LG Focus - January 2022

JANUARY 2022

Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper

Women step up Communities across NSW can look forward to better, more representative local government following a dramatic rise in the number of women elected to councils, according to the sector’s peak body.

By Tania Phillips and The LGNSW Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Darriea Turley said women now make up 39.5 percent of all councillors in NSW – an eight percent jump on the proportion of women elected in 2016-17.

“Councils are the closest level of government to their communities, so to ensure everyone has a voice it is important that they reflect the communities they represent,” Cr Turley said.

“The proportion of women on council was stuck between 27 and 31 percent for nearly a decade, so to make such great progress in a single election is really worth celebrating.”

“It’s a great outcome from the 4 December local government elections, and it’s gratifying to see the result of the hard work to put in

by LGNSW, the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) and the NSW Government.

“Some 69 of 124 councils that held elections in NSW now have more women on council than in previous terms.

“An impressive 27 councils actually have a female majority, nearly three times the number we saw in the last council term.”

Tweed Shire Council in the State’s north are one of the LGAs that now have a female majority with four women taking their place in a council of seven, something Tweed General Manager Troy Green welcomes.

“For the first time ever, the majority of the elected members are women,” he said.

“We’ve had some strong female leadership in council for the past five years in any case with Katie Milne as mayor followed by Chris Cherry but this time there is the majority on council.

“I think if you look at the sector as a whole there has certainly been an increase – our past two local government ministers were women as is the minister, our immediate preceding president of the Association (LGNSW) was Linda Scott and our new incoming president Darriea Turley.”

He said women from all walks of life had dominated the councillor briefing sessions at Tweed in the lead-up to the election which was pleasing to see.

“It’s a good message to our younger women in the community that politics and local government certainly is an area that, if you’re interested, within the bureaucracy or the elected arm, there are opportunities for you. There is no ceiling too high to be broken” Mr Green said However, Mr Green said the big challenge in the sector now was that the traditional outdoor roles at Councils were still dominated by men.

“There is no reason we can’t have women driving trucks and our plant equipment,” he said.

“We have tried to target and encourage women to go for those nontraditional roles, NRMA and every insurer will tell you that women have a better driving record than men.

But if you have a look at most people sitting in heavy plant equipment they still tend to be blokes.”

He said they had, in the past targetted the top echelon of jobs in council but that top tier is only held by a small portion of the population.

“When you look at where most of the jobs are – that’s where there are still some barriers to be broken,” he said.

Attendees in Orange at one of 30 forums conducted by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association NSW aimed at helping prepare women for the NSW council elections.

Cr Turley said the result election follows a focused effort to boost council diversity, with LGNSW and ALGWA offering mentoring services and a range of development programs providing practical information on leadership and the tools and techniques of successful political campaigns.

“One example is LGNSW’s Leadership for Aspiring Women Program, but there is a wide range of ongoing professional development programs designed to improve council diversity at both the elected and professional level,” she said.

“The tremendous work by ALGWA NSW and President Cassandra Coleman, to conduct 29 forums across NSW last year with over 200 attendees, also helped to empower women to stand for Local Government elections.

Cr Turley said another important contribution to the higher proportion of women standing for council was the introduction of superannuation for mayors and councillors, bringing them into line with the rest of the Australian workforce.

“Lack of superannuation for councillors has been a real disincentive to stand for council, particularly for women, and I’m proud that LGNSW helped put our elected representatives on an equal footing to other workers.

“Similarly, our advocacy helped secure childcare for women councillors, as announced by the former Minister at LGNSW’s International Women’s Day lunch last year.

“These reforms are all about breaking down the barriers to community service, so NSW communities benefit from councils that truly represent them and their needs.”

The newly elected Tweed Shire Councillors. For the first time women are in majority but the council GM believes more can be done.

Cr Turley said 2022 would be a challenging year for NSW, as councils sought to help drive a locally led recovery from the economic impacts of the Covid pandemic.

“LGNSW will continue to be a strong advocate for your hard work: I am excited to see the progress and results our councils are set to deliver in this new local government term.”

NEWS

EDITORIAL DESK Two years into the Covid-19 pandemic and rather than finally seeing an easing off of pressures, local governments across Australia are probably facing some of their biggest challenges so far.

As the Omicron variant sweeps through communities councils are again being called upon to be innovative about the way they deliver their services.

Many events and operations, including council meetings and Australia Day events, are quickly being transferred online. The move to online meetings is an innovation that may have a future in council operations. It has the potential to give more people an opportunity to see just what happens at a meeting.

They say necessity is the mother of invention and it will be interesting to see how many of the Covid innovations are carried forward into the future.

- Tania Phillips

INSIDE THIS EDITION THE GOOD OIL

7

COUNCILLOR PROFILES

8

RURAL-REGIONAL

16-17

SUSTAINABILITY

18-19

INFRUSTRUCTURE

21

CONTACT US

Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper Website: LGFocus.com.au Noosa Office: Telephone: (07) 5455 6946 Address: 36 Mary Street, Noosaville Qld 4566 Pakenham Office: Telephone: (03) 5945 0666 Address: 10 Army Road, Pakenham VIC 3810 Network with LG Focus twitter.com/@LGFocusau facebook.com/LocalGovernmentFocus

The RAT race... a lack of Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Tests are the latest signs of our challenging times.

New team focussed Hello.

Welcome to a new year and, just like councils across NSW, a new team.

This edition marks the end of an era for LG Focus with its founders, the Morgan family, handing over ownership to the proudly family owned and indepenent Star News Group, which will continue the publication’s legacy dating back to 1985.

Pictures of the newly elected councilors from around the Premier State have poured into the LG Email basket in the weeks since the election and since this mantle was placed upon my head.

An email basket that was never quiet was suddenly flooded as the LG Mail weir was opened and the emails (like the rain on the East Coast this year) suddenly flowed in a torrent of news from across Australian councils– only slowed by the onset of Christmas and the New Year.

As the one of the new custodians of this paper, it’s hard not to empathize with the eager faces in those photos. Sure, they are serving a reduced term of two years and nine months thanks to the Covid disruptions of the past two years but that doesn’t seem to dampen their excitement and enthusiasm. That feeling that they are no longer sitting on the sidelines but are now making real decisions that affect real people.

There they are frozen in time staring down the lens of new challenges and responsibilities - still pinching themselves that they were elected, that Cr now sits in front of their name.

Editorial: E: editorial@LGFocus.com.au Advertising: E: advertising@LGFocus.com.au Classifieds: P: 1300 666 808 E: sales@NetworkClassifieds.com.au EDITORIAL Tania Phillips Journalist E: tania.phillips@StarNewsGroup.com.au ADVERTISING Phill Le Petit Sales Manager E: phill.lepetit@StarNewsGroup.com.au M: 0439 377 525 Louisa Kneller Sales Executive E: louisa.kneller@StarNewsGroup.com.au M: 0413 380 545 Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108.

Publisher Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For our terms and conditions please visit LGFocus.com. au/terms-and-conditions/ 2 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

It’s a whole new world they have only glimpsed at from the outside, a world at once familiar and yet strange. The world of local government.

With the photos tumbling in, as a journalist with a 34-year career behind her, it is hard not to look at the faces in those pictures and wonder what motivated them to stand for election? What made them put their hand up?

Was it family legacy? A sense of civic responsibility? Just one issue in their local area they wanted to change or maybe as a springboard to State or Federal Parliament?

Looking at that moment in time, it’s also hard not to wonder what challenges lay in front of these newly minted councilors? How long will they stay? And in what way will they be changed by the experience?

They and Star News Group are certainly entering the world of Local Government in Australia at an interesting time – not least because of the reason for the second deluge of LG Emails in my struggling email basket – the surge of Covid cases across the nation.

Council officers and Comms crews around Australia have come back from the calm of summer holidays and walked into a cyclone of things needing to be done yesterday. Emails announcing changes in opening hours and the temporary closure of facilities sit shoulder to shoulder with the new council announcements.

The past few years have seen councils across the country, called on to be and do more – the next few months promise more challenges.

It will be interesting to see how council staff and councilors continue to innovate and evolve their roles and services under the intense pressures they are now facing.

For the new faces in those pictures, it is almost a baptism of fire (though there are others who have actually experienced the real thing in recent years). It feels like that for me too, it also feels like an honour, a passing of the baton.

This newspaper group has worked hard to revitalize rural and regional papers (and not allow all the experienced community journalists to disappear into council comms departments) in the past two years. To now be keeping the legacy of LG Focus and the Morgan family alive is something extra special.

As a woman and someone who thought herself an elder of the industry, coming face-toface on a computer screen with former owner Jan Morgan and former publicatin coordinator Meredith Dahl was a wake-up call and I don’t know if “don’t stuff this up kid” was actually uttered but it was felt and acknowledged.

So, as we look to a new era in NSW Local Government – where a record 41 per cent of the councilors are women (more than double the previous number) and new challenges across the Country, we also welcome you to the new era of LG Focus.

Happy New Year and here’s to new challenges.

Tania Phillips LG Focus Coordinator

DIARY DATES LGNSW Communicating Council Priorities workshop January 27 9am-12.30pm Effectively Communicating Council Information – priorities and initiatives. Learn how to convert complex topics into easy to digest information that engages non-technical audiences.

This practical full-day workshop demonstrates preparation and delivery of audiencecentred and action-oriented messages.

Learn to communicate clearly and succinctly, develop skills to deliver audience-centred messages, Increase effectiveness and save time communicating, Practice message delivery and receive feedback, Who should attend: Councillors, senior staff, media and communications officers, project managers. More information on the LGNSW events page.

Waste Forum LGA Q March 8-10 The LGAQ Waste Forum will be held on 8

- 10 March 2022 at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds.

More information on the LGQld events page.

LGPRO Victoria February 23-24 Victoria’s premier conference for local government professionals is returning next month for a full in-person event over two days at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

LGPro is bringing together top leaders and forward thinkers from within and beyond the sector to lead an interactive discussion at its 2022 Annual Conference from 23 – 24 February.

Dubbed ‘Reigniting,’ the local government member association is gearing the event toward professionals across career levels, with dedicated sessions for executive leaders through to technical professionals and officers. and a strong motivational push.

The organisation has secured Australia’s leading futurist, innovator and strategist, Steve Sammartino for the opening keynote.

Steve will be delivering a high-energy address to give decision makers the understanding and motivation they need to be future proofed in 2022.

IPWEA International Public Works Conference Starts May 1 (early bird closes February) Early-bird registrations are now open for the 2022 IPWEA International Public Works Conference, returning to Adelaide, South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital for the first time since 2005.

Early bird entries for the event close on 16 February with the conference set to start on Sunday, May 1.

IPWEA CEO, David Jenkins said Adelaide was an exciting place to reestablish the conference which is usually held every two years but was missed in 2020 due to Covid.

Visit www.ipwc.com.au to find out more about the program, keynote speakers, networking events, and more than 40 trade exhibitors hosting displays during the event.

LG.FOCUS.COM.AU

NEWS

Protecting our heritage An unprecedented partnership of Central Victorian councils led by the cities of Ballarat and Greater Bendigo has progressed its bid to share the extraordinary story of the goldfields internationally.

The councils and other Victorian organizations are striving for a World Heritage listing for the region.

The partnership of thirteen councils and regional tourism body Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive is aiming to raise the profile of the Central Victorian Goldfields and derive community benefits through social, cultural and economic opportunities.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said these included building local jobs and attracting investment to deliver world-class visitor offerings.

“Collectively our region has a world class heritage in the history of the goldfields, including the stories of First Nations’ Peoples,” Cr Moloney said.

“Few if any places in the world can physically demonstrate how influential and remarkable the quest for gold was, as we can. Together a World Heritage listing would help us package our heritage, give it true value and help us as a country, celebrate an asset that deserves world recognition.”

“We are confident the State Government will recognise the world class opportunity presented by the 13 regional local governments.

The investment and collaboration to date by all member local governments has reflected the intent and desire to get this bid across the line.”

The partnership hopes the State Government can support this transformative initiative and is seeking $500,000 to enable critical work to be commissioned over the next few months.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said partners have already committed $125,000.

“Individually, central Victorian municipalities have some amazing tourism products but collectively as a region we could be on the cusp of achieving something remarkable,” Cr Metcalf said.

“A World Heritage listing would be the catalyst for so many opportunities built around the celebration of this remarkable legacy and for COVID-19 recovery.”

“To attain what could be viewed as the highest status in world heritage recognition does not come easily. Our collaboration has been inspirational, our dedication unrelenting and we are confident our proposal to the State Government to advance this incredible initiative to its

The World Heritage bid team. next stage will be successful.”

Funding is being sought through Regional Development Victoria’s $10 million ‘Investment Fast-Track Fund’, which was established to strengthen evidence-based planning needs to help regional projects fast-track to investmentready stage.

This funding will help the group identify which sites could make the World Heritage list and what investment is needed to leverage the bid to benefit local jobs, communities and industry, including rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This next stage will get the bid ready for World Heritage tentative listing for consideration by the Victorian and Australian Governments.

World Heritage listing aims to share the Central Victorian Goldfields story with people from

across the globe and create social, cultural and economic opportunities for every community and person across the region.

Such opportunities aim to unlock the full potential of the region, bringing economic diversification, jobs, investment and tourism, and raise the socio-economic outlook for cities, towns and local communities.

The consortium represents close to halfa-million people encompassing nearly 40,000 square kilometres, which is 17% of the state.

If the World Heritage Listing bid is successful, the economic benefits through added visitation are conservatively estimated to deliver $25 million annually (National Institute of Economic and Industry Research) into the regional economy and possibly as high as $66 million.

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of Outstanding Universal Value

(OUV) and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.

Leading World Heritage experts have confirmed inscription of the Central Victorian Goldfields can be achieved, stating they are ‘the most extensive, coherent and best-surviving landscape anywhere, that illustrates the global gold rush phenomenon of the second half of the nineteenth century’ (Gamble 2020).

Properties selected would be the ‘best of the best’ and it is thought nominated sites could number between ten and twenty.

Types of properties that will be considered include publicly owned properties such as town halls, railway stations or botanic gardens and recognised archaeological sites on public land.

The process of selection will include wide community engagement.

Record number of women on council The Australian Local Government Women’s Association NSW (ALGWA NSW) helped create history with a record number of women elected to NSW local councils in December 2021 – an increase from 29 per cent to 40 per cent.

ALGWA president Cr Cassandra Coleman said it was “a great win for gender equality at the Local Government level”.

She said ALGWA NSW was at the heart of achieving this outcome, quickly taking up the offer of the previous NSW Minister for Local Government Shelly Hancock.

“She announced that the NSW Government would increase funding to $150,000 for women’s organisations to stage a series of workshops for prospective female candidates for the Local Government elections scheduled for December 4 2021,” Cr Coleman, who was recently elected Lithgow City Council Deputy Mayor said.

The ALGWA NSW Executive team of volunteers, led by President Cr Cassandra Coleman, criss-crossed the State of NSW, conducting over 30 forums, sometimes presenting simultaneously in three different locations.

The presentation, How to get Women Elected, developed by ALGWA NSW in conLGFOCUS.COM.AU

junction with UTS, was designed to encourage and equip women with the skills to successfully stand for election.

“Being President of ALGWA NSW has been one of my greatest honours and it so very rewarding to see that over the past 18 months all our hard work has paid off.

“ALGWA is a national Association, which was established by women “Aldermen” in 1951, with the primary goal of increasing women’s representation in Local Government. We thank every Council and Shire who took a leap of faith and hosted an ALGWA NSW forum.

“The results speak for themselves. Congratulations to all the women who were recently elected. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to ALGWA NSW for support and mentoring from experienced and committed women from all over NSW. There’s nothing more rewarding than serving in the level of government closest to the community and we are here to help. I look forward to meeting with the newly appointed Minister for Local Government and Member for Goulburn the Hon. Wendy Tuckerman MP to discuss the results and secure her commitment to supporting gender equality in Local Government. Also, to receive the cheque for the funding promised which we so richly deserve.”

Lithgow deputy Mayor and ÄLGWA president Cassandra Coleman with Lithgow Mayor Maree Stratham.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 3

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

Onwards and upwards It goes without saying that 2021 has provided unprecedented challenge and social change.

By Cr David Clark, President Municipal Association of Victoria When you are the level of Government closest to your community through a pandemic, it will be council staff who are delivering food packages, making contact with recently arrived Australians, supporting vaccinations being undertaken in Council facilities, and generally reaching out to every corner of our diverse communities.

Many councils continue to deal with the aftermath of the black summer fires, while adding flood recovery and storm damage repair to their workloads, once again adapting to meeting local needs.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), continues to work to support and advocate for councils as they have faced challenges and opportunities throughout 2021, and will continue to do in 2022.

We have seen significant social change with councils and communities working hard to implement the Gender Equality Act 2020 and support initiatives for early childhood services, mental health, and aged care.

MAV and councils also welcomed the plans to introduce a container deposit scheme for Victoria in 2023. We are examining the implications of significant legislative reforms to the State’s waste and recovery and planning systems, and we were pleased to have positively influenced reforms to the Building Act. We continue to address ‘first and last kilometre’ impediments for industry on our road networks and supported significant initiatives in active transport.

And while we welcomed the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to construct and create 12,000 new social and

affordable housing dwellings as filling a policy vacuum, we still have deep concerns about its implementation.

The State is currently pursuing a rate exemption for all public housing, amounting to a net loss of income to the local government sector of $1.6 billion over 10 years. This rate exemption means our ratepayers will be contributing 30% of the cost of the State’s big build for no return.

Similarly, the housing affordability crisis requires all levels of government to act and not point at each other.

The decisions of other levels of government can profoundly affect how we operate.

This year alone we prepared and delivered 23 submissions to the State and Federal Governments, in order to manage impacts on our communities. These submissions are all publicly available on our website.

As the year draws to a close, we remain focused on our policy thinking and examining the implications of legislative reform on councils and communities. In recent weeks, we have worked hard to influence the State Government’s Circular Economy Bill, which hit parlia-

ment in October.

Despite its name, the Bill misses the mark on addressing the circular economy in any meaningful manner, largely ignoring the construction, demolition, commercial and industrial waste streams which together represent 80% of the State’s waste.

Recycling Victoria (RV) will, we believe, be ineffectual in providing the leadership and change the community expects to see in waste reduction, being placed as an agency within the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP), rather than as its own independent Authority.

