the 'Net
IBM has launched a community friendly way for Local Governments to go online. e.Community is a Web based solution that enables Local Governments to take advantage of the wealth of data on their computer systems by providing services through a visual interface for residents.

Productivity increases at Hobsons Bay*
Victoria's Hobsons Bay City Council is enjoying considerable productivity increases with help from an integrated Financial Management Information System.

International IT solutions
Having visited Australia during a Trade Mission for the UK Industrial Development Board last year, Colin Reid, Managing Director of TASK Software Limited, has recently returned to follow up opportunities within the Australian Local Government market.

Defeating the tyranny of distance
In the absence of shared borders and with long distances between local authorities, Northern Territory Councils and the communities they serve, have much to gain from advances in Information Technology. The Local Government Association of Northern Territory (LGANT) has submitted an application for funding that will connect all Councils in the Territory to Internet, Intranet and email facilities.

Website promotes urban renewal program
Brisbane City Council's Urban Renewal Taskforce has found the City's website a convenient way of promoting its initiatives to revitalise the City's inner suburbs. Council's multi award winning program can be accessed by people seeking information on work, investment or lifestyle opportunities in the area.

Bringing 'city' services to remote areas
In 1997, the Information Technology Project at Tumby Bay in South Australia was announced rural winner of the 10th National Awards for Innovation in Local Government for the way it addressed community needs. Socially, culturally and geographically isolated from the rest of the State, Tumby Bay has continued to develop innovative ways of addressing these problems through the use of Information Technology.

Outsourcing in WA
The Towns of Cottesloe and Claremont are two small, inner urban Perth Councils. Two years ago, both Councils were investigating an upgrade for their computer systems. While a new system would bring major advantages, the lack of IT specialist staff at both Councils presented a problem.

Australia's road safety black spot initiative
Australia has developed a reputation as a country on the leading edge of initiatives for road safety. Nevertheless, crashes cost the Australian community about $6 billion per annum, are occurring at a rate of over one thousand per day and road use still poses a significant risk to Australian youth. To maintain downward pressure on the road toll as a national priority, the Federal Government has introduced a Road Safety Black Spot Program as a strategic approach to addressing crash locations wherever they might occur.

Introduction from the Minister
The Year 2000 problem or 'millennium bug' is receiving increasing attention, not only here in Australia, but across the globe. The Commonwealth, in partnership with all levels of government, is working to discuss, exchange and share strategies which address the Year 2000 problem.

Kidsafe partnership with Local Government
The cost of injuries to children in Australia is estimated at $1 billion annually with 5000 children seeking medical attention each day. Kidsafe, the Australian Child Accident Prevention Foundation has opened a unique web site which will provide Local Government throughout Australia with the opportunity to access a wide range of prepackaged child accident prevention campaigns.

The Remote Area Management Project
Funded under the Local Government Development Program, the Remote Area Management Project (RAMP) is a project which aims to develop the community management skills of elected members of remote Aboriginal communities. RAMP staff are working toward this by providing training for members from 25 remote communities over a three year period.

Regulatory reform
The Government is actively pursuing a number of initiatives aimed at assisting business growth. Integral to this are measures to significantly reduce the burden of red tape. Local Government and the Commonwealth has a critical role to play in national economic reform, particularly in the reforms necessary to improve Australia's overall competitiveness and economic performance.

Networking the Nation - bridging the telecommunications gap
Local councils wanting to improve access to telecommunications infrastructure and services in their regions are encouraged to apply for assistance through Networking the Nation &endash; the Commonwealth's $250 million Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund. Information technology and telecommunications developments have the potential to deliver enormous benefits to regional, rural and remote Australia.

Building Bundjalung cultural bridges - Lismore City Council
In 1996, the Commonwealth, under the Local Government Development Program, provided funding to Lismore City Council, New South Wales, for the Building Bundjalung Cultural Bridges Project. The funding enabled the Council to provide cross cultural awareness training for Council staff and to employ two Aboriginal community development workers for 12 months.

Towards year 2000 compliance - get involved!
Governments, industry and private consultants across the globe have for a number of years been investigating the possible affect the Year 2000 date change problem will have on utility services, traffic control systems, fire alarm and warning systems, lift and air-conditioning control systems, personal computers, mainframes, health monitoring systems, and so forth. While the Year 2000 date change investigation is identifying various areas of concern for governments, corporate businesses, smaller enterprises and the general community, there is a single common thread that affects everyone. That is, time is running out!.

Active Australia
Local Government has a crucial role to play in ensuring there are greater opportunities for communities to become more physically active. As such, Local Governments throughout Australia have been identified as key partners in an exciting new venture, Active Australia.

Improving performance indicators
Residents, local businesses and rate payers, as well as council managers deserve reliable information to enable judgements on their council's performance and to guide future policy decisions. Performance indicators measure a council's performance against a common set of agreed objectives. However, council services often have multiple objectives.