Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Local leadership in Tasmania
President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), Tony Bisdee, welcomed a record number of delegates to the 87th Local Government Annual Conference staged in early June. Once again this was a combined Conference hosted by LGAT, the Institute of Municipal Management, Institute of Municipal Engineering Australia and the Local Government Community Development Association.

Editorial
At the recent Tasmanian Local Government Conference, Futurist Dr Peter Ellyard, referred to the 'death of national government and birth of community'. However, on the issue of community leadership he said we tend to put managers into positions where leaders are needed.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Tony Bisdee, President Local Government Association of Tasmania.

Contractors with environmental responsibility
Victoria's Surf Coast Shire is endeavouring to include its contractors as partners in responsible environmental management. In May, Surf Coast launched its Environmentally Aware Contractors Accreditation Scheme (EAC).

Brighton top Tas Council
This year the Tasmanian Local Government Excellence Awards introduced a new category for a Council Project/Innovation. The inaugural winner was Brighton Council.

Kit for community development
The Local Government Community Development Association of Tasmania has assembled a kit featuring community development projects from 12 Councils across the State. The Kit, presented in an attractive colourful format, highlights the great variety of community development activities.

Building Unit expertise sought nationwide
As home to a vibrant artistic community, Victoria's picturesque Mount Alexander Shire boasts a number of unusual and innovative building designs. This has led to a growth in expertise in the Mount Alexander Shire Building Unit which has the job of certifying the structures as safe and in line with building regulations.

Australians urged to keep the places that shape us
In the lead up to the new millennium all Australians are being urged to protect their heritage. The combination of three major events&emdash;the Olympics, the millennium and the anniversary of Federation&emdash;gives us an unparalleled opportunity to reflect on our identity and on the places which help to shape our national character.

BEP solutions for Internet payments
Local Government bodies can now more easily identify, select and procure products and services for enabling online service delivery through the Business Entry Point initiative.

Budget reporting made clearer
Burwood Council in NSW has developed an integrated budget reporting system to overcome shortcomings in traditional Local Government end of financial year reporting processes.

Low cost bridge database
Eurobodalla Shire's Works Division has developed a low cost management system for its extensive bridge and major culvert assets.

Satellite technology to boost asset management
Victoria's City of Whittlesea is testing the satellite based Global Positioning System as a means of managing the City's $100 million in assets.

Parramatta Road to become an Information Highway
Sydney's Inner Metropolitan Regional Organisation of Councils (IMROC) is to create a geospatial planning database for Parramatta Road and the tributaries to the Parramatta River. It is to be known as Sydney's Information Highway.

Managing bridge assets
Tasmania's Derwent Valley Council now manages its bridge assets using a Tasmanian Company. Tas Span Pty Ltd provides all the services Council needs to keep these vital assets in shape.

Accurately costing all activities
In response to the introduction of National Competition Policy (NCP) and Councils being more open to market forces, Tweed Shire Council has adopted Activity Based Costing (ABC).

National award for asset management manual
With over $600 million in infrastructure assets and an annual depreciation of around $13 million per annum, Melbourne's City of Maroondah identified that even a small increase in the effectiveness of its recurrent and capital expenditure would produce marked savings. As a result, Council embarked on a program titled 'Total Life Cycle Asset Management'.

Rehabilitating infrastructure
A new inter disciplinary research centre established at the University of Technology, Sydney aims to address problems which stem from the aging of Australia's infrastructure assets. Launched in March, the Centre for Built Infrastructure Research based at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern includes expertise in Engineering, Science and Design, Architecture and Building.

Capital city with a clear vision
Lord Mayor, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, describes Adelaide as a 'very civil city.' Having resided in England and America, the Lord Mayor emphasised this is the place she has chosen to live.

Promoting Adelaide
In heading up Adelaide City Marketing, Janet Campbell's role is to promote and coordinate all there is on offer in Adelaide. City Marketing offers advice, ideas and planning assistance to people and organisations staging various events.

City at heart of the State
With over 90% of the State's population residing in Greater Adelaide, the City of Adelaide sees itself as having broader responsibilities than most Local Governments including other Capital City Councils.

Doing business with Council
A new Customer Centre presents a friendly and efficient face to people seeking information or doing business with Council. The aim is to provide customers with a single point at which they can complete transactions with Council.

Conference City of Australia
Adelaide's compact size and world class facilities make the City an ideal venue for conferences and conventions, giving it the capacity to be the 'conference city' of Australia.

Education a key plank in Council's economic strategy
Education is one of the major planks of Adelaide City Council's five year Economic Development Strategy.

Arts a driver of urban renewal
The Adelaide City Council's strategy to transform the West End into the arts centre of Adelaide has been given the seal of approval with the State Government's arts funding body, ArtSA, moving into the refurbished West's Coffee Palace in Hindley Street.

Living in the city is easy
As each new apartment block and warehouse renovation moves off the drawing board and on to the streets of Adelaide, more and more people are being offered the chance to live in the heart of the City.

Wingfield Centre helps reduce waste
Twelve kilometres north of the CBD lies Wingfield, Adelaide's waste management centre. One of the largest waste management facilities in Australia, this 94 hectare site combines recycling, gas extraction, power generation, plant rehabilitation and education.

Committed to the environment
To ensure the protection and enhancement of the city environs, including its renowned Park Lands and Squares, Adelaide City Council has introduced an Environmental Management Plan, called Local Agenda 21.

Quality waterways a priority
Adelaide City Council is taking an active role in ensuring the quality of its waterways is sustained.

Maintaining Adelaide's unique heritage
The City's mix of heritage buildings and houses are one of Adelaide's most attractive and distinctive features. Nearly 20% of the City's buildings are listed on heritage registers.