The commitments from the Parliament are yet to be realised in regulation, where we will test the Government’s resolve to make a fourbin kerbside collection mandatory for all Victorians, given such an approach is likely to be highly inefficient and costly for many Victorian households.

MAV, along with councils, support practical improvements to recycling practices, however the implementation of a container deposit scheme in 2023 should alone give cause to pause major reform until the scheme is operational.

We will continue to fight for the capacity of each council to put in place appropriate glass, food and organics (FOGO) collection mechanisms, rather than a blanket mandated third and fourth bin, the cost of which is borne entirely by the household.

As we dive into 2022, there is still much to do. We hope to continue to consider the longerterm community aspirations, alongside the need for COVID-recovery, to achieve the best outcomes for now and the future.

We’re looking forward to another big year working alongside and advocating for our Victorian councils.

POSITION VACANT GENERAL MANAGER CIRCULAR HEAD COUNCIL

Closing date is 28 January 2022

ChandlerWoods

Only people with credentials to work in Australia will be considered.

Local Presence, National Reach

4 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

NEWS

Vale champion of Downs Tributes have flowed for former Southern Downs Mayor Peter Blundell who died after a short illness just before Christmas.

Current mayor Vic Pennisi and Queensland Local Government Association CEO Alison Smith led tributes for Mr Blundell who served on Stanthorpe Shire Council and Southern Downs Regional Council from 1997 to 2016 and was Southern Downs Mayor from 201216.

“Peter dedicated a significant part of his life to serving his community through local government,” Ms Smith said.

“He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”

“I can recall first knowing Peter many years ago when I repaired the family’s vehicles and machinery whilst working at the Holden Dealers in Stanthorpe,” Mayor Pennisi said.

“Our paths crossed again when I was elected to Stanthorpe Shire Council and later when we were successfully elected to SDRC. “I served for three terms with Peter, two when he was Deputy Mayor and one term when he was Mayor.

“As a new Councillor, I remember looking to Peter for advice and direction, which at the time he would offer selflessly.

“As time went on and I started to get my straps, we would often be fierce adversaries in the chambers, but never were we enemies – in fact Peter would often invite me to spend some time on his deck having a ‘jam session’ with him.”

Mr Blundell served almost half his life in public office, either as a Councillor or as Mayor.

“He sacrificed much over the 19-year span and his family would be proud of his contribution as I am grateful,” the Mayor said.

“He made many other contributions to community like his tireless work with natural resource management during his time with Queensland Murray Darling Committee.

“His many hours of selfless contribution to the National Party and local campaign chair during elections.”

Mayor Pennisi said Peter had a passion for tourism and was heavily involved leaving his

stamp on this ever-important part of our economy.

“In many ways, I see Peter as a pioneer in tourism and natural resource management and his outstanding and valuable contribution to community has not gone unnoticed,” he said.

“Peter was an eloquent speaker and could speak off the cuff about any subject. He certainly had a silver tongue and something that he will be remembered for. His voice will always be echoing through the Show Grounds in Stanthorpe where he spent many years as the announcer.

“The Stanthorpe Show will never be the same without him. There were some funny times in the twelve years we spent on Council and I will remember them fondly. I am proud to share some wall space in the Warwick and Stanthorpe Chambers with Peter, we will hang around together there for some time.”

Mr Blundell, 59, is survived by his wife Charlie and children Peter, Harry and Nicola and his brother country music star James Blundell.

Former Queensland Southern Downs Mayor Peter Blundell.

From HOTA to Mt Gambier City of Mount Gambier, South Australia has welcomed Diana Warnes to the role of Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre manager.

Diana joins Council from her most recent position as Head of Curatorial Projects at Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast and has spent the last four months working as a curatorial consultant for Rockhampton Museum of Art. Originating from South Australia, she said she was excited to land a position in Mount Gambier and was looking forward to working with the team to continue curating programs and exhibitions for the community to enjoy.

“I love working in regional galleries - no matter where you live, getting a culture fix is vital and regional galleries are important in sharing diverse stories that engage local audiences,” Diana said.

“I grew up in South Australia and had decided after 20 years away that it was time to head home – the stars aligned.”

Starting her role in the first week in January, Diana was keen to listen and learn and to explore how The Riddoch can reflect its ethos of creativity and learning to locals, while also being a place of curiosity for tourists.

“I’m looking forward to discovering more about the history of the region, what people love about living here, and why visitors keep returning,” she said.

“It’s always a buzz to curate an exhibition that resonates with the community. I was delighted when the role became available at The Riddoch, a gorgeous gallery in a great regional city.”

Manager City and Community Growth General Manager Tim Coote welcomed Diana to Council saying he looked forward to working together to elevate the profile of the Riddoch Art Gallery as South Australia’s largest regional gallery.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

Sleep and Settling program Mildura Rural City Council’s Maternal and Child Health team are set to offer a new Sleep and Settling program for local families.

Diana Warnes.

“Diana’s previous experience in the Arts industry will be invaluable in assisting her to oversee the operations of The Riddoch while continuing to collaboratively drive the vision, direction and strategy for the facility,” Mr Coote said.

“Diana will play an integral part as Council

continues to work towards establishing the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Trust.”

Diana’s appointment follows the departure of Riddoch Art Gallery Director Dr Melentie Pandilovski who accepted a position as Executive Director of Experimenta in Melbourne, Victoria in in August 2021.

Community Health and Wellbeing Councillor Cyndi Power said sleep and settling concerns are common and affect numerous families with babies and toddlers.

She said Council’s free information sessions would help families better understand how baby sleep patterns change over time, as well as tips and strategies to help settle babies as they grow and develop.

“Our Maternal and Child Health team will offer a comprehensive program covering every stage of a child’s development, ensuring families have all the information and tips they need,” Cr Power said.

Group sleep and settle information sessions will start in early 2022 across three developmental age groups - newborns, babies and toddlers.

Cr Power said the Maternal and Child Health team offer additional services for families experiencing ongoing sleep and settling concerns.

These include an in-home outreach support service for families following a sleep and settle assessment by your Maternal and Child health Nurse.

In addition to services provided by Council, there is also a 24-hour state-wide phone support line which families can call on 13 22 29.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 5

NEWS

New LG Minister for NSW

Premier Perrottetwith new Local Government Minister Wendy Tuckerman role councils play as the closest level of government to the community, and enabled her to bring a wealth of grassroots experience to the portfolio.

“Minister Hancock’s capacity and commitment to working collaboratively with the sector was particularly critical in helping to support our communities through the immense challenges of recent times, and she was a key driver behind significant funding support for councils and their communities”.

Cr Turley said the Minister also left a great legacy for women keen to give back to the

community at both local and state government levels.

“The first-ever woman to serve as the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly did so with a firm hand and great humour,” Cr Turley said.

“When she became Local Government Minister she continued to break down many of the barriers that can deter women from public life, including long-overdue superannuation for councillors, in line with the rest of the state’s workforce, and access to childcare to enable attendance at council meetings.

SHOWCASE YOUR REGION TO AUSTRALIA

JULY 2021

A large, diverse municipality in Melbourne’s north, the City of Darebin prides itself on being inclusive, sustainable, vibrant and multicultural – an enviable community in which residents love to live.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MAYOR The City of Darebin is not a simple one to govern; it is not generic. We are strong, energetic and complex – a diverse people in every sense.

This style of promotion provides you with the opportunity to promote your Council to others in the local government sector and to state and federal government authorities, highlighting your best practice programs especially following Covid-19, Four Full Pages tourism, initiatives, and achievements.

These supplements can also be a cost-effective way for local governments to disseminate information to residents and ratepayers at expos, in new residents’ kits or as information for new businesses moving into your area.

They can also provide a good overview of key activities and can be included with grant applications to both state and federal governments.

Costing $6,600 including GST

No additional charge for editorial assistance or production plus receive 500 copies of the supplement are provided to Council free of charge.

E. phill.lepetit@starnewsgroup.com.au | M. 0439 377 525 or E. louisa.kneller@starnewsgroup.com.au | M. 0413 380 545 www.lgfocus.com.au 6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

“She has been tireless in her campaign to increase the number of women in elected roles, even seizing the opportunity of her resignation to call for a better gender balance in Premier Dominic Perrottet’s new cabinet.

“Shelley Hancock leaves significant shoes to fill, and I know I speak on behalf of the sector when I wish her the very best in her continued role as Member for the South Coast, and beyond.“ Premier Perrottet is expected to announce the new Local Government Minister this week.

I was elected along with my fellow eight Councillors in October last year. It is now our privilege and responsibility to guide and govern this wonderful city.

We can only do this effectively by working together with our community, businesses and other service organisations.

Our Vision for these four years is to be: Vibrant, Respectful and Connected – making sure our community is one where all our people are valued, and no-one is left behind; Prosperous, Liveable and Flourishing – building on and industry, and where all services and facilities that support a balanced, healthy life are easily accessible;

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Climate, Green and Sustainable – ensuring Darebin is a leader in responding to the climate emergency, and our natural environment is protected and enhanced; Responsible, Transparent and Responsive – recognising we are here to serve our community, in all its diversity, and that we govern transparently and accountably.

If this last year has taught us anything, it is that we are in this together. We all need to continue to play an active role in creating the Darebin we want to become.

A Message from Our Mayor TCr Lina Messina Mayor, City of Darebin

As we focus on the future of Darebin, I want unprecedented challenges for our community, and our organisation.

It was a year that saw the introduction of a new

ways, to operate.

30 years – and Council elections, which would normally be a huge undertaking alone. But of course, we also all experienced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required wholesale changes to how we operated, to continue our services to our community.

– to ensure we have a future view of our resources. This is important, as we need to make sure we can fund our commitments and provide the facilities and infrastructure our community will need.

The pandemic also put an enormous strain on individuals, which served as another reminder of the critical importance of effective local government in our lives. Darebin took proactive measures to help our residents and workers who were doing it tough – hundreds of Council staff, who were temporarily unable to work due to lockdowns, were redeployed into projects and programs around Darebin, and we took in an extra 110 people from our community displaced by COVID. We also substantially ramped up our service offering to help thousands of community members.

of our greatest challenges in the years ahead.

I want to wholeheartedly thank our wonderful were steadfast in leading this city through this time of uncertainty. I also welcome working with our new Council to continue and to see in a new era of prosperity and community connectedness.

At the core of the new Act is how we can better listen to, and work with, our WWW.LGFOCUS.COM.AU

communities. It also supports local governments to more easily work in partnership with each other – across municipal

With our community and businesses pandemic, we maintain our infrastructure and provide our services.

Partnership is the only way forward – with our organisations, businesses and service providers – and more broadly, with our local government neighbours, and state and federal governments.

It is also how we want to orient our Council and organisation to our community.

This a new dawn for Darebin, and we want to grow our connectedness with our diverse communities. We look forward to working together.

Sue Wilkinson CEO, Darebin City Council

1

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NSW Councils thanked retiring Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock for her extensive service to the people of NSW, and urged her successor Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman to continue the hard work to help drive a locally led recovery throughout NSW. Tuckerman has been hailed as a worthy successor to former Minister Shelley Hancock as vote-counting for the state’s 128 councils reaches its final stages.

In a statement welcoming the new Minister to the portfolio, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Darriea Turley AM said Mrs Tuckerman brings a wealth of local government experience to the Cabinet table.

“Wendy Tuckerman not only has a deep understanding of the challenges and constraints facing councils, but also a commitment to regional NSW that will stand her in good stead as we go into a new council term,” Cr Turley said.

“She had a distinguished local government career over many years, serving as a councillor between 2004 and 2016, and as the first female Mayor of Boorowa Council, which was later merged to become Hilltops Council.

“Post-merger, she was appointed as the administrator of Hilltops Council and continued to serve her community in that role before being elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Goulburn in 2019.

Cr Turley said out-going Minister Hancock had worked closely with councils to tackle an unprecedented string of challenges during her three-year tenure in the local government portfolio, including drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Before entering Parliament in 2003, Minister Hancock served on Shoalhaven City Council for some 17 years,” LGNSW President Darriea Turley said.

“This gave her a deep understanding of the

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

NEWS

Election looks a doozy Wooing the tradie vote looms as the key to Scott Morrison returning to power.

THE GOOD OIL ROD BROWN

Labor is currently the $1.70 favourite, but PM Morrison has been everywhere - a constant presence in the battle against Covid-19, a tireless supporter of the Cronulla Sharks, the action man at the Bathurst 500 races, a sympathiser with the families affected by the Tasmanian jumping castle, a quiet reminder of the Hillsong Church.

But most of all he has engineered the surge in building activity and the sustained employment of 1.3 million employees via various support packages and infrastructure expenditure.

For tradies around the nation, they’ve never had it so good. The word here in Canberra is that the tradies are the cornerstone of the conservatives’ re-election strategy i.e. tradies switching their votes to those lining their pockets.

The big issue is whether the tradie vote will outweigh those in the other camp aggrieved by the Morrison Government’s declining credentials on other fronts.

For example: Short-term policy expediency, obfuscation and program rorting. Morrison’s ‘liar from the Shire’ label won’t quickly disappear.

Needless profligacy viz. waste on business handouts during the pandemic, submarine project etc.

An enormous national debt.

An out-of-touch climate policy. The international financial community has ditched coalfired energy, but the Morrison Government persists.

Meanwhile Labor lies low. Its leader Albanese pursues a small target approach at the risk of criticism for lacking dynamism and cutthrough. But he has two very formidable women - Plibersek and Wong - backing him up.

Binalong’s Banjo Paterson’s potential Not many people associate Banjo with Binalong, a small town 15km off the Hume Highway near Yass. But it’s where he spent his formative years, with Banjo the family’s thoroughbred racehorse.

Banjo the budding poet and bush balladeer headed off to boarding school in Sydney when he was 14 or so, but his ‘homing thoughts’ were always with Binalong, and he came home every school holiday.

We’re currently assisting Binalong’s civic leaders to scope some ideas about a Local Legends Gallery, with Banjo as the centrepiece.

To this end, we’re looking at precedents.

Winton’s Waltzing Matilda Centre As part of the Binalong work, we’ve discovered that the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton (outback Queensland - where Banjo wrote the song) received federal/state funding of some $12 million about 20 years ago.

A few years later the Centre suffered major fire damage. The insurance payout was reportedly around $20 million which was ploughed back into the Centre.

This is such an extraordinary sum, that the Centre hardly provides a precedent for Binalong - but there it is.

The project proponents were surely wordsmiths and great lobbyists. And Winton has a second string to its tourism bow - its dinosaur museum and associated tours. It’s reportedly more popular than Waltzing Matilda!

And we’ve discovered that the Waltzing Matilda tune is a ‘knock off’ of the English ballad ‘The Bold Fusilier’! Presumably no intellectual property issues in those days! Go to Youtube and type it in. Absolutely amazing.

Betterment tax to realise the VFT? Out of interest, I watched the final note of Alan Jones’ TV program on FoxNews a few weeks

· · · ·

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

Will Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pitch to tradies get him another term?

Banjo Patterson spent his formulative years in Binalong. back. One segment was indeed interesting - an interview with John Alexander, the Federal MP and ex-tennis player, who has been heading up a parliamentary committee on infrastructure.

JA has some good angles on ‘value capture’ to finance major projects such as a Very Fast Train (Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane), especially the use of a betterment tax on private developers.

A betterment tax has existed in the ACT for some time - levied at 50-75 per cent of the improved land value.

JA argues that if NSW, Victoria and Queensland picked it up, then a VFT could be financed i.e. via taxes on land sales along on the corridor. This concept has been around for some years, but the feds have never been keen on the concept.

Should Labor win the upcoming election,

Albanese (who has long-touted the VFT) will surely look at the betterment tax idea given that federal coffers are so depleted.

JA recently announced his forthcoming retirement from politics. Beats me how he never made it to a Minister - would run rings around some of Morrison Cabinet.

Aerial fire-fighting capacity The federal Royal Commission into the bushfires recommended priority be given to building our aerial fire-fighting capacity.

While the RC reported 14 months ago, nothing has been announced. A group of us here in Canberra (ex-senior officials in Transport, Defence, Industry Departments) have concluded that the smart way forward would be a national firefighting fleet based on federal-state collaboration.

The bottom-line would be 10-12 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs), plus Elvis or Chinook he-

licopters and to position them at Richmond, Melbourne, Adelaide, Coolangatta, Perth) from where they could be quickly deployed - rather than the feeble and fragmented responses we’ve seen in recent times.

The ballpark cost is $500-600 million, which could be split between the feds and the states/ territories. A collaborative approach to a nation-wide problem is so long overdue.

Let’s hope that this summer’s bushfires aren’t as bad as in recent years, because our fire-fighting capacity simply isn’t up to scratch.

The NSW Government came to the same conclusion and a VLAT (Boeing 737) has been stationed at Richmond since 2020.

Should this interest your LGA or business, please contact us.

Rod Brown is a Canberra-based consultant/ lobbyist - specialises in industry and regional development. Former executive in the industry and infrastructure departments.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 7

COUNCILLOR PROFILES

Mayor Elisabeth Clark Mayor of Katherine What makes our council special or different and an attraction in the council area.

Our Council is the three ways of the North.

Everyone travelling through the NT has to go through Katherine to go to Darwin or to the West or down to the Southern parts of Australia. Katherine is noted for the iconic Nitmiluk Gorge which attracts over 250,000 visitors per year. Covid halved that number last year.

There are tours available and walking trails.

The mountain bike riding trails opened this last season. We also have the popular Hot Springs where people can swim and then enjoy food and beverages at the pop up shop. We have the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers art centre where you can buy indigenous arts and crafts and the museum for the history buffs.

How long have you been on Council and why did you become involved in Local Government.

I have been on Council for over 13 years as an elected member, Deputy Mayor three times and now Mayor. I came onto council to represent the Rural people of Katherine as there were no rural Councillors when the town boundaries moved out passed my place. I decided that the council needed a rural voice so I put up my hand.

I don’t have another job but I have been in Horticulture for 50 years. My husband and I had a plant nursery and landscaping business for 30 years. I have been on many boards and committees over that time to further the Horticultural Industry.

What activities do you enjoy outside of work hours.

Outside of work hours I enjoy walking in the bush, gardening and taking note of the plants around me in particular bush tucker plants that I have been studying for many years.

What are the key challenges facing you and your council.

There are many challenges facing our Council.

Our Waste Management facility which will be coming to the end of its life, and setting up a new facility that has a focus on more recycling

Mayor of Katherine Elisabeth Clark. will be a challenge. Our pool which is 40 years old needs a major upgrade. To still be sustainable as a council will also be a challenge in the future with only rates and grant funding as an income there will come a time that raising rates will no longer be an option for council. We will need some other kinds of income streams that will not affect private enterprise.

