PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT - CR KAREN CHAPPEL, WALGA PRESIDENT Resilience in face of trials

New WALGA president Karen Chappel. As the nation looks on in shock at the impacts of widespread fl ooding across Queensland and New South Wales, I’m also refl ecting on my own recent experience with a natural disaster.

In April of last year, ex-tropical Cyclone Seroja tore through a 1,000 kilometre stretch of Western Australia’s mid-west region, devastating thousands of properties and impacting an area larger than Tasmania.

Although in the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia we consider ourselves to be fairly resilient, the sheer scale of this disaster has stretched the resources of Local Governments, and local communities continue to experience a range of emotional and physical challenges in their recovery efforts.

It is important to remember that after the event has passed, and even after the initial clean up phase is completed, a mammoth task stills remains in rebuilding homes and local facilities; and in reestablishing community connections.

The damage caused can still be seen throughout the district, with the delays in repairs being hampered by the lack of tradesman in this region and delays in insurance payouts.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimates over 9,000 claims have been lodged for damage from the cyclone, with the current estimated loss value in the region being around $350 million.

In our experience post Seroja, one major issue has been families being displaced whilst their homes are repaired.

At all levels of government, we have been working hard to prioritise support and make sure our residents can return to their homes and communities as soon as possible.

The State Government’s support throughout this recovery process has been vital for the region.

Without this assistance, it would be beyond the capability of an individual Local Government to address the major infrastructure repairs and coordination of services and support that is needed.

The State’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services appointed State designated Recovery Coordinators, employed community recovery officers, and set up four recovery hubs in the towns of Kalbarri, Northampton, Geraldton and Morawa.

Perhaps though, in the very early recovery days our greatest resource was our volunteers.

They worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone was safe, roads were clear and essentials were available.

We are now working together, locally and within the region, to continue to support our local residents.

Across all of WA, but particularly in our regions so affected by our own recent experience, our hearts go out to the communities in NSW and QLD as they move out of the massive cleanup effort into the long and arduous task of rebuilding and reconnecting.

I am confident that the existing strong sense of community in these towns will help them to provide each other with support that will only make them even stronger.

WALGA welcomes improved connections

Infrastructure upgrades to 141 mobile network sites across the Western Australia will improve mobile phone services for local communities during emergencies.

The infrastructure upgrades will be funded as part of the second round of the Commonwealth Mobile Network Hardening Program, worth $10.9 million.

Of the sites selected around Australia, a quarter are in WA.

WA Local Government Association President Cr Karen Chappel welcomed the funding, saying it will be of particular value in improving the ability of telecommunications services to continue during and following natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones.

“Local Governments have been advocating for improved telecommunications infrastructure for many years, as this forms a critical role in preparing for, and responding to, emergencies,” Cr Chappel said.

“Both mobile and nbn services are reliant upon ongoing power supply, which is often interrupted during emergency events.

“Better protection against the impacts of power outages to maintain mobile services before, during and after emergencies is critical for local communities.

“Because Local Governments play such an important role in emergency management, it will also help Councils to disseminate important information to their communities to help keep them safe and provide crucial support and services.”

Cr Chappel said WALGA, in discussion with its Members, State Government agencies, telecommunications carriers and power companies, helped to identify relevant criteria for consideration in assessing potential sites for investment, including hazard identification, population distribution and risk profile of local areas.

The Program forms part of the Commonwealth Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters initiative, with projects completed through a co-funding arrangement between the Commonwealth, telecommunications providers and the State Government.

They include provision of power generators, increased battery reserves, transmission resilience improvements and protective measures against impacts of bushfires.

“Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility, and this is reflected by the collaborative process followed to identify sites, and the joint funding between government and industry,” Cr Chappel said.

“We recognise there is still more to be done to improve mobile network resilience across the State, with these 141 sites representing less than 15 per cent of the network across WA.

“This is, however, a great start and we look forward to building on this collaborative approach in the future.”

To view a list of sites included in the Program, go to the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website: infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/ files/documents/stand-mnhp-stage-2-funded-projects.pdf

Association calls for raise in untied grants

No two councils in Victoria are the same. They all have their own unique budgets and face individual challenges after two years of Covid-19 pandemic, making fl exible funding the key to economic recovery.

With the next Federal Election just weeks away, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is calling for an increase in the untied Financial Assistance Grants.

MAV President Cr David Clark said that restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue would ensure every community can participate in, and benefit from, Australia’s economic recovery.

“Local Government Financial Assistance Grants are a vital component of the financial sustainability of many Victorian councils, especially smaller and rural councils,” Cr Clark said.

“The major benefit of these grants are that they’re untied. The provide councils with economic flexibility and money can be spent on specific community needs, including operations and maintenance” Cr Clark explained.

“This is a tough time for us all, no doubt about it, but it is also an opportunity for all levels of government, the community, and businesses to come together and support each other as we move towards recovery.”

Independent analysis shows increasing Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue would also create 16,000 jobs and add around $2.37 billion per year to Australia’s GDP.

Cr Clark said councils are also calling for an immediate and once-off $1.3 billion injection of Financial Assistance Grants to boost local economies.

