Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Modernising Britain - LG crucial
Meeting in Newport, Wales, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) selected 'Under New Management' as the theme for its 1999 Annual Conference.

Editorial
On a per capita basis, Australians are very much at the forefront for linking into the World Wide Web. Use of information kiosks linked to Council services, the ability for residents and ratepayers to do business with Council electronically, Intranet systems to enhance organisational communications and staff development, call centres to streamline residents' queries or complaints, plus state of the art software to maximise service delivery and management practices are all being taken up by Councils. However, within this 'brave new' information age there is the issue of the 'information rich' and 'information poor'.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Chris Vardon President of the Shires Association of NSW.

Separating the executive and scrutiny functions
The Blair Government's recent White Paper, 'Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People,' proposes changes to the traditional 'committee' decision making structure used by Councils in the United Kingdom.

Call for entries for Annual Report Awards*
Organisations committed to excellence, accuracy and responsibility in reporting to stakeholders should enter the prestigious 2000 Annual Report Awards (ARA). Some of Australia's largest publicly listed companies, as well as many government and not for profit organisations, have accepted the Awards as the benchmark for excellence in annual reporting.

Benchmarking shows Councils are on the right track
First impressions can be hard to budge and the first impression many residents and ratepayers have of their Council is formed when they telephone for information or to lodge a complaint. How that call is handled can have long term implications for customer relations. Melbourne City Council for one, is determined to find out just how well its Call Centre is performing. Customer Service Benchmarking Australia Pty Ltd provides Council with quarterly reports on Call Centre operations based on 'mystery caller' information.

Wyong Youth 2000
In a bid to reduce the social and psychological problems that accompany having one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Australia, Wyong Shire Council has joined forces with the Salvation Army to create an innovative youth centre serving the central coast region.

State of uncertainty brings hope to Local Government
The state of political uncertainty immediately following the recent Victorian State elections paradoxically gave cause for optimism at the Annual Conference of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) held in early October.

Orange stones to Mosman
When Mosman City Council sent letters to all members of Australian Parliaments asking for stone contributions to its Federation Monument Project, the State Member for Orange and Orange City Councillor Russell Turner responded enthusiastically.

The millennium bug - getting the messages out
Local Governments around Australia have an important and active role to play in helping Australians understand and deal with the millennium bug, also called the Year 2000 issue or Y2K. Providing Australians with as many facts as possible on Y2K allows them to plan confidently for the New Year, and limits the potential for actions arising from uncertainty or panic.

Business Entry Point and Penrith City Council Streamlining Building and Development Applications
With the help of the Federal Government, through the Business Entry Point Demonstration Program, Penrith City Council is developing a Building Application Development Application (BA/DA) system that will allow developers to submit and pay for Development Applications and Construction and Building Certificate Applications electronically.

Global Warming: Local Action
Saving money on energy bills, cleaner air and more livable communities: these strong drivers explain why Cities for Climate Protection has taken off fast in Australia. Councils can have a strong influence over their communities' greenhouse emissions. Through their legislative responsibilities and links to the community, Councils can play a front line role.

Cork provides an ideal European base
Cork is the largest of Ireland's 30 County Councils. Marketing itself as 'the ideal European base', the County provides industrial sites, services and an infrastructure framework to attract new developments to locate there.

Tiger tales for tourists
Since the last identified member of the species was shot in the north west district of the State in 1931, controversy has surrounded the supposed extinction of the thylacine, better known as the Tasmanian Tiger. Now visitors are being enticed to the region to share in the mystery by exploring the Tasmanian Tiger Trail courtesy of Waratah Wynyard Council and a group of local enthusiasts.

Low rainfall forestry venture to spur growth
Victoria's City of Greater Bendigo has embarked on a venture to promote commercial timber growing in its region. In October, Mayor Daryl McClure joined other Councillors in planting the first seedlings at the $220,000 Huntly Farm Forestry Project. These are the first of 150,000 native hardwoods to be planted at the site.

Dubbo celebrates 150 years
In November the City of Dubbo will celebrate its 150th anniversary in style with a large array of events designed to appeal to families and people of all ages, tastes and interests.

Melton goes from strength to strength
Only 35 minutes travel time west of Melbourne's CBD, the Shire of Melton is racing ahead with tourism and business developments in the region

Marketing a region
Armed with the slogan, 'Europe wishes it had a region like Gippsland', Economic Development Officers from Victoria's South Gippsland, La Trobe, Wellington and Baw Baw Shires took local produce to Australia's largest food fair, 'Fine Food '99' held in Sydney in September.

A City grows up
Nestled at the base of Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges, Knox became a City in 1969. For over three decades it experienced rapid residential and industrial growth. Many young families moved here for the space, work and lifestyle opportunities on offer.

Governing for Knox
Mayor Karin Orpen is enthusiastic about the City of Knox, its residents and its future. She said the people of Knox are eager participants in community life. They value the wide open spaces, beautiful parks and reserves and spacious residential blocks that contribute to the Knox lifestyle.

On the way to Gold
Entering the Australian Quality Awards (AQA) for the first time in 1998, Knox easily skipped the foundation stage and took out the second stage at the Business Excellence level.

Getting around becomes easier in Knox
During Knox's early years, growth exceeded the provision of public transport and created long term problems for residents and Council. This has left a legacy of high dependence on car ownership.

Changing people's attitude to road safety
Knox has received funding from Vicroads to commence a Road Safety Strategy for local thoroughfares.

Community ownership of the natural environment
Situated at 'the gateway to the Dandenongs' Knox includes extensive areas of natural bushland, parks and creek valleys, at least one of which is home to a thriving family of platypus. With the clean and green feel of the City an important part of its attraction for residents and businesses Council is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the local environment through the Knox Conservation Strategy.

Drug proof your kids
As with any community where there is a large number of families, the issue of young people and drugs cannot be ignored.

Life Stories
While reports, surveys, data and statistics are all legitimate means to ascertain community values and aspirations, Knox has found one of the most agreeable ways to present information about the community, and its vision for Knox, is through the time honoured tradition of stories.

Riding in the tracks of Oppy
Blessed with over 60 kilometres of bicycle tracks, Knox must have proved an ideal place to retire for Australia's most famous cyclist, the late Sir Hubert Opperman, OBE.

Planning for continual improvement
The key to ensuring Knox's future reflects residents' and ratepayers' wishes is ongoing community and staff consultation.

$98 million win for Community
As 'gaps' in residential development have been gradually filled, development sites in Knox have become relatively scarce. However creative thinking can bring exciting new opportunities. Council has recently signed an agreement with a private developer to build 'Waterford' a $98 million complex to be located on 40 hectares of unused land.