The Beetaloo Gas basin project and the expansion of the cotton growing industry as well as the expansion of the RAAF Base will be a challenge for the increase in trucks through

our main street.

What innovative projects or policies is council working on.

Currently Council is working on a Community driven Strategic plan which will give council the direction for the next five years. Council will also be looking at a Reconciliation Action Plan with our indigenous community.

Council has a number of projects that have been completed in the past 12 months. The Showgrounds has had a major upgrade in fa-

cilities with a Rodeo arena, toilet block, road train access and cattle laneway.

The town square was completed with a kiosk that has been in operation for a few months now. There is a light display that is on at night with over 135 settings and well as a screen for movies or other forms of entertainment that can be held there. The Emungalan Bridge which will be completed by the beginning of December to give better access for the rural community that live close to town and have always had problems getting to town in the wet season. There is also a new Sportsground building which will be completed in the new year. This replaces an old building that was at least 30 years old and was no longer suitable for the growth of the sporting groups that used it. The new building will be a huge asset to the Sportsground users. With the expansion of Tindal RAAF base our facilities need to be upgraded to cope with the influx of the many families that will be coming to our town.

Tell us about a specific success you have had in Local Government.

In my time on Council I have always tried to identify something that would help our community. I worked towards getting a Liberty Swing for our disabled people at the request of some parents that wanted one for their children. Another project was the Seed library which was running for a couple of years. This was to increase the library membership and encourage families to grow their own food during the year.

It was free to anyone that wanted the seed as long as you were a member of the library.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future.

In the future I hope to identify income streams for Council instead of putting up rates, a more united front with our indigenous population, improving our recycling and encouraging more sustainable ways of dealing with our waste.

Have a better relationship with the community and meeting with more of our local groups on a regular basis. The outcomes from our Strategic plan which will help to give our council the direction for the next five years.

Mayor Doug Barden Litchfield Municipality Litchfield Municipality has a population of more than 25,500 which makes it equal third largest Municipality of the Northern Territory in population.

The Municipality is spread over 3,100sqkm, more than five times larger than Darwin (111 sqkm), Palmerston (52.7sqkm) and Alice Springs (330sqkm).

Council maintains 645 kms of sealed roads and 70 kms of unsealed roads.

Litchfield is home to many industries including but not limited to, horticulture, livestock, tourism, aquaculture and a large onshore gas plant. It is also home to the second largest hospital, Centre for National Resilience in Howard Springs, Robinson Army Barracks and AACO Livingstone abattoir.

Over 50% of Australian mangoes are produced in the Northern Territory and over 50% of those mangoes are grown in Litchfield. This equates to approximately 25% of all Australian mangoes being grown here.

The Litchfield Municipality supplies reticulated water to Darwin, Palmerston and surrounds from the Darwin River Dam and McMinns and Howard East bore fields.

I claim that the Litchfield Municipality is the powerhouse of the Top End employing many people.

The accidental councillor I have been on Council as a Councillor since late 2015. I became Mayor in September 2021.

I joined council by accident as I went to a council meeting with a friend who thought we were going to find out why the previous council had been stood down. The meeting was an introduction for potential councillors to get information for the upcoming by-election and 8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

procedures in order to nominate.

On the way home I said to my friend that he should run for South ward in which he said, “No way”, so I said “Well, I think I’ll throw my hat into the ring”.

I got involved because I was very im-

pressed with the “Acting CEO’s Message” in the 2015/16 Municipal Plan and his speech at this meeting. I had never read a council Municipal Plan before this date.

Outside of council Technically, I do not have another job. I do own a large property of 800 acres or more in which was part of the Lakes Resort and Caravan Park which I built from virgin bush and operated until July 2013. I subdivided about 30 acres, for the caravan park, which I sold in 2014. I spend a lot of time maintaining the property such as mowing, fixing fences and roads, etc. If I do get spare time, I would like to fence the property and put more cattle on it, however, cannot see that happening for some time until I am more comfortable with my new position as Mayor. I do have about 20 cows grazing on about 60 acres which keeps the gamba grass down.

Council Goals and Challenges I assume like most councils, the challenge for Litchfield is collection of rates, roads, waste, recreation reserves, water security, Telstra, Planning and advocating for more funding from the Federal and Northern Territory Governments in order to help build this infrastructure. Litchfield Council is a new Council being created in 1985 seven years after the Territory received self-Government. We inherited very underdeveloped or no infrastructure with very few sealed roads and most places not even having electricity.

Territory self-Government occurred on 1 July 1977, and before then, the Commonwealth Government was responsible for the Litchfield area. Many legacy issues were inherited, such as battle-axe subdivisions and planning issues in which many properties do not even have public access. Southport town-

ship was planned over 150 years ago and properties sold with no services, no roads, water or electricity by the Commonwealth.

Council have had to develop these with very little outside help.

Specific successes you have had in Local Government?

Our biggest success in the last term was being able to obtain Federal and Northern Territory Government funding for our Productive Mango roads which sealed a further 15.2kms of road. This has substantially increased the productivity for the mango farmers and made our roads much safer for their employees and our residents as well creating shorter travelling links.

What is the best part about being a Councillor?

Meeting and helping my constituents. I personally get a buzz when I see a new road sealed knowing that those residents will not be consumed by dust anymore and their house and car cleaning reduced greatly.

Those that have lived on dirt roads that are now sealed are so grateful.

What is the worst part?

Like all retail jobs, when people are unhappy with the services that they have received whether their complaint is valid or not. I like the statement “We like all our customers – most as they arrive and some as they leave” or similar.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

As Mayor, I am hoping to keep a good team and work respectfully, honestly, and passionately with enthusiasm as well as being accountable with the management of our rates income and expenditure.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

NEWS

IPWEA event back in SA

Early-bird registrations are now open for the 2022 IPWEA International Public Works Conference, returning to Adelaide. networking opportunities available over the four days. The jam-packed program features four concurrent streams over three days and three specialist technology forums including Smart Parking, Asset Tracking & Monitoring and Street Lighting & Smart Controls which are all available as day registrations.

The 2022 IPWC promises an important and inspiring speaker line up lead by NSW 2021 Australian of the Year and Commissioner for Resilience NSW, Shane Fitzsimmons who will speak on “Resilience in the Face of Adversity” a topic just as relevant now as it was two years ago during the NSW bushfires We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Felicity Furey to the 2022 Conference. In the world of engineering Felicity skyrocketed to the top to lead some of Australia’s most innovative mega infrastructure projects for the likes of Arup, fortune 500 company AECOM and Bris-

bane City Council, where she delivered a $45 million dollar transport infrastructure project portfolio at just 23 years-of-age.

With a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and more than 11 years of experience within waste management in the Nordic Countries, Marcos Aritzi CEO StalkIT will speak on . “Asset Tracking in the construction, utility & waste management industries: optimizing processes and fighting loss & theft” More details on all speakers and topics can be found at www.ipwc.com.au Extending your conference stay here is the chance to check out this vibrant and innovative city or taking your explorations further to the surrounding wine regions, beaches and outback that make South Australia such a fascinating place to visit. Pre and post conference tours are also available with more detail available through the website.

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Early-bird registrations are now open for the 2022 IPWEA International Public Works Conference, returning to Adelaide, South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital for the first time since 2005.

Early bird entries for the event close on 16 February with the conference set to start on Sunday, May 1.

IPWEA CEO, David Jenkins said Adelaide was an exciting place to reestablish the conference which is usually held every two years but was missed in 2020 due to Covid.

“The South Australian Capital is bursting with culture, flavours, events and entertainment,” Mr Jenkins said.

“On its doorstep are world-famous wine regions and multiple opportunities to indulge in award-winning restaurants in the heart of the city.

“Adelaide has changed a lot since the conference was held there in 2005. The convention centre has been substantially upgraded.”

He said the conference is rotated around Australian and New Zealand capitals with a different theme each time.

This year’s ‘Public Works for a Global Future’ is the theme of the Conference with a focus on infrastructure asset management and emerging technologies The Conference will showcase a collection of international and nationally recognised speakers who will be provide valuable insights and help you navigate the changing landscape of public works engineering.

A full program, networking including social functions held at iconic venues, a comprehensive exhibition of products and services, technical tours showcasing the very best of the best, and partner tours and activities, this is a Conference offering something for everybody involved with local government engineering Starting Sunday 1 May, the Assetic sponsored welcome reception is the first of many

Register today Early-bird registrations for the 2022 IPWEA International Public Works Conference closes on 16 February, so take advantage of the great rates and book your place today.

This year, IPWEA is offering group, greater flexibility with registration terms and conditions, as well as special registration options for Young and International delegates.

“This is the perfect opportunity for us to come together after a tough two years to network with global peers and influencers in engineering and learn about the newest projects, standards and innovations in Australian and International public works,” said David Jenkins, CEO of IPWEA Australasia.

Visit www.ipwc.com.au to find out more about the program, keynote speakers, networking events, and more than 40 trade exhibitors hosting displays during the event.

4

50+ IPWEA International Public Works Conference

100+

The premier public works conference | Adelaide | 1 - 5 May 2022

WHAT'S ON OFFER? Largest public works Conference in Australia, held every 2 years 4 concurrent streams over 3 days and 5 plenary sessions with keynote speakers Bonus cutting edge Emerging Technology Forums Technical tours showcasing public works in Adelaide

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WHY ATTEND? Discuss the latest trends Build professional bridges to the future Multiple networking opportunities with your peers Get the latest word on emerging trends and issues Put professional challenges in perspective Take home the best of ideas and innovations Gain continuing education in public works Network with delegates from near and far Visit the comprehensive exhibition of new products and services Meet consultants and private-sector representatives from all areas of public works

www.ipwc.com.au

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 9

NEWS

Adapting to Covid NSW Regional residents were being urged to book their COVID-19 booster shots as soon as possible, to help local health staff manage the community’s transition from pandemic to endemic, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) said last week.

The call came as official NSW case figures hit a daily high of more than 30,000 over the previous weekend, according to NSW Health and as councils across most states sent out information about modifications to opening and closing times for facilities including libraries and swimming pools.

LGNSW President Darriea Turley said regional NSW had responded magnificently to the pandemic so far, with around 93% of residents double vaccinated and a real focus on protecting the vulnerable in their communities.

“It’s what regional and rural communities do – they pull together in times of crisis,” Cr Turley said.

“We’ve seen it again and again, through drought, bushfires, floods, and COVID. “But there can be no doubt our regions face special challenges, and you need only look at the evidence before last year’s NSW parliamentary inquiry into rural and regional health to see the cumulative impact of these.

“Difficulties in accessing health care, staffing shortages and the sheer tyranny of distance are just the most obvious issues experienced

outside our cities.

“Supply chain issues also have more impact outside metropolitan areas, and have the potential to exacerbate the impact on our rural and regional health system.

“Now, with the Omicron variant infecting more Australians than ever before, we’re calling on regional communities to do everything they can to support their local health professionals by getting jabbed with their booster shot as soon as possible.”

Cr Turley said that while the infection rate of the Omicron variant was high, reports were indicating that the vast majority of double-vaccinated Australians infected experienced mild symptoms and were able to manage their own care at home.

“However, we all know vulnerable or immunocompromised people in our communities, so to protect them while also supporting our local medical professionals it’s common sense to stick to the behaviours we know work, and book in for a booster shot,” she said.

Cr Turley also stressed the importance of the common sense and community spirit for which

the residents of regional NSW were known.

“As frustrating as it is, shortages of Rapid Antigen Tests and a wait for booster appointments are inevitable in some areas, through no fault of our local providers,” she said.

“Local businesses may be short-staffed due to people isolating because they are sick or close contacts.

“Our medical professionals have been working their guts out for two years now to keep us safe, and they’re increasingly exhausted.

“In tough times like these we need to continue to be kind to each other, because that’s the way we will get through this with our communities intact.”

Cr Turley said NSW councils would continue to do their best to support their communities, and were ready and willing to help drive a locally led recovery from the latest phase of the pandemic.

“None of us can do it alone: we need all levels of government and all members of the community to work together so we can move past the COVID pandemic and into a much brighter 2022.”

Working with new minister Western Australian Local Governments look forward to a continued positive working relationship with Ministers relating to sector operations with a new Ministerial portfolio announced in mid December.

WA Local Government Association Acting President Cr Karen Chappel thanked previous Ministers for their contributions and welcomed opportunities to work with new Ministers across their portfolios.

“As a sector we are facing considerable challenges with housing, homelessness, climate action, emergency responses, and skills and labour shortages” Cr Chappel said.

“WALGA is appreciative of the close working relationship over the past year with Minister Whitby, especially during Cyclone Seroja and thank him for his past support, and we look forward to continuing that work with Minister Dawson.

“We thank Minister Sanderson for being a great supporter to the sector in her Environment and Climate Action portfolio and we wish her all the best with the very important Health and Mental Health Portfolio.”

Cr Chappel said Minister Carey has been a great advocate for the sector, with WALGA and its Members looking forward to continuing to work with him on current and emerging issues including proposed sector reforms.

“There is great synergy with the Lands and Homelessness Portfolios, along with Housing and Local Government and the sector will certainly benefit from this.”

Court to vax hub Outdoor eating in Hobart.

Hobart fast-tracks support The City of Hobart has fast-tracked its new COVID-19 support package by waiving fees charged to restaurants, bar and cafe owners for the use of public spaces as outdoor dining areas until the end of March 2022.

It has also waived application fees for businesses wishing to create or expand COVID-safe outdoor dining areas for the same period.

“We feel the pain and anxiety suffered by the Hobart community and business owners as we all learn to deal with the spread of Omicron,” City of Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.

“To support business owners and help them protect staff and customers we are waiving site fees charged for the use of public space for outdoor dining and other business activities in COVID-safe environments until the end of March.

“We are also waiving application fees for the next three months for restaurant owners, bar and cafe operators who want to expand 10 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

outdoor dining opportunities.

“This support package will save individual businesses money when they need it most, as well as helping to create new spaces in which people can stay connected, see friends and family while supporting our local businesses.”

The move is part of a raft of planned measures aimed at helping the Hobart community, small business operators and the arts community respond to the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The City has also installed additional outdoor seating and benches in Wellington Court, Elizabeth Street Mall, Franklin Square and along Murray and Collins streets to help people spread out and be COVID-safe during their lunch breaks.

“Over the coming weeks we will work closely with the State Government and other key organisations to roll out further measures to support local businesses and help the community feel safe as we learn to live

with the spread of Omicron,” Cr Reynolds said.

“We encourage everyone to follow public health advice by wearing masks, socially distancing, washing your hands frequently and making sure you are fully vaccinated.”

Application fees for businesses wishing to amend existing outdoor dining permits or apply for a new permit will be waived from 1 January 2022 until 31 March 2022.

Site fees will be waived from 1 January 2022 until 31 March 2022 for existing operators, and for those businesses who want to establish an outdoor occupation area for the first time, or want to expand their current area.

The City of Hobart will communicate with all current permit holders directly in regard to these changes.

Permits require outdoor dining facilities ensure pedestrians can continue to move easily along footpaths and do not impede safe and convenient access.

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The Margaret River Recreation Centre has been turned into a temporary COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic.

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Addison Brown said the Shire had been working with WA Health to provide a larger venue for the clinic to relocate to.

“One of our basketball courts has been converted into a pop-up vaccination clinic to assist WA Health to expand its local capacity, in anticipation of increased demand for the vaccine,” Stephanie said.

“The increased demand is expected due to the vaccine being extended to include 5–11-year-olds, as well as third dose booster shots that are now required.

“The clinic will be run by WA Health.”

Ms Addison-Brown said the Recreation Centre was working with local sporting groups to minimise any disruption to scheduled sports.

“The courts are anticipated to be needed by WA Health into February, with the arrangement reviewed in response to community demand for vaccinations.

“We are working with WA Health to establish a clinic time that does not have a significant impact on our busy indoor court sport usage times, which tend to be in the evening.”

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

NEWS

Saluting resilience Melbourne has proved itself as one of the most resilient cities in the world as businesses and residents worked tirelessly to reopen and reignite the city three times this year.

Circular Head Council Tasmania search for GM.

Council seeks GM Circular Head Council is seeking an experienced General Manager who will thrive in leading a changing community while embracing all the natural beauty that is the North West.

Located in Tasmania’s magnificent North West corner, Circular Head Council is adjacent to the mighty Tarkine (Takayna), 400,000 hectares of wilderness surrounded by wild coastlines and

prime agricultural land.

The area is packed with history, a world recognised environment, thriving cattle and agricultural industries, growing ecotourism and

sustainable energy investment.

The Council believes the General Manager role is a rare opportunity to take such a lead and make a difference.

Tasmanian awards consortium A consortium of Tasmanian local Councils sharing legal services has been presented the 2021 National Federation Award for Partnerships and Collaboration.

Hosted by Local Government Professionals Australia, The National Federation Awards showcase innovative solutions, and the delivery of quality services and better outcomes among Australia’s 537 local Councils.

The celebration of excellence was presented during a livestreamed event on the Local Government Professionals Australia YouTube channel on 30 November.

Local Government Professionals Australia Chief Executive Officer Catherine Carter con-

gratulated Northern Midlands Council, Break O’Day Council, Dorset Council, George Town Council, City of Launceston, Meander Valley Council and West Tamar Council.

“Sharing legal services reduces duplication of legal advice and costs, borne indirectly by rate payers, said Ms Carter.

“The shared legal service database is managed by the provider, Simmons Wolfhagen, and headed up by Director, David Morris.

“To date, the consortium has saved $120,000 in expenses.

“The objective of the project was to utilise the power of a joint procurement approach from northern region Councils to realise savings and other benefits for participating Councils.

The project supports long-term Tasmanian Council goals of financial sustainability and securing greater rate payer value for money,” said Ms. Carter.

The time for change is here With the Federal Government’s post-pandemic recovery package offering funding grants, regional and remote councils have never had a better chance to apply the motto ‘build back better’ to their road network.

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Advertisement

According to Earthco Projects now is the time to end reliance on outdated road maintenance methods and adopt new and improved ways.

“Towns and cities are rethinking road building, which has resulted in numerous trials of recycled plastics, glass and rubber tyres replacing tradition bitumen. And the results are better – lower maintenance costs, less traffic noise and longer lasting assets,” a company spokesperson said.