Every council in the state is feeling financial pressure after two years of the pandemic. The costs associated with recovery, alongside increasing maintenance and services costs, and Victoria’s rate capping policy has left many councils with difficult decisions about their service delivery.”

“This once off injection of Financial Assistance Grants would create more than 13,000 jobs and add significantly to our GDP,” Cr Clark said.

Billion dollar treatment

A 10-year $1 billion partnership between the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and the Australian Government has been announced.

Federal Minister for Regional Health Dr David Gillespie and RFDS Chair Dr John O’Donnell announced the long-term partnership – aimed at delivering better health outcomes to Australians living beyond the reach of mainstream services.

With the support of Australians everywhere, the RFDS has delivered essential health services for more than 90 years and now comprises an extensive network of 23 bases, 79 aircraft and 165 road transport vehicles and mobile clinics supported by more than 2,000 staff members.

The Australian Government has more than eight decades of history supporting and partnering with the RFDS, going back to the 1930’s.

Dr Gillespie said to support that partnership, the government has committed additional funding of more than $80 million over the next ten years, taking support for the RFDS to $1 billion over ten years from 2022-2033.

“RFDS delivers essential health care in rural, regional and remote communities, right across the country,” he said.

“While emergency evacuations are what the RFDS is most well-known for, its role extends far beyond that to providing primary health care clinics, dental outreach and multidisciplinary mental health outreach services.”

“Our new formal agreement will give the RFDS certainty and allow it to offer flexible services that are responsive to local needs.”

RFDS Federation Executive Director, Frank Quinlan said it was an important partnership for group and for Australians living in rural areas.

“This is a landmark agreement. Australians living outside metropolitan centers experience poorer health outcomes across the board,” he said.

“This agreement will allow both the Australian Government and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to make a real difference to people who might otherwise miss out on services, and especially for Indigenous Australians.”

“Over the decades, everyday Australians have trusted and supported the RFDS to establish infrastructure, equipment, capacity and community links. This partnership sets that work on a strong foundation for the decade ahead, and provides certainty to our dedicated workforce and supports.”

The Federal Government has committed to a 10 year partnership with the RFDS.

Shared investment should ensure safety

The Queensland Government’s commitment to share the cost of the ongoing operation, maintenance and asset replacement of the state’s rain and river gauge network, if the Commonwealth invests to the upgrade the network, is a vital fi rst step in ensuring the safety of local communities.

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith thanked Deputy Premier Steven Miles for his commitment this week.

Ms Smith said the LGAQ had also been working with the Federal Government and the Federal Opposition to secure a commitment to ensure the upgrade can go ahead.

“With the nation’s most significant recorded flood damage, and the highest flood risk, it should be reassuring that Queensland has the largest flood warning infrastructure network in the country,” Ms Smith said.

“However, too many of the early flood warning network’s 3,000 gauges are not fitfor-purpose, with further gauges past their use-by date and no longer reliable.”

The LGAQ last year collaborated with the Bureau of Meteorology and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority on an extensive scoping study to improve the reliability of the flood warning system.

It identified and recommended options for the design, performance, maintenance, ownership, governance and funding for a fit-forpurpose Queensland flood warning network.

Ms Smith said the scoping study highlighted how far short of appropriate today’s network is.

“The current state of the network is alarming, and, on top of up much-needed upgrades, the scoping study proposed 89 extra river height stations and a further 364 rainfall stations where the risk of flooding is most acute,” Ms Smith said.

“Gaps in this network mean Queensland communities are not getting accurate, vital information as swiftly as they should.

“The network significantly relies on manual rain gauge measurement and recording and, as current weather events have demonstrated, people are unable to wade out into flood waters to manually take rain gauge readings to obtain critical information due to health and safety risks.

“This is the case across the state during extreme weather events.

“The network also requires a regular, manual maintenance program to ensure any damage caused to equipment during weather events is identified as early as possible and addressed.

“The Bureau of Meteorology is doing the best it can with the equipment it has to hand.

“Closing the gaps in this network will help protect property from rising flood waters and, above all, save lives.

“Every community in Queensland contributes to the national economy so every Queensland community deserves to be safe and liveable.

“Bringing the rain and river gauge network up to date, and securing its long-term operation and maintenance, is absolutely fundamental to that.”

The LGAQ included a request for the Federal Government to address the critical upgrades to the rain gauge network in a 50/50 split with the State Government, in its submission to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg ahead of the March 29 Federal Budget. Ms Smith said the Association has also called on Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Minister Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie to support the critical rain gauge upgrades, writing again to the Senator this month in the wake of the Queensland flooding disaster.

Flooding events are well and truly Queensland’s most prevalent natural disaster, accounting for 66 per cent of the Queensland total economic cost, with cyclones a distant second at 25 per cent, ahead of hail damage and storms.

Managing flying fox roosts in Queensland

The Palaszczuk government is offering Queensland councils a share of more than $200,000 to help manage fl ying fox roosts in Queensland communities.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon encouraged councils to apply for the latest round of the government’s $2 million Flying Fox Roost Management program, part of an overall record $1.4 billion budget to protect the environment and support local jobs.

