EDITOR’S WELCOME

As we delve into the colder and darker months of the year, I’m sure I am not the only one feeling slightly envious of those in the warmer LGAs –such as the City of Cockburn depicted in our sunny cover image.

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Editor

April Shepherd

Assistant Editor

Stephanie Nestor

Contributing Editor

Holly Tancredi

Journalists

Tess Macallan, Steph Barker, Kody Cook, Sarah MacNamara

National Media Executives

Rima Munafo, Brett Thompson

Design Manager

Alejandro Molano

Senior Designer

Luke Martin

Designers

Danielle Harris, Ozlem Munur, Jacqueline Buckmaster

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Radhika Sud

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James Holgate, Natalie Ta, Rhys Dawes

Digital Marketing Assistants

Bella Predika

Publisher

Chris Bland

Managing Editor

Laura Harvey

ISSN: 2653-2670

I’ve found with much of life it’s all about your perspective, with this idea helping to form the underlying theme of this issue – new ways of solving old problems by looking through a fresh lens – finding glimmers of hope from new vantage points, and warmth even in the coldest days.

There is a lot of change happening in the sector at the moment, and a lot of pressures being felt not just by the local government sector, but across the country, as the cost of living bites down and the rental crisis deepens. As many of you know, it is councils too who are being forced to make do with less, with rising prices making service delivery and community upkeep more difficult as 2023 passes by.

However, as with the many challenges the local government sector has faced in recent times, stories of hope, resilience and community are rife. In June, I was privileged to be able to attend the Australian Local Government’s (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA) for 2023, with discussions taking place that I’m sure gave many hope of an easier future.

The sector discussed pressing topics, such as the Voice, the housing crisis and preparing for future disasters, and featured many notable speakers. I also sat down with ALGA President Linda Scott to discuss these issues deeper, and find out what the NGA 2023 theme of ‘Our Communities, Our Future’ means to her.

We also had a candid interview with Local Government Professionals (LGPro) President, Liana Thompson, on LGPro’s case report on councillor misconduct to the Victorian Minister for Local Government.

I was also lucky enough to have some excellent help making the magazine (and every Council Magazine for that matter), this is my first issue with my newly appointed Assistant Editor Stephanie Nestor. Stephanie has been working as a journalist for Council Magazine and its sister magazines for over a year now, and had so many good ideas (and our contributors loved her so much!) that I had to ensure Council had her undivided attention full time.

I hope you enjoy this issue and I look forward to connecting with you all through the latter half of the year.

April Shepherd Editor

18

COUNCILLOR CONDUCT: REVIEWING THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Every job has its challenges, but every worker has the right to a safe, and healthy workplace. For councils, the exceptional cases of poor-behaving councillors negatively impact workplace culture, decision-making, and the health and safety of employees. With Council Standards of Conduct and the Local Government Act now blurring how to report poor behaviour and inadequate ramifications of misconduct, the Local Government Professionals (LGPro) have consulted to submit a case report on councillor conduct to the Victorian Minister for Local Government.

20 MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING VIABLE SEWAGE SERVICES FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES

22 HOW-TO GUIDE: ADOPTING ELECTRIC MAINTENANCE VEHICLES

24 COLLABORATIVE COUNCILS: WHY NEW SHARED SERVICE FRAMEWORKS ARE A GAME CHANGER

For millennia, resource sharing between jurisdictions has been in play, from crops to armies, unrelated regions have come together for the greater good of their communities. So why are councils stopping short of the big payoff when it comes to shared services?

26 HOW TO SOLVE TALENT RETENTION ISSUES

PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION

28 OVERCOMING CURRENT CHALLENGES IN MANAGING WATER ASSETS

30 REIMAGINING CEMETERIES AS OPEN SPACES

In a traditional sense, a cemetery is a place for the dead to rest, but as Australia’s population increases in metropolitan regions, large areas of land cannot be reserved solely for the dead – cemeteries must also be gathering places for the living.

34 FUTURE-PROOFING AUSTRALIA’S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

36

Charging Smarter With Innovative Ev Charging Solutions

38

COUNCILS ADDRESSING AUSTRALIA’S RENTAL CRISIS

Australia is currently experiencing a record-level rental crisis, attributable to a period of incredibly low vacancy rates and rising rental prices. Many have pointed the finger at the growing number of shortterm rentals as a reason behind the lack of available homes, with some councils taking action to deter or restrict their presence, amongst other initiatives to curb the wider crisis.

BOX CULVERT USES AND APPLICATIONS 42

44

SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND: SPIRAL WOUND LINING FOR SUSTAINABLE PIPE MAINTENANCE

SMART CITIES

46 SOCIAL SPACES: USING DATA TO INFORM URBAN DESIGN

REGULARS

01 EDITOR’S WELCOME

04 A WORD FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

REMOTE CONNECTIVITY HELPING TO BUILD REGIONAL TOWNS 50

This Melbourne chair is collecting data to discover how people in the city use public spaces. By combining data and design, City of Melbourne is learning what improvements can be made to ensure these spaces continue to meet the needs of the community. 52

At this year’s NGA Council Magazine Editor, April Shepherd, sat down with ALGA President Councillor Linda Scott to talk about future challenges, championing First Nations voices, and what the NGA’s 2023 theme of ‘Our Communities, Our Future’ means to her personally.

76 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

76 EDITORIAL SCHEDULE

NEWS

08 VIC GOV INTRODUCES NEW GLASS RECYCLING BINS

10 FEDERAL GOV TO DELIVER $40M ROAD PACKAGE FOR NSW COUNCIL

58

MACEDON RANGES RESPONDS TO THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ONGOING WAR ON WASTE

The Macedon Ranges in Central Victoria is renowned for its natural beauty, rural landscapes and iconic landmarks, including Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon. This is why the community is passionate about addressing climate change and doing what they can to preserve the natural environment for future generations.

60 FOGO ROLL-OUT: KEEPING THE GREEN BINS ROLLING

COUNCILS PAVE THE WAY FOR DEMENTIA INCLUSIVITY

Local governments have a responsibility to ensure public facilities and communities are safe for people living with dementia. Here Council Magazine unpacks why these initiatives are so important, highlighting the efforts of two Australian Councils in creating dementiafriendly communities.

SUNSHINE COAST

70 WASTE AS ENERGY: MAROONDAH CLOSES THE LOOP ON LANDFILL

12 MAV APPOINTS NEW CEO

12 QLD COUNCIL TO TRANSITION TO EV FLEET

14 COUNCIL WINS PRESTIGIOUS NSW AWARDS

15 PLANS REVEALED FOR RENEWAL OF GOOLUGATUP LOWERLANDS

16 IPSWICH FLOOD MAPPING TOOL NOW ACCESSIBLE

COUNCIL IN FOCUS

72 CITY OF COCKBURN’S BLOOMING BLUE ECONOMY

This edition, break traditions and build a unique, blue economy.