“Rural road maintenance need to be rethought too.The expensive and environmentally destructive practice of quarrying new materials and transporting them for miles causing further degradation to already deteriorating roads is a serious waste of grant money and councils’ rates when cheaper and better methods exist.

“PolyCom is an exciting alternative to traditional road construction material.

By recycling and reusing existing, in situ materials, and blending with PolyCom Stabilising Aid, the need to use new Imported material is eliminated.

“Previously unworkable material can be treated on site and re used. Quarries become redundant. Heavy, road destroying, haulage trucks are no longer needed.

There is no better way to wrap up the year than to reflect upon and celebrate our achievements from 2021 Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

“The way we all worked together and continued delivering for our community during the most challenging and testing times is something every Victorian can be incredibly proud of,” the Mayor said.

“To every worker, business owner and volunteer – thank you.

“We have an ambitious agenda to get on with in 2022, and our highlight reel demonstrates that we can and will thrive no matter what comes our way.

“We were thrilled to ring in the New Year with tens-of-thousands of revellers who enjoyed localised fireworks and live entertainment from our Celebration Zones, and a spectacular dining experience at our New Year Street Feasts.”

In November, the City of Melbourne kicked off the biggest Christmas Festival the city has ever seen – and celebrations continued into the New Year with localised fireworks shows at celebration zones, and the return of the city’s much-loved New Year Street Feasts.

Around 80,000 people flocked to the city on New Year’s Eve, with the vast majority of revellers celebrating safely.

Council also handed down its biggest ever budget – with $4.8 million in rates relief, and record spending on capital works, including delivering new green neighbourhood parks in Southbank, continuing work to revitalise the Queen Victoria Market precinct and making the Melbourne City Baths sparkle once more.

Other notable achievements from the 2021 highlight reel included: 11,000 jabs administered at the Town Hall vaccination hub, supporting the most vulnerable people in the municipality More than 19,000 conversations between the Business Concierge team and city businesses More than $61 million flowing back into hospitality businesses thanks to two serves of Melbourne Money Nearly $1 million in waived outdoor dining fees, supporting more than 1,500 city business owners Over 600 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfill and made into compost, as part of the new Food Organics and Garden Organics waste service Signing the Declaration of Recognition and Commitment to advance the city’s reconciliation journey with Aboriginal peoples Game-changing plans revealed for the cityshaping Greenline project – running along the north bank of the river, from the MCG to the Bolte Bridge 37 laneways transformed with three more on their way, and over 165 jobs created through the Flash Forward initiative 15,000 hot meals delivered to City of Melbourne residents in COVID-19 isolation 870 planning permits approved Plans revealed for a leading Power Melbourne community battery project Tens of thousands of attendees welcomed back to the city for exciting events, including Melbourne Fashion Week and Melbourne Music Week

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PolyCom Stabilising Aid in action.

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“The future is here and now with environ-

ment and OH&S compliant PolyCom Stabilising Aid.” Go to roadmaker.com.au for availability and quotations Australia-wide or phone 1800 790 907.

Melbourne proved resilent despite becoming the most locked-down city in the world in 2021.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 11

NEWS

Hornsby welcomes five new faces Five newly elected Councillors will take their seats in Hornsby Shire Council with the result of the 4 December 2021 Local Government Elections being formally declared by the NSW Electoral Commission.

Joining the Council for the first time are: Councillor Tania Salitra (representing Ward A) Councillors Sallianne McClelland and Monika Ball (representing Ward B), and Councillors Verity Greenwood and Sreeni Pillamarri (representing Ward C) Mayor Philip Rudock AO has been returned for a second term as Mayor of Hornsby Shire.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to lead a new term of Council and extend a warm welcome to both our new and re-elected Hornsby Shire Councillors,” said Mayor Ruddock.

“I am particularly impressed by the breadth of experience of the elected members of the new Hornsby Shire Council and the many talents they bring to Council.

“Already, the new Council and staff are gearing up to deliver a host of ambitious projects as outlined in Council’s Community Strategic Plan and Delivery Program in the new year.”

Re-elected were: Councillors Nathan Tilbury and Warren Waddell (representing Ward A) Councillor Janelle McIntosh (representing Ward B), and Councillor Emma Heyde (representing Ward C) About our newly elected Councillors: Councillor Tania Salitra is a commercial photographer with a background in manufactur-

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Councillors Sallianne McClelland, Sreeni Pillamarri, Warren Waddell, Verity Greenwood, Nathan Tilbury, Monika Ball and Janelle McIntosh outside Hornsby Shire Council Chambers.

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ing production management.

A resident of Hornsby, Councillor Sallianne McClelland is a long-term volunteer and past-President and Manager of the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Women’s Shelter.

Councillor Monika Ball, a long-term resident of Pennant Hills, has a background in landscape design and holistic land management.

Verity Greenwood is a local small · Councillor business owner, and holds qualifications in

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law, human geography, resource and environmental management, and is a former NSW Police Detective Sergeant.

Councillor Sreeni Pillamarri, who lives in Cherrybrook, is a local business operator and charity worker.

New Wollongong council sits virtually.

Three rookies The results of the December 4 2021 Local Government Elections are in, with Wollongong City Council welcoming 10 Councillors who served in the previous term, and three first-time Councillors.

Councillors play an important role in the function of Wollongong City Council.

They serve the community by listening to their thoughts, opinions and concerns, and represent their views on Council.

They work to govern their local community and their decisions guide Wollongong’s future as a place to live work and play.

The Councillors elected in 2021 are: Lord Mayor: Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM Ward 1: Mithra Cox, Cameron Walters, Janice Kershaw, Richard Martin.

Ward 2: John Dorahy, Tania Brown, Catherine Blakey, David Brown.

Ward 3: Ann Martin, Linda Campbell, Elisha Aitken, Dom Figliomeni.

The first meeting of Wollongong City Council will be held on Monday 31 January from 6pm. It will be broadcast live through Council’s website, where community members will be able to watch their local representatives be sworn in.

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Eight women elected Labor Councillor Dylan Parker and Greens Councillor Kym Chapple have been elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Randwick City.

Mayor Dylan Parker was previously elected as Mayor in September, prior to the December four Local Government elections, and is pleased to continue the work he has started.

“It is an immense privilege and honour to serve one’s community, not only as Councillor but as Mayor of this very special city,” Mayor Parker remarked. “We have a majority of new Councillors this term and also a majority of female Councillors. This is a huge achievement and an exciting time for Randwick City.”

Randwick Council recently welcomed eight new Councillors and seven returning Councillors, following the Local Government elections.

This was the first meeting of the new Coun-

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cil, which will serve a three-year term from 2021-24. Made up of five Labor, five Liberal, four Greens and one Independent candidate, the new-look Council will also have a majority eight female representation for the first time in Randwick Council history.

New-look council for Wollondilly

Up to

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The new mayor and deputy at Randwick.

The new look Wollondilly Council will be made up of a balanced mix of experienced returning Councillors and fresh new faces, putting Wollondilly, adjacent to the South-West fringe of Sydney, in a strong position to deal effectively with the many challenges ahead.

The elected Councillors include Hilton Gibbs, Judith Hannan, Blair Briggs and Beverly Spearpoint from the Shire’s North Ward along with Paul Rogers, Matthew Deeth, Suzy Brandstater and Michael Banasik from the East Ward.

They will join the newly elected Mayor, Cr Matt Gould to form the Council.

The 2016 election resulted in a nine person Council with three Councillors from each ward.

A referendum was passed to directly elect the Mayor and reduce the number of wards, so in 2021 Wollondilly moved to two wards with four Councillors from each and the popularly elected Mayor.

“I look forward to working with the newly formed Council, which brings a great mix of ex-

perience and new energy to the table,” Mayor Gould said.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see more women represented on our Council for this term.

“This is an important time for the Wollondilly community, and I know that all the Councillors care about this Shire and will be eager to work together to make sure our area gets the resources it needs to become an even better place to live, work and visit.

“I believe as a group of Councillors we share a common goal to address key priorities for the community such as roads and assets, as well as successfully managing the growth that is coming, whilst protecting our village lifestyle” he said.

The new Councillors will go through an induction process and will be publicly sworn in at a live-streamed meeting on 18 January, with the first Ordinary meeting of Council scheduled for 22 February 2022.

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NEWS

Clover Moore returns The inner city’s newly-elected local government representatives were publicly announced at a ceremony at Sydney Town Hall late last month.

After a smoking ceremony by Brendan Kerin from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, world champion town crier, Graham Keating, celebrated the new City of Sydney Council following the official announcement of the local government election results.

Councillors were then sworn in and a Deputy Lord Mayor elected at an extraordinary meeting to kick off the new term.

Clover Moore has returned as Lord Mayor with Jess Scully named Deputy Lord Mayor.

Jess Scully, Robert Kok and Linda Scott have returned as councillors. Emelda Davis, HY William Chan, Sylvie Ellsmore, Shauna Jarrett, Yvonne Weldon and Lyndon Gannon will represent the City of Sydney for the first time.

Returning councillors: Clover Moore – first elected Lord Mayor in 2004, Councillor Moore is the longest serving leader of the City of Sydney. Councillor Moore was an independent member of the NSW Parliament from 1988 to 2012. (Clover Moore Independent Team) Jess Scully – a curator, consultant and author, Councillor Scully uses creativity to engage with people about urban life. Councillor Scully was first elected as a councillor in 2016. (Clover Moore Independent Team) Robert Kok – Councillor Kok is an advocate for a multicultural city and strengthening the local area’s relationship with Asian communities. A practicing lawyer, this is Councillor Kok’s fourth term as a City of Sydney councillor. (Clover Moore Independent Team) Linda Scott – Councillor Scott is committed to making Sydney fun, fair and sustainable. An experienced board director, she also serves as the President of the Australian Local Government Association and deputy

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Sydney Councillor Lyndon Gannon.

Picture: ERIN CASHMAN FOR CITY OF SYDNEY chair of industry superannuation fund CareSuper. This is Councillor Scott’s third term as a City of Sydney councillor. (Labor) New councillors: Emelda Davis – Councillor Davis has extensive experience in capacity building for Indigenous, Australian South Sea Islander, Pacific and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Councillor Davis is the founding chair of notfor-profit Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) and has worked for several government agencies and grassroots organisations.

(Clover Moore Independent Team) HY William Chan – a Sydney architect, urban planner and recent fellow in sustainable cities with the UN, Councillor Chan also advocates for youth and climate justice. (Clover Moore Independent Team) Sylvie Ellsmore – a community organiser and environmental and native title lawyer, Councillor Ellsmore has previously served on Mar-

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City of Sydney councillors.

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rickville Council and supports a more equal, sustainable and grassroots Sydney. (Greens) Shauna Jarrett – a senior executive specialising in strategic design, implementation and governance, Councillor Jarrett is concerned about the post-pandemic recovery of the city and sees an opportunity to renew arts and culture in the local area. (Liberal) Yvonne Weldon – has 30 years’ experience working in government and Aboriginal organisations. Councillor Weldon is chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, deputy chair of the NSW Australia Day Council, and a Domestic Violence NSW and Red-

Picture: ABRIL FELMAN FOR CITY OF SYDNEY fern Jarjum College board member. Her vision is a vibrant, inclusive city humming with opportunity equally accessible to all Sydneysiders. (Independent) Lyndon Gannon – an entrepreneur who is keen to champion the concerns of small and medium sized businesses. (Liberal) This year’s election saw more than 120,000 votes cast by both local residents and those on the City of Sydney’s non-residential register.

55 percent of votes were lodged in person with the remainder cast online or by post. Close to 175,000 people were eligible to vote.

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Regan re-elected Michael Regan was re-elected as Mayor and Candy Bingham was re-elected Deputy Mayor of Northern Beaches Council.

Councillor Regan, who represents the Forest Ward, will hold the post of Mayor until September 2023 and Councillor Bingham will hold the post of Deputy Mayor up to September 2022.

There are 15 councillors representing each of the five wards, who will serve our community until 2024, they include: Curl Curl Ward Cr Kristyn Glanville Cr Sue Heins Cr David Walton Frenchs Forest

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· Cr Jose Menano-Pires · Cr Michael Regan · Cr Stuart Sprott Manly · Cr Candy Bingham · Cr Sarah Grattan · Cr Georgia Ryburn Narrabeen · · · Cr Ruth Robins Pittwater · Cr Rory Amon · Cr Michael Gencher · Cr Miranda Korzy

Record for women Brett Newman congratulated the new Councillors on their election and said he looked forward to working together to continue delivering high-quality services and programs to the community.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the City of Parramatta, as we grow and evolve into one of Australia’s most progressive cities,” Mr Newman said.

“2022 will be the year when the City of Parramatta’s long-term vision comes to life with the completion of Parramatta Square and the opening of our new landmark civic, cultural and community centre, Parramatta Hive (Phive).

“More importantly, our new Council will help shape the future of Parramatta, bringing with it the jobs and infrastructure that will cement our place as Sydney’s Central City.”

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The successful candidates, including seven returning Councillors, are: Dundas Ward Pierre Esber (Labor) Kellie Darley (Independent)

· · · Epping Ward · Donna Davis (Labor) Wearne (Lorraine Wearne Indepen· Lorraine dents) · Cameron Maclean (Labor) North Rocks Ward · Ange Humphries (Labor) · Georgina Valjak (Independent) · Parramatta Ward · · Sameer Pandey (Labor) · Phil Bradley (Greens) Rosehill Ward · Patricia Prociv (Labor) · · Paul Noack (Labor)

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The City of Parramatta will welcome a recordbreaking number of women to the Council chamber in 2022.

Eight of the 15 newly elected Councillors are women, the largest number in the 160-year history of the Municipality of Parramatta.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 13

NEWS

In the pink for mum When Lake Macquarie City Council Senior Lifeguard Lucas Samways pulls on a pink shirt for work this week, it will be much more than a token gesture in support of breast cancer awareness.

It will be a heart-felt shout-out to his beloved mum, Sharon, who succumbed to the illness almost exactly three years ago.

Mr Samways and Council lifeguard colleagues across Lake Mac beaches will all don the pink shirts on Friday January 7, raising awareness of the McGrath Foundation and the invaluable work it does in the community funding breast care nurses.

It coincides with the ‘Pink Test’ at the SCG between Australia and England.

“Mum was the most beautiful, loving, colourful and caring woman, and the most incredible mum and Nanny,” Mr Samways said.

“She passed away on January 10, 2019 after being diagnosed 18 months earlier with stage four metastatic breast cancer.”

“It was the most heartbreaking news anyone could hear, and it took me a while to realise the severity of it. She started treatment straight away and stayed so positive, and I admire the strength and dedication she showed.”

Mr Samways hoped Council’s support of the McGrath Foundation would help raise funds and “encourage women everywhere to

Lucas Samways with his mum, Sharon. get regular breast cancer check-ups”.

“Donations to the McGrath Foundation provide amazing nurses who help and support patients and their families, which is crucial for a person going through these tough times,” he said.

The McGrath Foundation is selling ‘virtual’ seats to the Pink Test to kick off its fundraising for 2022, with almost 30,000 sold so far.

Go to pinktest.com.au for more information and to donate.

Lifeguards James McMorland, Lucas Samways and Byron Howarth at Redhead Beach.

Mildura says let there be lights Pipeline project By the end of March 2022 all street lighting within the Mildura local government area will have been converted to LED technology, cutting Council’s energy and maintenance costs by a further $2.5 million over the next 20 years as part of the Lighting the Regions Stage Two project.

Lighting the Regions is a partnership between 11 Victorian Councils, the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, the Victorian Government and Ironbark Sustainability.

The regional project involves replacing over 11,000 street lights to more energy-efficient LEDs. Approximately 1,819 street lights will be replaced across the Mildura region by Powercor between February and March 2022, reducing Council’s annual electricity use by approximately 566 megawatt hours.

The project will see Council achieving its target of a 15% reduction in street lighting electricity consumption by 2022.

Environment and Sustainability councillor Jodi Reynolds said Mildura’s inclusion in Lighting the Regions was yet another way the Mildura region was leading the way in responding to the climate emergency whilst driving down energy costs.

“By cutting $2.5 million from our energy and maintenance costs over 20 years it will mean we can redirect this money into other areas of our community,” Cr Reynolds said.

“With Council signing on to the largest ever Power Purchase Agreement by local government in Australia, all of our street lighting has been powered by 100% renewable energy from 1 July this year.”

In addition to the cost savings and environmental benefits the new LED street lights will be more reliable and provide more consistent lighting and better visibility than the technologies they are replacing.

Deakin Avenue, Mildura is set to see the light.

Council is contributing $450,000 from its 2021-22 capital works program to replace the street lights, which will be recovered in energy and maintenance cost savings within nine years.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has contributed $1.63 million from its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (Phase 2) towards the Mildura project.

New museum for Canberra The National Museum of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s plan to build a $316.5 million Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin which will be the new home for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).

Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct will be built in Commonwealth Place, on the primary axis in the Parliamentary Triangle.

Council of the National Museum of Australia Chair, the Hon. Warwick Smith AO, said: “We are delighted to hear the announcement of the new Ngurra centre, which will include a learn14 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

ing and knowledge centre and a national resting place to care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains.

“This is the result of hard work undertaken

by AIATSIS over many years and builds on the recommendations of the 2014 National Resting Place Consultation Report,” Mr Smith said.

The National Museum has long supported

the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural centre and will assist with the project as it progresses.

An architectural design competition will be run in 2022 to develop an iconic design suitable for the location and which reflects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ aspirations, achievements, and deep connection to Country.

Townsville City Council has awarded the contract to supply and deliver the pipe and fittings for its project to duplicate the pipeline supplying water from the Ross River Dam to the Douglas Water Treatment Plant.

The contract awarded to Steel Mains this month will enable construction to start this year, which will enhance Townsville’s water security.

“In late September Council issued a call for tenders to supply and deliver the mild steel cement lined (MSCL) pipe and fittings for the duplication of the pipeline between the Ross River Dam and the Douglas Water Treatment Plant. Steel Mains has been awarded the tender and will deliver the steel and concrete-lined pipe for this project,” Acting Mayor AnnMaree Greaney said.

“The duplicate pipeline will cross Ross River close to the dam and run alongside the river through the Department of Defence’s Mount Stuart Training Area before connecting to the Douglas Water Treatment Plant, enhancing the city’s water security.”

About 85 per cent of Townsville’s water supply currently comes from the 9km 1220mm-diameter concrete pipeline between the dam and the treatment plant.

Cr Greaney said Council was calling for additional tenders for the duplication project.

“Council has broken the construction of the pipeline into two smaller packages of work to encourage local businesses to participate in the project,” she said.

“Council is committed to supporting North Queensland businesses. By using local businesses as much as possible we are able to provide an economic boost to the community and help grow the capacity of the businesses while enhancing our water security.”

Cr Greaney said Council’s 2021/22 Budget included $177 million in water infrastructure and services.

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January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 15

RURAL AND REGIONAL

Work addresses crossing danger Following extensive lobbying after a significant near miss at the Williams Railway Crossing in 2013, Greater Hume Council formally opened the new Olympic Highway Intersection and Railway Crossing at Grubben Road, Henty late last year.

The $7.93 million project was jointly funded through the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, the NSW Government’s Regional Communities Development Fund and a Greater Hume Council project funding commitment.

The project included several components including: Construction of a new railway crossing Realignment of approximately one kilometre of the Olympic Highway Construction of a new intersection between Grubben Road, Orange Flat Lane and the railway crossing Construction of a new private property entrance Closing of the existing Williams Rail Crossing,

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approximately one kilometre north of Henty.

“This vital project means that the new alignment allows safer and more efficient access for grain trucks, which will deliver major economic benefits to the region through reduced truck operating costs and haulage times and improved safety for all road users,” said Cr Doug Meyer OAM. “Additionally, there are major benefits to safety and amenity of our Henty community, with the reduction of trucks travelling through the township.”

In conjunction with the rail crossing project, Council completed the reconstruction and widening of 1.8 kilometres of Grubben Road, from the new rail crossing to the boundary with Lockhart Shire, Transport for NSW and Australian Rail Track Corporation.

This further enhances the safety of grain trucks traveling to the Grain Corp site in time for an anticipated bumper harvest season.

This $800,000 project was funded through NSW Government’s Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads program along with a Council contribution of $200,000.

The $543 million Fixing Country Roads program provides funding to regional NSW councils to repair, strengthen and improve strategic freight routes, creating a reliable and more efficient road freight network.

Regional NSW is forecast to produce up to 286 million tonnes of freight per year by 2036, projects like the Grubben Road upgrade make it safer and easier for trucks to transport produce across NSW and reach markets here and overseas.

No Sharks in this think tank A new tourism innovation fund, ‘Turtle Tank’ has been designed to support the Gladstone Region through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and assist with the recovery of the tourism industry. The purpose of Turtle Tank is to fund innovative ideas, campaigns and initiatives in the tourism space that benefit the region now and into the future.

A total of $100,000 will be available, made up of $50,000 from Gladstone Regional Council and $50,000 from the Together Gladstone Fund.

Financial contributors of the Together Gladstone Fund include Boyne Smelters Limited, ConocoPhillips as downstream operator of Australia Pacific LNG, Queensland Alumina Limited, Rio Tinto Yarwun, Santos GLNG, Shell’s QGC Business and other local industries.

Gladstone Region Acting Mayor Kahn Goodluck said the Turtle Tank fund is loosely based on the hit Network Ten show Shark Tank and involves a three-step application process.

“The final step in the process will see applicants invited to attend the ‘Turtle Tank’ to pitch their initiative to a panel of ‘expert investors’ made up Gladstone Regional Council, Together Gladstone and GAPDL representatives,” Councillor Goodluck said.

“Prior to sinking their teeth in – or in this case, sliding into the Turtle Tank – applicants must attend the upcoming Tourism Innovation Fund information session.

“From there, they must submit a written application outlining the basics of their initiative to the panel for assessment.

“This is an exciting concept and one we hope will stimulate the tourism industry, while also increasing liveability and visitation in our region by growing tourism offerings.”

Applications opened from Monday 10 January with a Tourism Innovation Fund information session to be held at Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre on Thursday 20 January. The Turtle Tank fund is an initiative of Gladstone Regional Council, Together Gladstone and GAPDL.

Turtle Tank think tank for Gladestone.

New Warrumbungle councillors Results have been released and confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission for the nine new Councillors that will make up Warrumbungle Shire Council’s Council for the next three years.

The following councillors have been declared elected for Warrumbungle Shire Council (LGA): Kathryn Rindfleish, Dale Hogden, Ambrose Doolan, Aniello Iannuzzi, Denis Todd, Carlton Kopke, Jason Newton, Kodi Brady and Zoe Holcombe.

The councillors were due to attend the Extraordinary Meeting in Coonabarabran, where 16 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

a Mayoral Election would occur Warrumbungle Shire Council, General Manager, Roger Bailey said.

“The newly elected councillors are also required to first take an oath or affirmation at or prior to the Extraordinary Council Meeting in January 2022, as well as deal with other matters.”

“The Executive Services team has been working to make the transition for the newly elected body as seamless as possible, and we have a comprehensive induction program planned for the new and returning councillors.

This program will ensure the new councillors and the community can have confidence moving into this next term of council,” said Mr Bailey.

Councillor Davis

Cooma makes history History was made in Cooma this month at the first meeting in the new Snowy Monaro Regional Council’s term.

Elected to the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor (through to September 2023) were Mayor Narelle Davis and Deputy Mayor Tanya Higgins.

This is the first time the region has had all-female leadership plus a majority female led Council (six of the 11 Councillors).

Despite the torrential downpour and a late venue change in order to maximise social distancing in a COVID-safe manner, the region’s new Council met at the Cooma Multifunction Centre to start the induction process, followed by their first Council meeting where they took their Oath or Affirmation of Office before electing Councillors to be Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Councillor Bob Stewart was the other nominee for Mayor, with Councillors Chris Hanna and Louise Frolich nominated for Deputy Mayor.

The new Snowy Monaro Regional Council is: Narelle Davis - Mayor Tanya Higgins – Deputy Mayor John Castellari (returning Councillor) Peter Beer (returning Councillor) Bob Stewart (returning Councillor) John Last (returning Councillor) Christopher Hanna Tricia Hopkins Karlee Pateman Lynda Summers Louise Frolich There was a shorter agenda than normal on the night due to the constraints of the election and Christmas/New Year periods.

Councillors also voted to send CEO Peter Bascomb, Mayor Narelle Davis, Deputy Mayor Tanya Higgins and Councillor Lynda Summers to the Local Government NSW Special Conference from Monday 28 February to Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is an important networking and educational event for Councillors, many of whom are beginning their local government political careers or resuming them after some time away.

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RURAL AND REGIONAL

MacDonnell’s Tidy effort The winners of the 2021 Northern Territory Sustainable Community Tidy Town Awards have just been announced in a virtual presentation ceremony hosted by Heimo Schober, CEO of KABC(NT) in Darwin.

MacDonnell Regional Council once again dominated with much to the delight of CEO Jeff MacLeod and staff.

“These awards truly reflect the hard work and dedication of MRC’s staff, particularly those in the communities which have been recognised in the announcement,” he said.

Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) officially became the ‘Territory’s Tidiest Town’ again and is now the Territory’s Finalist after winning the overall NT Award as well as receiving the Category Award for ‘Best Medium Territory Tidy Towns Community.’

As the Territory’s 2021 Tidiest Town, the MacDonnell region community of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) will represent the Northern Territory at the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable community Tidy Towns Awards this year.

Mr Schober commented that “The township’s strong culture of continuous improvement and community participation helped the MacDonnell Desert community win the competition yet again, they’re achieving ‘new norms’ all the time. The MacDonnell Council Staff, Traditional Owners and the residents of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) all deserve this win for their efforts and dedication to ensure their community is the Territory’s Tidiest Town and Sustainable Community over the past 12 months.”

“This will be MacDonnell Regional Council’s ninth consecutive outright win. It is inspiring to see a Regional Council consistently producing Territory Sustainable Tidy Town winning communities.”

The township of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) continues to demonstrate great community collaboration, pride and leadership in local sustainability practices and education, and sets a wonderful example for other remote Territory townships to follow.

“I congratulate the MacDonnell Regional Council for their leadership and support inspiring Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) to win this Award,” Mr Schober added.

“Again, the MacDonnell Regional Council has won majority categories at the 2021 Territory Sustainable Community Tidy Town Awards,” Mr Schober said.

MacDonnell Regional Council was the winner of 7 of the 16 categories awarded.

Northern Territory Tidy Town.

Category Overall Winner/ National Finalist Santa Teresa-(Ltyentye Apurte) (MacDonnell Regional Council) Best Medium Community Santa Teresa-(Ltyentye Apurte) (MacDonnell Regional Council) Best Regional Council MacDonnell Regional Council ‘Dame Phyllis Frost’ Litter Control & Prevention Papunya (Warumpi) (MacDonnell Regional Council) Waste Management Santa Teresa-(Ltyentye Apurte) (MacDonnell

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Regional Council)

Conservation MacDonnell · Energy Council Action MacDonnell · Environment Council

Regional Regional

Two of MRC’s invaluable community members were recognised for their commitment, collaboration and hard work undertaken.

Category Community Citizen Dougie Wells (Titjikala) Nanny Kingsley (Haasts Bluff) Additionally, the M’Bunghara School, located at Dashwood Creek via the Pupunya Road,

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took out the Best Territory Tidy Town School Award.

Category Best Territory Tidy Town School M’Bunghara School And lastly, all of the residents of the Santa Teresa community were recognised for their efforts in making this community a model for all to follow.

Category Community Participation Santa Teresa-(Ltyentye Apurte)

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Monaro cemetery group commits to care The Snow Monaro Cemetery Advisory Committee last month held their final meeting for this Council term.

The Snow Monaro Cemetery Advisory Committee last month held their final meeting for this Council term.

The committed group of volunteers from across the Snowy Monaro have worked tirelessly over the past four years to ensure that our cemeteries are cared for with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Cemeteries are open to the community year-round and the Cemetery Advisory Committee oversees all works undertaken at Council’s cemeteries, including future discussions and planned improvements.

In 2021 they oversaw construction of a new fence at the Old Adaminaby Cemetery, removal of dangerous trees from a several of the region’s cemeteries, removal of rabbit harbourage sites from a number of the region’s cemeteries and repairs to head stones and monuments caused by winter storms and wildlife.

This is a Section 355 committee, a vital part of how Council engages with our community. The committee comprises community volunteers, Council employees and Councillors working together to manage and discuss our region’s assets and infrastructure.

Many of the Snowy Monaro’s cemeteries are of historic importance to the region and are located in rural areas surrounded by farm land or reserves. Council works to maintain this rural character and preserve areas of enLGFOCUS.COM.AU

Snowy Monaro’s Cemetery Advisory Committee. dangered, vulnerable native vegetation that are a common feature of our region’s cemeteries.

Work planned for 2022 includes continuing to improve cemetery boundary fences across

the region, adding Niche walls and memorial gardens, removal of dead or dangerous trees and rabbit removal programs.

Council has focused, particularly in recent years, on the eradication of rabbits. Native

wildlife such as wombats also pose a problem for the cemeteries with their fondness for digging burrows. As they are a protected native species, managing them requires approval from National Parks and Wildlife.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 17

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Planet plea: Make It Wood Planet Ark are continuing their “Make It Wood” campaign urging people around the world to look for responsibly sourced wood and to adopt Wood Encouragement Policies.

The group’s Make It Wood campaign manager David Rowlinson said to date, there were two Local Government Associations, two states (Tasmania and Western Australia) and eighteen local councils that hae adopted formal WEPs in Australia “A Wood Encouragement Policy generally requires responsibly sourced wood to be considered, where feasible, as the primary construction material in all new-build and refurbishment projects,” he said.

“As such a policy does not mandate the use of timber, but rather seeks to ensure that wood is at least considered as the primary structural component in these buildings.”

David provided a couple of recent international examples “which will hopefully provide further incentives for councils and governments in Australia”.

2020 – France: sustainability law that aims to ensure all new public buildings are built from at least 50 per cent timber “In February 2020 the French government announced plans for a sustainability law that will ensure all new public buildings are built from at least 50 per cent timber or other natural materials,” he said.

“The measure will be implemented by 2022 and affect all public buildings financed by the French state.

“This follows the introduction of a law encouraging the use of bio-based materials for the construction of the 2024 Paris Olympics complex, which requires that any building in the development that rises more than eight storeys will be built entirely from timber.”

The proposal aligns with France’s ‘Sustainable City Plan’, launched in 2009, and also President Emmanuel Macron’s drive for the

Bunjil Place, City of Casey, Narre Warren, Vic Design: FJMT country to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

2020 – New Zealand government low-carbon construction procurement policy “The New Zealand government low-carbon construction procurement policy was designed to simultaneously deliver strong economic, social, and environmental outcomes for all New Zealand, and is a necessary step in New Zealand’s path to becoming carbon zero by 2050,” David said.

The policy, which was announced in September 2020, requires government agencies to measure and then choose the construction material option with the lowest upfront carbon emissions (embodied carbon), or explain why not.

Picture: JOHN GOLLINGS

Deloitte research found the policy could add up to five thousand jobs to the NZ timber and forestry sector, increase log processing by 1.7 million tonnes annually, sequester 918,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, and result in a NZ$500 million annual balance of payments improvement by exporting high value green products and importing less climate polluting steel and concrete.

So why is wood so good?

“Building and construction accounts for about 40 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

“Using wood as a construction material actually helps to mitigate climate change.”

“Here’s why: Wood is the only major build-

ing material that is renewable. In addition, as trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide (trees grow from the air, not from the ground!). Consequently about half of the dry weight of wood is carbon – so-called biogenic carbon – which is stored for as long as the building exists.”

Timber consumes minimal energy in its production – so-called embodied carbon – so it can be used as a low-emission substitute for materials that require larger amounts of fossil fuels to be produced, such as concrete and steel. (Concrete and steel are each responsible for about 7-8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.)

Make sure it’s certified “Of course, a key requirement is to use certified timber, sourced from either native forests or plantations,” David explained.

“Forest certification has developed as a way of demonstrating the implementation of sustainable forest management practices. To enable a forest to be certified as being sustainably managed, an audit is undertaken by an independent, third party certification body. The audit assesses the forest management practices of a forest manager or owner against the standard for certification.”

He said certification ensures that when a tree is harvested another is planted in its place.

Well over 95 per cent of Australian plantations and state forests are certified, and the significant majority of the wood used in the construction sector has chain-of-custody certification.

More Information on WEPs For more information on WEPs please contact David Rowlinson, Planet Ark Make It Wood campaign manager, at david@planetark.org or 0400 474 412.

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18 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Big Bag Recovery As Australians become more conscious of the need to recycle there are some items that everyone uses but have no idea what to do with when they are finished with them.

It’s a fair bet most of Aussies, particularly outside the cities, have a stash of large sacks and bulk bags (big bags) just sitting at home with little hope of being reused.

This is the problem that Big Bag Recovery hopes to solve according to the company’s managing director Stephen Richards.

Big Bag Recovery is the Australian Government Accredited Product Stewardship scheme for plastic bags over 15kg/l of contents (sacks and bulk bags) and is able to collect the bags from LGAs and recycle them at no cost to the council. He said they record and report exactly how much of the plastic has come out of every collection site.

“We have built into our system the ability to report live so the councils get their own log in –they can log-in and see how much, by postcode, was actually collected in their LGA,” Stephen said.

“That not only includes the amount of plastic collected but we also report on CO2 impact is and what the landfill savings were, most importantly we report on how many jobs were generated from the plastic we collected.”

He said to become involved with Big Bag Recovery they just need to contact them directly.

“They just need set up a compound,” Stephen said.

“It’s really simple, there’s no cost to council’s at all, we service it, we have a national collection manager who manages our relationships with councils.”

He said Big Bag Recovery was accredited by the Federal Government in March of 2021 and officially launched in October winning a commendation by the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence for innovation and

Recovery.

Big bags ready for collection. scheme design in December.

Big Bags are the bags that carry products and ingredients to all sectors of industry and our backyard. Things like: fertiliser, seeds, animal feeds, flour, salt, sugar, milk powders, sand, gravel, mulch, cement and more.

Big Bag Recovery retains ownership of the plastic and is feedstock for its processing facilities to manufacture new life products. We want every bag in a compound, so it can start a new life.

To find out more about the company head to https://www.bigbagrecovery.com.au/.

Collection.

THE PROBLEM $400,000 per day!

$150 million

THE BENEFITS

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Equivalent of

Equivalent of

tonnes of CO

on the road

5,949,500

2e

832,087 cars 12530122-HC03-22

$$$

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 19

NEWS

Coffs strikes green gold If green is the new black then the Coffs Coast has struck gold becoming NSW’s first and only certified ECO Destination, announced late last month by Coffs Harbour City Council and Ecotourism Australia.

With Coffs Harbour City Council spearheading the rigorous 14-month certification process, they hope that today’s conscious travellers will support the region’s green tick of approval as travel re-opens.

The ECO Destination Certification means the NSW coastal region is not only recognised for preserving its natural beauty, but is also sustainable in terms of giving back to the community and being culturally authentic.

To become an ECO Certified Destination, a minimum of 90 criteria points must be met based on the internationally accredited and recognised Green Destinations Standard comprising of seven main themes including: destination management nature and scenery environment and climate culture and tradition social wellbeing business and hospitality ecotourism focused elements Ecotourism Australia (EA) CEO Rod Hillman said he was excited about certification.

“Ecotourism Australia is very proud to have Coffs Coast join our family of certified ECO Destinations and be the first destination to achieve this status in NSW,” he said “This internationally recognised and independently audited certification means the region is demonstrating sustainability principles in how they manage their natural and cultural assets, but it is also about how they support the tourism industry to be sustainable.”

“We are very excited to also welcome three new Coffs Coast ECO certified operators into our collection of existing ECO certified operators and experiences in the region.”

Far North Queensland’s Port Douglas Daintree is the only other Australian certified destination, helping travellers support better tourism for a more sustainable future.

“We live in a stunning region with careful and conscious tourism operators who will now rightfully earn a place amongst the growing number of consumers wanting their travel to support better outcomes for the planet,” said Chris Chapman, Director of Sustainable Communities at Coffs Harbour City Council.

The Coffs Coast is geographically unique

· · · · · · ·

The Coffs Region’s natural beauty. as it is the only place in NSW where the Great Dividing Range meets the Pacific Ocean. The region has 13 national parks and many more state forests and reserves that extend from mountainous hinterland through to unspoiled coastline bordering the Solitary Islands Marine Park, the oldest marine park in NSW. Expert independent auditor Linda Cash says Coffs Council is to be commended for its sustainability planning.

“It’s the first region in NSW to complete the

journey to achieve ECO Destination Certification, whilst at the same time ensuring their community, both visitors and residents, have the opportunity to share and embrace the journey,” Cash says.

Awarded by Ecotourism Australia, this program is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council through Green Destinations. It helps consumers make conscious choices and avoid fake greenwashing, and gives them confidence to spend their tourism dollar support-

ing sustainability, community, and Indigenous culture. Coffs Harbour City Council has been supported in their work to gain certification for the destination, thanks to a partnership between Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia (World Wildlife Fund for Nature).

Search giant Google also supports this ECO Certification, showcasing the badge on its accommodation listings to help support firstclass, nature-based tourism.

Wine bottle refund bid More power to shire With South Australian State Government’s review of the Container Deposit Scheme well underway, the state’s local government sector is hoping to see 10 cent refunds for wine bottles included from this year.

In a submission from the Local Government Association of SA, the sector has listed its support for a range of areas in the recycling scheme’s review, including expanding container return points and the options for payment refunds, delivering a state-wide communications campaign on the program, and providing 10 cent refunds on wine and spirit bottles.

City of Port Adelaide Enfield council mayor Claire Boan said the local government sector had been calling on changes to include wine bottles in the refund for some time, and considered now the ideal time to highlight the benefits this would bring.

“At Port Adelaide Enfield, our communities are now relaxing and unwinding over the holidays, and this naturally comes with an increase in what’s going into our yellow recycling bins – from packaging and wrapping papers to glass wine bottles,” Mayor Boan said.

“Getting wine bottles out of yellow bins and into the container deposit scheme would save our council around $112,000 per year – and with recent increases in waste costs, savings like this make a big difference and help put downward pressure on council rates.”

Councils pay a per tonne processing fee for recycling, and wine bottles alone make up around nine per cent by weight of a recycling bin. This means the presence of wine and spirit bottles in council yellow bins adds to the cost 20 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

of providing recycling services.

“We know our community cares about sustainability by the way they threw their support behind plans to build the Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Facility, which aims to restore confidence in kerbside collections by recycling more materials here in SA,” Mayor Boan said.

“The community supports an expanded deposit scheme - we know it’s by far the most effective method of recovering and recycling high value materials.

“The ultimate goal for our waste system is to be part of a circular economy, where materials are recovered and reused, and circulate through the economy again and again.

“Glass is valuable if it can be recovered in a clean and unbroken state, and in SA we have the advantages of local glass remanufacturers and a strong wine industry to support high recycling rates.

“While council yellow bins are fantastic for recycling paper, cardboard and plastic, if glass breaks in waste collection trucks, it loses its value and contaminates other materials.”

The State Government’s Discussion Paper ‘Improving South Australia’s Recycling Makes Cents’ estimates an expanded container deposit scheme could save councils and ratepayers across the state up to $34 million a year.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has won the Ambition Award in Cities Power Partnership’s National Climate Awards for their Climate Emergency Plan.

The annual awards ceremony, hosted on Wednesday 17 November by Craig Reucassel, recognises outstanding Council-led initiatives from around the country.

The Shire’s Climate Emergency Plan outlines ambitious goals: reduce community emissions by 65 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero emissions Shire-wide by 2040.

“We are thrilled and honoured to accept this award for the Shire’s Climate Emergency Plan,” Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh said.

“We developed our Climate Emergency Plan with significant input from our community, and this Award recognises their passion and commitment to tackling climate action.

“The Shire is acutely aware that addressing climate change must be done at an emergency speed. Our Climate Emergency Plan sets the tone for our organisation and community to drive climate action.

“We’re well on our way to reach those targets.”

He said some of the key achievements in 2021 include: Joining the community to successfully advocate for the rejection of plans by AGL for a gas import jetty and pipeline at Crib Point Achieving Carbon Neutrality under the Climate Active certification in October Creating 22ha of bio links and planting

· · ·

nearly 17,000 trees and shrubs

our inaugural community Cli· Launching mate Action Grant program with $100,000 available to deliver local climate action

our food waste collection ser· Launching vice, diverting food waste from landfill our Schools Environmental Ed· Expanding ucation Program with multiple webinars, workshops and new lessons offered

our Community Energy Pro· Launching gram to support the formation of a community energy group in the Shire

direct support for community · Providing energy efficiency through programs in-

cluding Energy Savvy Upgrades and the Small Business Energy Saver program The competition we were up against for this award was exceptionally high. Finalists in the Ambition Award included: Ku-ring-gai Council, NSW - Towards Zero Emissions - 2030 Action Plan Mornington Peninsula Shire - Climate Emergency Plan “Ensuring our Future” Randwick City Council, NSW - Preparing and Implementing Randwick’s new Environment Strategy Monash Council, VIC - Zero Net Carbon for Monash For more information go to citiespowerpartnerships.com.au

· · · ·

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE

Keanan reaches for stars A traineeship was just the opportunity Keanan Kickett needed to launch his career.

“I’ve been interested in studying a certification for a while and when the opportunity came up with Oz Airports to do a traineeship, I jumped at the chance,” Keanan said.

Keanan is of Aboriginal origin from the Noongar people from the south west region of Western Australia. He is now completing a traineeship in Work, Health and Safety and certification as a Works Safety Officer with Oz Airports.

Oz Airports specialises in airport management, airport safety and related training of airport staff across Australia. They draw upon their vast breadth of operational and aviation risk management experience servicing Defence and Civil Aerodromes across Australia.

Keanan is currently working at Gin Gin aerodrome and various other aerodromes in Western Australia.

“I enjoy learning new things and what it’s like to work on an aerodrome. It’s really interesting—understanding what it’s like working with air traffic control, learning aviation language and how pilots and others around the airport communicate. There are also a lot of things around an airport to learn to make sure you are doing the right things.”

Keanan said he had opportunities to learn every day.

“It’s a really supportive team at Oz Airports.

If I have questions, people take the time to fully explain the situation,” he says.

“I’ve learned how to understand and speak on an airband radio and how things work on the airport. I have been able to learn quickly because working with Oz Airports gives me the opportunity to practice the skills and put into practice the things I have learnt.”

Keanan has worked since he left school a few years ago but has set his sights on the op-

Keanan Kickett. portunity to pursue a future career he would enjoy.

“I’m doing something I’m genuinely interested in and am in a very supportive environment,” he says.

The traineeship is the encouragement Keanan needed to begin a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety and on top of that, he is also working towards gaining certification as a Works Safety Officer with Oz Airports.

Oz Airports commits to advancing Indigenous development and well-being across all aspects of their work, and to developing the strength and depth of the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and nonIndigenous Australians.

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COMPLIANCE & PROFITABILITY

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 21

NEWS

Foreshore transformation The foreshore of small West Australian coastal town Jurien Bay has received a $1.167 million facelift which has included more facilities for the area’s youth and children – with more to come The town, in the Shire of Dandaragan, transformed its foreshore with the addition of a new state of the art skatepark, nature playground, basketball mini-court and family picnic area.

Located on the West Australian coastline, Jurien Bay has a population of approximately 2,000 however, this number typically swells to over 6,000 people during the summer months with visitors and tourists flocking to this popular holiday spot just two hours north of WA’s capital city, Perth.

“The completion of these various stages of the Jurien Bay foreshore redevelopment projects are a credit to the vision of the Shire Council and staff, and all those within the community who have been involved in the process,” Shire President Cr Leslee Holmes said.

“The feedback received has all been positive to date and we continue to look forward to seeing this space being utilised by the community and visitors to the region.”

Cr Holmes said following a Council decision back in 2016 to create a skate park, they also identified the benefit of creating a broader Foreshore Masterplan project which determined the best location for the skatepark to be built.

Extensive consultation with the community (in particular with local youth), was undertaken and throughout the planning and design process the Shire developed a Foreshore Working Group in order to get as much input from the community as possible to reflect the needs and wants of the local community.

As a result of this process and securing funding for the Skate Park, in partnership with the State Government’s LotteryWest to the

tune of $1.167m, the skate park construction commenced in late 2020 by CONVIC who have extensive experience in skate park builds across Australia.

Construction of the skatepark was completed and officially opened in May 2021.

Lighting has also been installed so that the facility can be used at night via a timer.

Pathway extensions around the skatepark site were undertaken by local contractors and Shire operations staff, who worked tirelessly

Architects of future It is hoped that the next generation of architects and engineers will be inspired to build a greener future by working together through a local education program, which is supported by Wollongong City Council.

Earlier last year, Council joined an educational project, led by University of Wollongong (UOW) and part-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), that provided student engineers and architects with hands-on-experience during their tertiary studies.

The council was the client in this project and requested students to develop and review a strategy for the upgrade of Dapto Ribbonwood Centre’s air-conditioning systems and develop recommendations that align with Council’s organisational commitment to net-zero operations by 2030.

Students were asked to address matters such as energy modelling and emission calculations, improvements on the value of renewable energy, life cycle, review nominated options and provide details of their recommendations. The students’ reports discussed the building’s environmental impact as well as improving its energy efficiency.

“UOW approached Council in October 2020 and our Infrastructure and Works department were happy to get involved and provide support. The Dapto Ribbonwood Centre is undergoing a major retrofit, so it was an ideal case study for them. We started with a client brief and went from there,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

Council provided in-kind support through a client brief, continued feedback, on-site tours and visits, and reviews of their presentations.

The support was consistent with Council’s focus on supporting up-and-coming professionals and 10 students undertaking third-year, fourth-year and post-graduate studies at UOW were involved.

“The objective of this partnership was to provide a learning opportunity where students gain real-world experience with a client. This meant acting as a genuine client but also providing valuable feedback where appropriate,” Cr Bradbery said.

“It has been a great experience for Council, especially in supporting our commitment to sustainable designs, and there is a desire to assist with another.

“This project is a great example of the multi22 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

faceted partnerships Council has with UOW and provided a win-win outcome whereby Council connected with aspiring and innovative up and coming engineers and was also a win for students to learn and grow and to have real-life practical experience.”

This recent project with UOW is one of many programs where Council supports on the job learning with educational studies in this field of work. We employ civil engineering cadets as part of Council’s annual intake of cadets, apprentices and trainees as well as an annual intake of civil engineering students through a 12-week internship and civil engineering graduates within our Infrastructure and Works Department.

University of Wollongong Associate Research Fellow James Roth said students embraced the nine-month project and the range of benefits that came with it, such as working with Council as a client.

“Architects have a strategy to make buildings more efficient and so do engineers, but they don’t always align and there can be some conflict. Our aim was to bring student architects and engineers together to design buildings that marry the best aspects of both skill sets,” he said.

“It was incredibly beneficial to the students as working practically isn’t something they have done before. The idea is to run through real world projects in an environment where students can make mistakes. By taking the class, students got to work on a real project, with a real client and project brief, ask questions and receive feedback.”

You can read more about the Integrated Design Studio (IDS’s) project, including the final findings, on the i-Hub website. The project was led by University of Wollongong with Wollongong City Council, Stantec, MIEngineers, COX and ARUP as participants, while the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) provided support as the overall i-HUB coordinator.

This Project received funding from ARENA as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program.

throughout the various stages of the redevelopment process. This foreshore section of the Shire’s Turquoise Way Path has been widened to allow increased utilisation by pedestrians when accessing the foreshore area.

The Turquoise Way Path is a popular attraction to the area and is a sealed dual use path that runs 14kms south from Jurien Bay’s Marina to the Hill River Mouth. The pathway offers spectacular coastal views and there are further plans in progress for the path to be extended

all the way to Cervantes, some 25kms in total.

The new nature playground, constructed by sensory playground specialist, Bernhard Kaiser, with the use of new and recycled materials, is a popular interactive spot for those with young children. The large craypot climbing fort with slide is a favourite, and also includes rope areas, riverbed and water play, and an all-ability swing. Located directly across from Jurien Bay’s Tourist Holiday Park, the playground is in a prime location to also be utilised by holiday makers to Jurien Bay. The grassed picnic area is ideal for family and group gatherings and includes seating, shade structures, and a free BBQ. There is also a mini basketball court nearby for those wanting to be a bit more active.

Landscaping works were also undertaken by local contractors and Shire operations staff, including the installation of reticulation across the whole site, provision and planting of trees and shrubs, and ongoing maintenance of the area.

Cr Holmes said the Shire was working towards the final stage of the redevelopment with the construction of a new cafe facility, including accessible ablutions.

Construction of this building is set to start in early 2022 with the Shire entering into a lease agreement with Lobster Hut Hospitality Group Pty Ltd who will operate the cafe which takes in the views of the Indian Ocean.

Road gets noticed A wide range of valuable community feedback has been received on the concept design for the Omrah Avenue to Nicklin Way Upgrade, which will now be carefully analysed to inform the project’s next stage.

Sunshine Coast Council Division 2 Councillor Terry Landsberg thanked the many residents, businesses and community groups which provided feedback on the Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade (CTCU) concept design.

“This is a major transport infrastructure upgrade for our Caloundra community which aims to meet the current and future needs of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users,” Cr Landsberg said.

“The project will address significant congestion at the nearby intersection of Nicklin Way, Pelican Waters Boulevard and Caloundra Road, providing motorists, cyclists and pedestrians with an alternative access route to everything that Caloundra has to offer.

“From August to November 2021, council, in partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), distributed information about the project and held community displays to allow the community to ask questions and provide comment about the 1.6 kilometre upgrade which will connect the CBD and Omrah Avenue to Nicklin Way. “Council received a wide range of valuable feedback on the concept design.

“The feedback will directly inform the project’s next stage, detailed design, which will take place in 2022.

“Some of the commonly asked questions were around Ben Bennett Bushland Park, and I want to assure the community that council is working with TMR to minimise the project’s footprint on the park, wherever possible.

“The concept design of the Nicklin Way intersection and alignment through this area affects only about two per cent of the park and it is likely this will be further reduced when the design is refined through the detailed design process.

“The corridor’s alignment has been determined by specialist consultants following

a lengthy and detailed assessment of planning, environmental, social and engineering considerations, supported by numerous transport studies and community engagement processes over the past eight years.

“The project’s design focuses on delivering improved walking and cycling infrastructure adjacent to a low-speed traffic environment (typically 50km/h). Through detailed design, the project team will review the number of lanes required for each section of the project and, if feasible, stage the number of lanes being constructed.

“The upgrade is the next step to addressing one of the worst traffic snarls on the Sunshine Coast, recognising the flowon impacts that the congestion causes on local roads in Aroona, Currimundi, Dicky Beach and Moffat Beach which are now becoming congested as drivers seek alternative routes.

“Council, alongside TMR, will continue to investigate the design’s footprint, improve active transport (walking and cycling pathways), and protect flora and fauna during the detailed design process.

“It’s important that we allocate time for the analysis phase as we want to give proper consideration to the responses received.”

Section 1 between Omrah Avenue and Arthur Street is funded by council and is estimated to cost $19.6 million. Section 2 between Arthur Street and Nicklin Way is part of the $18.2 million upgrade to the Nicklin Way-Third Avenue Connection with the Australian Government committing $7 million under the Infrastructure Investment Program, the Queensland Government $7 million and Council $4.2 million.

For more information about the project and map, please visit Council’s Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade webpage. To receive project updates please register your contact details by emailing: CTCU@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Automated system is key Every local council wants to generate the greatest amount of value out of every ratepayer dollar. But it’s impossible for them to do that when their spend management processes don’t give them the information they need to spend strategically.

For example, procurement staff in council who have no choice but to manually process the inundation of requests they receive each day is just the tip of the wastage and inefficiency iceberg.

Recognition exists among council procurement leaders that technology and automation will be the solutions that can help councils evolve their tendering, contracting, and supplier management to optimise their budgets and achieve better community outcomes as a result.

Because when a council has a holistic view of its sourcing, contracts and supplier performance, it’s able to spend more strategically.

When a council has the data to ensure suppliers are delivering in accordance with their KPIs, it’s able to manage those relationships with insights that ensure the best performance.

And when a council has an award-winning spend management system that includes digital workflows and outcome tracking, it’s able to optimise the value of every dollar it manages, so it can then redirect savings back into providing even more services for their community.

These are just some of the benefits a council can achieve when it optimises the public dollar with Portt.

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Increase the every council project optimising, automating and streamlining your supplier and contractor engagements with Portt.

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January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 23

NEWS

Mornington goes to people The Mornington Peninsula Council are aiming to it easier for everyone to have their ideas and priorities considered for the Budget.

Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh said while most of the money in the Budget is allocated to essential services including rubbish and recycling, road maintenance, family services and more, the council was also hoping to hear from constituents.

“We’re excited to implement our improved budget process this year, which ensures every person and group within our community has an equal opportunity to share their budget ideas,” Cr Marsh said.

“Local government is the most accessible level of government, and our improved budget

process reflects that.

“The new budget process is modern, fair, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. All feedback will be presented to Council for review, ensuring every voice is heard.

“Please let us know what is important to you and what you think we should prioritise.”

The council is inviting constituents to go online to their brand-new community portal where they can put forward their aspirations and ideas. All contributions and feedback will be presented to Council for their consideration.

The new portal allows constituents to let the council know how they think the money should allocate money under sixteen themes:

1. Performing arts theatre centre 2. Footpath and walking trails 3. Strengthen our local economy 4. Road maintenance 5. Drainage projects 6. Arts, cultural and creative programs 7. Playground and accessibility programs 8. Sporting club facilities upgrades 9. Protection of our rural Green Wedge 10. Community strengthening initiatives 11. Physical and mental health 12. Caring for our natural environment 13. Public transport advocacy 14. Traffic management measures

15. Peninsula Trail 16. Sporting ground improvements.

From January until March they will hold weekly drop-in sessions across the Peninsula.

These sessions are for those who need help with the online form or understanding the Budget process. Please go to the portal for locations and dates.

The Budget portal is open until Thursday 31 March.

Hard copy forms are also available at Customer Service Centres and their drop-in sessions.

For more information and to find an overview of all drop-in sessions and meetings, visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/budgetportal

Devonport financial assistance

Toowoomba set to become a minimum grant council.

Council to see grant reduction A decision to reduce the financial contribution to Council, from the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission, has been heavily criticised by Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Mayor Paul Antonio.

“In local government we’re the community builders for our residents,” Mayor Antonio said.

“To do this, we need adequate funding from the State and Federal Government and any decision to reduce our current level of funding is a kick in the guts to our residents.

“In the correspondence I’ve received this week, Toowoomba Regional Council is set to become a ‘minimum grant Council’ under the new Financial Assistance Grant allocation methodology, commencing from the 202223 financial year.

“This means the current allocation we re-

ceive under this program will be significantly reduced.

“This decision has been made on the view that our Council is financially stable enough that it only requires minimum funding revenue which is hard to take.

“In other words, we’re being punished because of the way we’ve carefully managed our finances over the years.”

Under the new methodology, TRC Finance and Business Strategy Committee Chair Geoff McDonald said Council was likely to see its funding allocation decrease by 23% for the 2022-23 financial year.

“This financial year we will receive about $14.5 million through Financial Assistance Grant allocations,” Cr McDonald said.

“With a 23% reduction, this will see our funding cut by about $3.3 million in the 2022-

23 financial year alone which will be a huge impost on our community.

“Over the next three financial years we estimate the reduction to be around the $7.9 million mark.

“To put this into perspective, the reduction in funding equates to an increase in general rates by an additional 3%, or the equivalent cost of 36 full time staff. If this were to happen, service levels and/or financial reserves set aside for critical infrastructure would be eroded.

“This is a terrible outcome for our community and must be addressed immediately.”

“To ensure our residents aren’t disadvantage in any way, we will be speaking with the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission on this decision as a matter of urgency.”

Applications are now open for round two of the Devonport City Council 2021/22 Community Financial Assistance Scheme.

Community groups, clubs and organisations are encouraged to apply for financial support to help deliver important projects and programs for the benefit of Devonport residents.

Devonport Mayor, Councillor Annette Rockliff, said Council was particularly keen to support activities based around community development, culture and heritage, economic development, sport and recreation and healthy living and learning.

“Community groups, clubs and organisations play a vital role in helping create a healthier, stronger, more vibrant and connected Devonport community, and this is one way in which Council can assist them undertake their important work,’’ Cr Rockliff said.

“Major and minor grants are available for not-for-profit community organisations and groups to help them to deliver community projects, events, infrastructure projects, and to purchase equipment.”

In the first round of the 2021/22 Financial Assistance Scheme, The Devonport Senior Citizens Club was successful in receiving a grant to purchase a new piano. When returning to the club post the 2020 COVID lockdown, the club discovered their old piano had been damaged by mice. Obtaining funding for a new piano has benefited a number of groups, including the Mersey Singers, The Renaissance Singers and the Reflections Cafe, with the club again able to hold concerts for the benefit of its members.

Help for non-finance managers The Local Government Association of NSW is running an online seminar in February – Finance for Non-finance Managers.

The event is set to be held from 9am to 1pm on 17 February with another one set down for May. With greater community expectations and current line manager accounting responsibilities, managers are increasingly being expected to understand, interpret and explain financial issues as they pertain to their departments or section.

The event is targeted to help non-finance managers negotiate those issues.

24 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

The program aims to introduce non-finance managers to the basics of accounting theory, understand the strategic allocation of financial resources, how to read council financial statements, how to effectively prepare, interpret and use unit budgets, understanding accounting jargon and buzz words, explore methods for applying financial techniques to your decisions, how council’s financial systems feed into the NSW Integrated Planning and Reporting framework and how to effectively communicate with finance and accounting departments.

The facilitator will use group discussions,

council case studies and local government oriented examples, to help transfer learning to the workplace.

Those attending are asked to bring copies of financial reports you use at work and a calculator to the session.

Local Government NSW has a range of experienced facilitators who use discussions, case studies and local government-oriented examples to help transfer learning to the workplace. Facilitator details will be available prior to the course.

For more information head to the LGNSW website events section.

New piano in use at the Devonport Senior Citizens Club birthday celebrations in October 2021.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON LGPRO ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Premier LGA event is on Victoria’s peak body for local government professionals is returning to in-person conferencing as councils contemplate a return to face-to-face offices in 2022.

LGPro Victoria has opened registrations for its 2022 Annual Conference on 23 and 24 February, hosted at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, addressing the ongoing impact of the pandemic on both council business and the content of the professional development event.

“The 2022 conference - ‘Reigniting’ – will be taking the best of these last two years’

lessons while moving on and embracing a refreshed future,” said Northern Grampians Shire Council CEO and LGPro President, Liana Thompson.

“Undoubtedly, the lessons of the last two years will shape the perspectives brought to the table.”

One of the leadership-centred sessions will focus on flexible work frameworks.

While 2020 made seismic shifts in work and 2021 saw these new ways of working entrenched, the organisation sees 2022 offering its own changes to how councils think about flexible work.

Emerging leaders in local government who have been establishing the path for workplace flexibility that they say will attract and retain high-performing staff will be presenting

at the conference.

The theme was recently addressed in LGPro’s new podcast series, the LGProcast.

The podcast series for local government decision makers explored the impending ‘Great Resignation’ and frontline staff burnout in its most recent two episodes, with flexibility the common theme in addressing employee concerns.

In-person event is here to stay Victoria’s premier conference for local government professionals is returning next month for a full in-person event over two days at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

LGPro Victoria is bringing together top leaders and forward thinkers from within and beyond the sector to lead an interactive discussion at its 2022 Annual Conference from 23 – 24 February.

Dubbed ‘Reigniting,’ the local government member association is gearing the event toward professionals across career levels, with dedicated sessions for executive leaders through to technical professionals and officers. and a strong motivational push.

The organisation has secured Australia’s leading futurist, innovator and strategist, Steve Sammartino for the opening keynote.

Steve will be delivering a high-energy address to give decision makers the understanding and motivation they need to be future proofed in 2022.

The conference will also be featuring one

of Local Government’s most accomplished leaders. Local government professional and President of Melbourne Football Club - who took the team to victory in 2021 - Kate Roffey will give her public sector peers the leadership toolkit they need to navigate change.

The event will also host LGPro’s 2022 Awards for Excellence, a prestigious celebration promoting the outstanding work being undertaken and delivered by individuals and teams working across the sector.

The full program is available at lgpro.com and registrations are currently open, with discounts available until 31 January.

Kate Roffey.

The organisation has secured Australia’s leading futurist, innovator and strategist, Steve Sammartino for the opening keynote.

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LGFOCUS.COM.AU

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 25

NEWS

Digital vote of confidence A globally respected data centre operator is set to establish itself on the Sunshine Coast.

NEXTDC Ltd is an Australian Stock Exchange listed company on the ASX200, which was established in Brisbane in 2010 and currently has 11 data centres across Australia.

These data centres are all located in capital cities servicing 1,364 customers.

The company has purchasing the International Broadband Submarine Cable landing station from the Sunshine Coast Council.

NEXTDC will own and operate the cable landing station after an $8 million deal set to create jobs and stimulate more investment in the region.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson handed over the keys to the cable landing station to NEXTDC Chief Executive Officer Craig Scroggie just before Christmas..

Mayor Jamieson said NEXTDC, an established, respected and well-credentialed data centre provider and operator, would bring an increased technology and innovation focus to the region.

“Data centres are becoming an essential part of the business, economic and social landscape and a core element of the digital architecture that underpins connectivity, accessibility, security and information storage,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“They house and manage computer infrastructure for large and small businesses, which rent space and provide high capacity, high speed connectivity.

“NEXTDC’s global linkages will deliver the Sunshine Coast unprecedented expertise and significant quality assurance for their customers who store their data at the data centre.

“Leveraging off NEXTDC’s expertise in this field will give council the ability to attract new businesses which would not ordinarily be found in a regional city.

NextDC CEO Craig Scroggie with Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson.

“More jobs and a wider range of occupations, particularly in IT, will be created.

“For a data centre operator, the likes of NEXTDC, to establish a presence on the Sunshine Coast – outside of a capital city – demonstrates confidence in our region.”

Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance inaugural chair and ENTAG Group CEO Kris Carver described the sale as another critical piece of the puzzle, taking the region further towards national and international recognition as a place to do business.

“The NEXTDC data centre maximises the investment in the submarine cable and is another foundational brick for organisations on the Sunshine Coast to compete nationally and internationally,” Mr Carver said.

“It provides further support for the tech industry and joins other game changing projects – from advanced manufacturing through to the Sunshine Coast Airport FAN announcement.

“When you place all those pieces together, you attract other business and help those large, tech savvy organisations already here, such as

the insurance industry, grow.

“We now have a data centre and a direct link from the Sunshine Coast, which increases speed and reduces latency and that really sets us up, especially in the area of gaming and esports, one of the fastest growing industries in the world.”

NEXTDC Chief Executive Officer Craig Scroggie said SC1 marked an important first step in the organisation’s edge data centre network expansion plans which is supported by its national digital infrastructure platform.

“Edge facilities form an emerging pillar of our digital infrastructure network, and SC1 is the first of multiple edge data centre sites to come,” Mr Scroggie said.

“The acquisition of SC1 and the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network Cable Landing Station leverages several years of research into the growth of edge computing and the current and future requirements of digitally enabled regional communities.”

Mayor Jamieson said the cable landing station was not core local government infrastructure and it had always been a council ambition to use it to attract a major data centre operator to the Sunshine Coast.

“Building the cable landing station was a first for an Australian local government and this deal once again shows this council’s future focus and ability to continually deliver innovative solutions for our community,” Mayor Jamieson said.

International Broadband Submarine Cable project fast facts: Council opened the cable landing station in 2020 and the value of that investment, together with our investment in the Japan-GuamAustralia submarine cable connection to the Sunshine Coast is now paying dividends.

The cable network has already provided our

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region, and beyond, extraordinary capacity to accommodate fast, reliable transfer of data across the world, Queensland’s first direct connection to global markets.

The submarine cable project includes the installation of a 550km undersea fibre optic cable which connects the Sunshine Coast to the 7000km Japan-Guam-Australia (JGA) submarine cable.

The cable, which is laid on or buried under the sea floor, connects to the cable landing station adjacent to the new Maroochydore City Centre project.

The Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network project will help stimulate local business, generate new investment, and improve telecommunications diversity to Australia’s east coast.

The cable will help to future proof the Sunshine Coast’s telecommunications capacity and increase our region’s smart city capability by ensuring access to important data networks.

The Sunshine Coast International Broadband Submarine Cable Project will help retain jobs that might otherwise have been lost to the region and stimulate new investment and employment growth. In total, the project has been forecast to contribute up to 864 jobs and stimulate $927 million in new investment in Queensland.

The cable landing station was completed in September 2019 and was operational in March 2020.

The cable landing station has the capacity to cater for four submarine cables and houses 24 data cabinets.

In June 2020, Sunshine Coast Council landed a Cyber Security Innovation Node, one of only two regional nodes appointed in the country.

Australia’s biggest local news survey show readers’ passion for print The largest national survey of local news audiences in Australia reveals the passion people have for their local newspaper and has found they want a much bigger say about its future The survey asked almost 4200 Australian country press newspaper readers in rural, regional and outer suburban areas about the role of local newspapers within their communities The Australia Research Council project involves researchers from Deakin and RMIT universities with support of Country Press Australia A number of results reveal…

Australia Day goes online at Emerald

Readers overwhelmingly view a printed copy of their newspaper as an essential service for the community There is continued strong demand (and passion) for the printed product in rural and regional Australia Readers are 2.6 times more likely to read their local newspaper in print than in a digital format Readers are FIVE times more likely to go directly to a local news website rather than Google or facebook and 10 times more likely than a council website

Residents were encouraged to celebrate Australia Day virtually this year in Emerald Queensland with the Central Highlands Regional Council’s award ceremonies to be live-streamed on 26 January 2022.

The majority of audiences prefer a printed newspaper with younger generations also part of this trend 59% of readers believe the role of a local newspaper is to act as a community hub 52% of readers have read the same local newspaper between 11 years and 30+ years

Inquiries advertising@lgfocus.com.au *SOURCE: Media Innovation and the Future of Australia’s Country Press – National Report 2021 – Project LP180100813 26 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

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More reasons why your local newspaper is the best way to connect your business with the community

‘Within a supportive community like the Central Highlands, Australia Day always holds a special place in our annual events calendar,’ said Mayor Kerry Hayes.

‘However, due to the continuing impacts of COVID-19 and with the safety of the community as our primary concern, council’s in-person Australia Day celebrations have unfortunately been cancelled.

‘While this year’s celebrations will be different to previous years, we are pleased to still be able to come together as a community virtually to celebrate our local heroes,’ he said.

Council staff have reimagined the event to ensure everyone still has the opportunity to celebrate the region’s Australia Day award nominees and recipients.

Online award ceremonies will occur for all four of the region’s Australia Day events, including the presentation of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Cultural Award, Sportsperson/Administrator of the Year, Junior Sportsperson of the Year and Community Event of the Year awards.

Judging for the awards was held this past week with the preparations for the virtual ceremonies in full swing.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Performance space opens The Yellow Gums Performance Space at Jan Juc’s Bob Pettitt Reserve took centre stage on Monday 6 December, when the community space was officially opened by the Surf Coast Council in Victoria.

The project was jointly funded by the Australian Government under the Community Development Grants Program with a $140,000 contribution. Surf Coast Shire Council, Torquay Community Enterprise and the Jan Juc community contributed $50,000 to the site’s landscaping and irrigation.

The new facility – located to the west of the play, skate and bike area – is designed to complement the reserve’s natural surrounds, and is nestled amongst a stand of Bellarine Yellow Gums.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Stapleton said Jan Juc’s creative community collaborated to produce the space where performers can share their talents.

“It’s been a wonderful partnership project led by the community right from the start, and I know how excited the Jan Juc Live group is to see all their hard work come to life,” Cr Stapleton said.

“The local arts community has been calling for a place where locals can come together for boutique events like Christmas carols and acoustic performances.

“Yellow Gums Performance Space facilitates and allows artists to showcase their creative diversity, and it’s something the community can enjoy for years to come.”

The permanent outdoor stage structure has been constructed predominantly from natural materials, with landscape works featuring a grassed and irrigated amphitheatre.

“The Yellow Gum stage is a beautiful, architecturally designed masterpiece with a curved

Opening the new centre. timber lined roof, curved rammed earth wall, sculptured timber columns, and a decorative proscenium arch, all of which complement the natural environment,” Cr Stapleton said.

“This past 18 months in particular has made us realise just how important spaces like these are, connecting us all through community events.”

Jan Juc Live member and project champion Paul Thompson said after nearly four years of hard work by the committee, he was rapt that the space was being utilised – kicked off by a community celebration on 14 November.

Paul Thompson Jan Juc Live.

“It’s our community’s space for music, small local performances and locally grown events, combining nature and the creative arts in perfect harmony under the Yellow Gums,” Mr Thompson said.

“Many local businesses have been involved in the planning, design and creation of this space and we thank them for their support.

With what everyone has gone through the past two years, we can look forward to a variety of entertainment and events.”

The Jan Juc Live committee acknowledged the efforts of local Phil Avery who passed away

before the project’s completion.

“We want to acknowledge our friend and fellow visionary Phil Avery, who tragically passed just before works commenced, but will always be connected to this delightful space,” Mr Thompson said.

The stage structure was designed by Zen Architects, with creative input from Mark Trinham Art and Design, and Perry Mills & Associates Landscape Architects. Construction was delivered by R & B Kahle Building and Landscaping, with landscape works predominantly

by Turfcare & Hire Pty Ltd.

Support locals Cessnock City Council’s Economic Development team asked locals to name their favourite activity as part of their ongoing ‘Support Local’ social media campaign.

Coffee for arts sake.

Sport and coffee give arts boost Where do you see Ballarat cyclists after a stint in the saddle? Outside local cafes sipping coffees of course!

So, the City of Ballarat in Victoria commissioned four local artists to create a series of limited-edition coffee cups which were distributed throughout Ballarat and Buninyong hospitality venues during the 2022 Federation University Road National Championships.

The four artists were freelance illustrator Anthony Mitchell, contemporary artist Katie Chancellor, Ben Sanders, who specialises in visual word play illustrations and Bridget Corcoran - a mixed media artist who works in painting, collage, drawing and digital art.

Visitors and locals alike were encouraged to try and collect all four cups by buying small coffees at participating venues.

City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Amy Johnson said the project promotes Ballarat’s creative industries to a wide visiting audience during the Road National Championships.

“While we have all these visitors to Ballarat, why not pair cycling and coffee and add in our LGFOCUS.COM.AU

local creatives?” Cr Johnson said.

“What better way to showcase some of our best artists than by putting their works on something locals and visitors alike use every day – coffee cups.

“The City of Ballarat has been a major partner in the Road National Championships for the past 16 years and fantastic ideas like this really highlight this year’s AusCycling theme – “There’s more to the Road Nats than just us”.

“Ballarat has been positioning itself as the home of cycling in Australia and hosting the Road Nats is part of the City of Ballarat’s Events Strategy to attract world class athletes to this prestigious national cycling event.

“The championships broadcast schedule will showcase Ballarat to a massive global network through not only Australian TV channels but also an international broadcast partner in the Global Cycling Network.”

Re-cycling art.

Throughout December, residents could go in the draw to win a $500 gift card by posting in 25 words or less what their favourite activity is to do in the Greater Cessnock area. Whether it’s visiting an amazing attraction, restaurant, park, pool, playground, or sports field, Council wants to hear from you.

Residents could enter as many times as they like on Facebook and Instagram between 1 - 31 December 2021, with the randomly selected winner to be notified on 4 January 2022.

The ‘Support Local’ campaign is all about encouraging residents to support local business. With 10 competitions planned via social media over several months, a total of $5,000 in prizes will be given away, including gift cards, restaurant and accommodation vouchers, hampers and more.

Cessnock City’s General Manager, Lotta Jackson said the ‘Support Local’ campaign is designed to keep our local economy strong through the promotion of local business and tourism.

“Spending season was upon us and it’s important we encouraged our community to support local, buy local and visit local, especially following the hit we’ve taken as a result of COVID-19.

“We were looking forward to hearing from people throughout December and finding out what their favourite activities and destinations are in the Greater Cessnock area,” she added.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 27

NEWS

One of the towns worst affected by the most recent drought, resiliant Stanthorpe now has 150 reasons to celebrate.

Tin town to tourist mecca Southern Downs Regional Council is calling on their community to help celebrate Stanthorpe’s 150th (S150) anniversary this year. May 2022 officially marks Stanthorpe’s 150th birthday – its sesquicentennial – and a huge program of community and tourism events is being organised to celebrate the monumental occasion.

The Council has been busy inviting event organisers hosting commemorative events to register with Council so it can be promoted on the official S150 online events calendar.

Southern Downs Councillor and Chair of the S150 Committee, Cameron Gow said the festivities will be a kaleidoscope of events celebrating the origins of the town from the humble

establishment of tin mining to the vibrant tourism and agriculture powerhouse we see today.

The despite just coming out of fires and drought the town became one of the major tourist destinations for Queenslanders unable to leave the country or State during the past two years.

“The S150 will not only celebrate valuable industries like tourism and agriculture, but also

reflect on challenges such as drought, flood and bush fires that have shaped the community’s resilience over the past 150 years,” Cr Gow said.

“From the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival to community fun runs and school fetes, we encourage all event organisers to register with Council so that their event can be included in

the S150 promotions calendar.

“This significant milestone is a chance to reflect on our rich history of the past 150 years while coming together as a community to look forward to our next 150 years.”

The S150 logo, designed by Stanthorpe’s own Jennie Wardle, is also available for use to registered event organisers.

Working with community on homeless Shoalhaven City Council is pushing forward with their Homelessness Taskforce re-established in October this past year.

The Southern Coast NSW council is asking for expressions of interest from members of the community to join the Homelessness Taskforce.

The Committee are looking for local community members who are: Passionate about the issue of homelessness and/or have lived experience of homelessness whilst living in the Shoalhaven Local Government Area; Interested in being an advocate for people experiencing homelessness in the community; 28 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

Motivated to drive change through local government and would like to learn more about its role in the community; Available to attend quarterly meetings; Reachable by phone, email or postal address in order to be notified of meetings and updates.

Shoalhaven City Council Community Connections Manager, Michael Paine said “this is an excellent opportunity for local community members to become advocates for people experiencing homelessness.”

“It’s an important role for community members who are motivated to drive change through local government for those in our community that are ‘doing it tough’,” Michael said.

The Homelessness Taskforce was reestablished in October 2021 to: Provide Council with strategic advice on homelessness and related issues that can be dealt with at a Local Government level.

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· Work with Council to address issues, devel· ·

op options and assist with the identification of preferred solutions as part of Council’s decision-making process.

Advise on the development and application of a Homelessness Strategic Plan and provide comment on relevant council policies and strategies.

Advocate community views on homelessness issues.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

FOCUS ON RECREATION AND ARTS

Arts program recharge

Rouge marked the launch of the Portland Arts Centre program for 2022.

Arts bounces back “It’s time to put on make up … it’s time to dress up bright!”

After a long hiatus, it was time to raise the curtain of the Portland Arts Centre and launch the ARTSGLENELG program for 2022.

The PAC turned red on 11 December 2021, in preparation for Rouge the circus, cabaret performance immediately following the launch.

The 45-minute launch will featured actor and comedian, Damian Callinan, who, as MC,

led guests through the excellent variety of high quality and affordable performances and exhibitions programmed next year.

Guests were invited to arrive at 5.30pm for a complimentary drink on arrival in readiness for the 6pm start in the theatre of the Portland Arts Centre.

This free event officially launched the new season of the 2022 ARTSGLENELG program,

including live theatre and exhibitions.

Afterwards guests were invited to gather in the PAC foyer where nibbles and drinks will be available for purchase at a pop-up bar.

The interval was followed by an 8pm performance of Rouge - a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret, and tongue in cheek burlesque. Rouge is raunchy, raucous circus for grown-ups.

Classes spark creative kids More than 100 youngsters were abuzz early in January, creating cartoon characters and 3D sculptures during a series of cartoon drawing, animation and model making sessions.

The free classes were hosted by Inverell Shire Council and led by cartoonist Michael Wheeler of Toonworld Education, who travels Australia wide with cartoon and animation programs for young participants.

Participants were guided through a series of drawing activities to enhance their handeye coordination, develop motor skills and provide them with an opportunity to express themselves.

Starting the day with three consecutive cartoon drawing classes, Mr Wheeler’s advice to budding cartoonists was to toss out the eraser, avoid drawing ordinary stickmen and start exploring their limitless imagination to create their own unique heroes on paper.

The afternoon’s model-making and animation classes saw youngsters craft their own 3D character, with everything from an axolotl to hybrid critters with superpowers; while the animation class brought plasticine sculptures to life where those in attendance learned about filmography and learn how to create a stopmotion film.

Inverell Shire Council’s summer holiday Youth Opportunities program continued during January, with free yoga classes; paintball for 1824 year olds, an industrial robotics workshop for 14-24 year olds; and a screening of Space Jam: A New Legacy on 19 January in Ashford.

All events are supported by the New South Wales Government.

Asher Wiedemann learns new skills during the holidays.

Tilba Adams in action.

Budding artist Claude Hall.

LGFOCUS.COM.AU

New creations from young minds.

The City of Melbourne quadrupled its funding for the latest round of an arts grants program after receiving a staggering number of high-quality applications.

Seventy-eight arts projects are now underway, that have received a share of $300,000 under the Quick Response Arts Grants program.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the appetite for the program showed Melbourne’s art scene was still alive and thriving.

“There was a 2000 per cent increase in applications this grant round compared to before the pandemic, which shows our creatives are more excited than ever to deliver artistic works as we reignite the city,” the Lord Mayor said.

“With so many quality applicants, we have quadrupled our funding for this round, which will create employment opportunities for about 800 creative professionals.

“I can’t wait to see these thoughtful and ambitious works roll out across the municipality.”

Creative Melbourne portfolio lead Councillor Jamal Hakim said the quick response funding model was well regarded by artists and industry professionals.

“Musicians, playwrights, artists and peak organisations have told us that providing smaller grants for short-term projects helps creatives build confidence, skills, and their portfolio,” Cr Hakim said.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to boost our grant funding this round to support more artists to get back on their feet as Melbourne jolts back to life.

“Almost half of recipients have received a grant from us for the very first time - a real testament to the creative juices that are flowing as part of Melbourne’s arts and innovation resurgence.”

Youth music group, the Melbourne String Ensemble (MSE) has received a $4000 grant towards its project Exploring Cultural Connections to the Seasons.

MSE President Caitlin Williams said the project will see First Nations composers commissioned to write works that reflect the seasons we experience in Melbourne, and in each composer’s Country.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we see this as an opportunity to be courageous in resetting our cultural and educational goals through our music,” Ms Williams said.

“The works will feature emerging and established composers and musicians, using music to deepen our collective understanding of the many seasons where we live.

“MSE and alumni will present the works in concert at Melbourne Recital Centre in April, alongside Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – complementing the old with the new.“ Artist Joe Monteleone is receiving a $4000 grant to produce a set of 12 linoleum prints featuring an iconic Melbourne train station and city circle tram.

“I have had a dream to create a lino print artwork of Flinders Street Station for many years. As a Deafblind artist, it is a highly important meeting place for me – it is the anchor point where I meet other Deafblind people, my support workers, and friends and family.

“I really appreciate this grant from the City of Melbourne, which will cover the cost of materials so I can bring my vision to life. I look forward to exhibiting my piece in the city this year.”

To view the full list of recipients, visit the City of Melbourne website.

January 2022 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS 29

NEWS

Connect through empathy A new exhibition titled ‘Political Women’ is being showcased at Griffith Regional Art Gallery.

The exhibition, which started Saturday 8 January goes through to Sunday 13 February, features artists from Wagga Wagga, San Diego, Sydney, Los Angeles and Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Despite their geographic distance, they are all connected through political careers in order to bring more justice, empathy and care into the world.

Artist and co-curator Sarah McEwan from the Cad Factory said there were many ways someone could be political in their life.

“Whether it’s having a high-profile advocacy career; or working within education to encourage a love of learning and critical thinking or being an Elder supporting communities through cultural knowledge and protocols,” she said.

“This exhibition is sharing how a number of women from different backgrounds, living across different locations, navigate wanting to bring about change.

Griffith Regional Art Gallery Acting Manager Margaret Andreazza said they were delighted to host such an important exhibition.

“Political Women celebrates the impact women can have, and have had, on the political landscape,” said Mrs Andreazza.

“It’s great to have both local artists, and those from further afield represented here

at the Gallery.”

To support the exhibition, there will be a cross-cultural weaving workshop on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 February led by artist Aunty Gail Manderson and co-curator Julie Montgarrett called Waybali mawang marramali mayiny walan: Weaving together makes people strong.

Three artists will share weaving techniques, along with the joy and connection weaving brings.

Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Gail Manderson, commented that, “Many of us have come to recognise that our artworks and weaving are fundamental to cultural restoration and re-empowerment of all Aboriginal individuals.”

“We can use what knowledge remains to rebuild our identities, our families and communities to reclaim our culture and languages so that we are no longer victims of a system that wilfully set out to destroy us as a race,” she added.

At the conclusion of the Exhibition, on Saturday 12 February, there will be a closing event from 11am – 2pm, followed by an artist talk where many of the artists will share deeper insights into their artworks. This event is free to attend, and all are welcome. Partners and financial support has come from The Cad Factory, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture/Yapang, Create NSW, Western Riverina Arts, Regional Arts NSW, Regional Arts Australia.

Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Gail Manderson at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga with her artwork ‘Lockie, Fleur and the Emu’.

Picture: JAMES T FARLEY

Artwork captures Melbournes history Melbourne’s rich history has been captured in the latest public art commission from the City of Melbourne. The initiative is installing iconic and meaningful works around Carlton’s University Square – including a replica of the Corkman Hotel façade.

Tweed Regional Museum’s Shannon Rees and Kirsty Andrew check out the unique and unusual Goggomobils on display over the holiday period.

Goggomobils come to town G-O-G-G-O, it was a famous ad in the 80s but just what was a Goggomobil?

Visitors to the Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah having been finding out.

The Museum have had two special micro cars on display over the holidays; a Goggomobil Dart and a Goggomobil sedan.

These unique little vehicles belong to local collector, Howard Knox OAM, who has been restoring Goggomobils for more than 30 years.

The cars are regulars at the Cooly Rocks On festival and have been displayed across NSW and Queensland, including at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

“It is always a great experience putting these Goggomobil cars on display and driving them in parades,” Mr Knox said.

“However, the greatest joy I’ve had has been teaching my grandsons how to drive their Goggo around the yard. I had to wait until they were tall enough to reach the floor pedals.”

To coincide with the display, the Museum has also hosted car-related kids’ activities.

The Museum also extended its Fight for the Right exhibition through the holidays.

The exhibition includes the personal stories of locals involved in protests and campaigns, and their quest to stand up for what they believe is right.

Museum Curator Erika Taylor said: “Through historic objects, photographs and 30 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS January 2022

video, the exhibition provides visitors with an insight into how protests have shaped the Tweed Shire.

“From social justice campaigns of the 1960s, right through to current day issues, Fight for the Right reflects the passion shown by the community on a wide range of issues, including protection of the local environment.”

A special object on display is a pair of gloves owned by Tweed-born civil rights activist Faith Bandler, who campaigned for Aboriginal rights in the 1967 Australian referendum. The gloves are on loan from the National Museum of Australia.

The Museum has created a full program of children’s and young people’s workshops throughout the holidays using themes from the Fight for the Right exhibition.

There will be workshops on tie dying, macrame rainbows, DIY seed bombs, and more. Special ukulele workshops will teach kids how to play, with the workshop price including a ukulele to take home.

Public Programs and Audience Development Officer Shannon Rees was thrilled to be able offer a program of fun and engaging workshops for children and young people to enjoy.

“It’s great to be able to welcome families and the community back into the Museum for these workshops and all the Museum has to offer,” Ms Rees

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the work, titled Distant Things Appear Suddenly Near, has been developed by Irish artist Sean Lynch following long-term and intensive engagement with the site.

“Sean Lynch’s installation is literally like walking down Melbourne’s memory lane – his work is a stunning visual reminder of our city’s past,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Public art is key to Melbourne’s identity as Australia’s culture destination, stimulating domestic and international visitation to our city.

“The Corkman Hotel replica is a stark reminder of a recent loss to our city, just a short walk from where it once stood. I encourage everyone to visit the installation and learn a little about our history while enjoying our city’s latest artwork.”

Sean Lynch said his work speaks to the power of objects to revive memories and understandings of place.

“Distant Things Appear Suddenly Near places an emphasis on objects and understandings of spaces that have been marginalised in the continued growth of the contemporary city,” Mr Lynch said.

“These items now return to the public arena to speak again and contribute to the nature of the place we share and inhabit.”

Creative Melbourne portfolio lead Councillor Jamal Hakim said the artwork incorporates compelling elements of the city’s past.

“This artwork demonstrates that our his-

tory is not forgotten by making use of unique objects from our city’s collection,” Cr Hakim said.

“It includes elements of Hossein Valamanesh’s Faultline, a public artwork in storage since the mid-2000s, along with vintage lamp posts and bollards – transporting us back in time.”

“Sean Lynch has extensively researched the site and created an immersive experience – visitors can listen to an accompanying voiceover on their own devices as they explore the space.”

Mark Neilsen, Director of Set Square Productions, which constructed much of the artwork, said public art plays a vital role in building connected communities.

“It’s great to be a part of a City of Melbourne initiative that’s encouraging people back into the outdoors, by providing an opportunity to experience this thought-provoking artwork.”

Mr Neilsen said.

“Investing in public artwork stimulates the local economy and encourages companies like ours to seek collaborations with artists, councils and creative thinkers to reinvigorate urban spaces.”

The resources compiled throughout the artist’s research will be exhibited at City Gallery in 2022.

The artwork has been produced under Stage One of the University Square Master Plan and will be in place for a period of 18 months.

The new artwork.

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NEWS

Bike racks with difference Bike riders in Torquay in Victoria will have a front-row seat to pieces by renowned artist Jeff Raglus.

The Aireys Inlet local has designed and handcarved three bike stations, which are ready for use.

Located in Taylor Park and the corner of Cliff St-Bristol Rd, Jeff’s wooden sculptures – Stone Age Racks – sit alongside regular bike racks.

Surf Coast Shire Council Mayor Libby Stapleton said the pieces reveal the nature of Torquay’s surf culture and connection to indigenous flora.

“Jeff has done an incredible job of using his pop art to transform what is usually a standard community asset – a bike rack,” she said.

“We’re honoured to display public artworks of this calibre. We’re particularly excited that they are ready in time for the peak visitor period, and look forward to seeing people of various ages take in the pieces while they ride around the town centre.”

Jeff is a contemporary artist who divides his time between music and visual art projects. He was the creative force behind the Mambo surf brand’s iconic imagery. “(Council) wanted some bike racks but they wanted them to be quite artistic,” he said.

“They could even lean more on the artistic side than the bike rack functional side. They wanted something that reflected the nature of the area, and possibly surf culture.”

Created with locally sourced materials, such as cypress from Aireys Inlet, the bike stations’ wooden sculptures were carved by Jeff at his Aireys Inlet home – first by chainsaw and lastly by chisel. Metalwork was crafted by sculptural metal worker and foundry owner Derek Johns.

A component of Council’s Connecting Torquay Town Centre project, the stations are designed to encourage fun, family-centred opportunities for connecting, recreating, socialising and shopping around Torquay’s town centre.

The Council acknowledges Taylor Park’s land manager, Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, for assistance throughout the design process.

They also acknowledges the funding received from Regional Development Victoria.

To watch how the bike stations came together: www.youtube.com/SurfCoastShireCouncil.

New bikeracks with an artistic edge.

A month of art in Maitland Maitland Regional Art Gallery has started the new year in style, with Free Art January launching a bumper schedule for the whole community to enjoy.

The Gallery is in the midst of 23 days of art making workshops, fun activities for the whole family, engaging and educating talks from artists across the region, and a series of exhibitions across the Gallery spaces.

One of the most popular regular events, Free Art Sunday, remains throughout January and the Gallery is excited to see people of all ages let their creativity run wild.

The highlight of Free Art January is the famous Skywhales: Every heart sings project, which will take the community outside and up the road to Maitland Regional Sportsground for the inflation and flight of two magnificent, seven storey high hot air balloons by artist Patricia Piccinini.

Starting just before dawn and continuing through sunrise it was held on Saturday 15 January.

The community was invited to be at Maitland Regional Sportsground from 4.30am to witness the spectacle of Skywhale and Skywhalepapa as they came to life in the glow of the rising sun.

Gallery Director, Gerry Bobsien said ‘Free Art January is one of the flagship programs on the Gallery’s calendar supported through funding by our generous members and our education partner Cleverpatch. It’s a wonderful month of art, community and creative fun.

Whale are set to fly.

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Peter and Lyn Brady take part in the program.

Art is the focus for January. “‘We’re so excited to be working with the National Gallery of Australia to bring Skywhales to Maitland, and we can’t wait to see everyone out bright and early to see the wondrous creatures take flight,” he said.

“On top of the many free offerings we have at the Gallery throughout January, we’re thrilled to be hosting the 2021 Archibald Prize regional tour right here in Maitland.

“It’s the first time it’s been to the Hunter for almost ten years, and it’s a great tourism opportunity to bring visitors to the City and for our community to see all of the finalist portraits up close.”

The 2021 Archibald Prize is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition.

Generations set to meet in the past The popular and always intriguing Our Priceless Past exhibition will hit the road from next week to embark on a seven-month tour of the Gladstone region in Queensland, offering more people a chance to take a glimpse into times gone by.

The “Our Priceless Past” program, initiated in 1999 in conjunction with the Year of the Older Person, brings together two very different generations to celebrate the unique character of the Gladstone Region to help build material for the community’s social history collection.

It involves local students interviewing seniors aged 70 years or over who have lived in the area for 30 or more years.

In 2021, Our Priceless Past featured the stories of local seniors that were prepared and presented by Year 8 students of Toolooa State High School.

The exhibition launched at Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum (GRAGM) in October last year to coincide with Queensland Seniors Month.

Gladstone Region Acting Mayor Kahn Goodluck said Our Priceless Past will now hit the road, with its first stop at Gladstone City Library from 15 January until 28 February.

“From there it will travel to the Calliope Library during March and April, Gladstone Airport during May, a brief hiatus during June before heading to CQUniversity Gladstone Marina Campus during July until the end of August,” Councillor Goodluck said.

“This is the first time that Our Priceless

Neil and Inge McEachran tell their story.

Past has taken on the form of a touring exhibition which allows more of our residents to learn about what life was like in the past, told by school students of the present.

“Our Priceless Past plays a vital role in capturing our region’s heritage and helps shine a spotlight on some of our long-term residents.”

(CQUniversity Gladstone Marina Campus).

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