Smaller local councils with under 50,000 people are encouraged to apply for funding from this round, with a reduction in council cocontributions for these projects.

“When we spoke to local councils and Queenslanders, they told us they wanted help to lessen the impacts of flying-foxes on their communities while also making sure these critters can continue to play their important ecological role – and we’ve delivered,” Minister Scanlon said.

It comes after six councils earlier this year received funding for their projects, including for Isaac Regional Council $28,000 to identify preferable habitat to reduce the likelihood of roosts and camps moving into urban backyards

“Plenty of communities have different or unique situations that they’re dealing with, and this funding can be used for both immediate and longer-term programs.

“Some councils have used funding to develop permanent flying-fox roosts in more suitable locations, while others have utilised funding to create buffer zones and remove weeds that attract flying foxes.

“Flying foxes do play a vital role in pollinating and spreading the seeds of our native plants, but when they congregate in large numbers at roosts, they can cause an issue with nearby communities due to the noise, smell and mess they generate.

To apply and for more information, head to: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/ local-government/grants/current-programs/ flying-fox-roost-management-in-queenslandprogram

Passionate about his community

Council Neil Pilling has tendered his resignation from Glen Eira City Council in order to focus on his health and his family.

Cr Pilling was elected to represent Rosstown Ward at the November 2020 Council elections. He also served on Council from 2008 to 2016, including two terms as Mayor — in 2014 and 2016.

In a statement issued on 1 April Glen Eira Mayor Cr Jim Magee praised his colleague for his passionate service.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cr Pilling for his dedicated service to the Glen Eira community and, in particular, to the residents of Rosstown Ward,” the Mayor said.

“Cr Pilling has been a valued colleague and passionate community advocate and I wish him only the best for the future.”

Councillor Pilling’s resignation creates an extraordinary vacancy in Rosstown Ward.

The Victorian Electoral Commission will now initiate a countback process. Further details will be published on Council’s website as soon as they are available.

Cr Neil Pilling.

Local Government IT conference 2022

DATE 1 – 3 June 2022 Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW

REGISTER NOW – EARLY BIRD AVAILABLE UNTIL 6PM ON 22 APRIL. SEND 2 OR MORE STAFF FROM THE SAME COUNCIL AND RECEIVE A DISCOUNT

The program will feature expert speakers from government, the private sector, online organisations, and the computer and communications industries.

Keynote Speakers

Steven Bradbury Future Crunch, Anders Sorman-Nilsson and Lisa McInnes-Smith arranged via Claxton Speakers Bureau www.lgit2022.coffslgconferences.com.au

Hosted by Coffs Harbour City Council

FREE REGISTRATION for the full conference will be offered to accepted presenters who are employed by a council.

Limited speaking spots available. Head to the call for papers tab on the website for abstract submission details

For further information please contact Michelle Aubert, Conference Manager, Countrywide Conference and Event Management

0408 791 492 michelle@ccem.com.au www.lgit2022.coffslgconferences.com.au For COVID 19 related details please check the website

12537756-SG11-22

Health and wellbeing

The City of Greater Bendigo is looking for a new Director Healthy Communities and Environments following the departure of incumbent Vicky Mason.

Ms Mason, who is hoping to travel and spend more time with family, joined the City in December 2016 and in that time has championed looking after the mental and physical health of residents and advancing gender equality in the community, led the development of the Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2021-2025. She has also taken on responsibility for the organisation’s renewed focus on the environment and, most significantly, led the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her key service delivery areas include Maternal and Child Health, Immunisation, Home Support, Early Learning Centres, Environmental Health, Emergency Management, Parking, Animal Management, Building Services and provision of recreation facilities such as swimming pools and sports grounds.

Her units are also responsible for community strengthening and inclusion, health promotion, community infrastructure planning, responding to climate change and protecting the environment.

City Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann wished Ms Mason well and thanked her for her great contribution to shaping Greater Bendigo.

“Vicky has been a valued member of the City’s Executive Management Team and her skills in strategic planning and public health have been great assets for our organisation,” Mr Niemann said.

“Two key projects Vicky has supported include the Healthy Heart of Victoria initiative, which has seen the City coordinate a program across the Loddon Campaspe region that included the 2019 Active Living Census and is delivering practical projects that help residents to be physically active and eat well, and Healthy Greater Bendigo which built partnerships and capacity to promote community health and wellbeing across Greater Bendigo.

“Vicky also accepted the large task of leading the Imagine Greater Bendigo project, which involved engaging with more than 1,000 residents to develop the Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2021-2025, the Healthy Greater Bendigo Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 20212025 and 10-year Financial Plan 2021-2031.

“I believe her legacy will be her commitment to gender equality, with the City recently finalising its Equality for Action: Gender Equality Action Plan and establishing the Greater Bendigo Coalition for Gender Equity.

“However, it will be her sustained and dedicated leadership to supporting our organisation and community through the COVID-19 pandemic that she can be most proud of. From the outset, Vicky’s experience in public health provided the City and the broader region with excellent knowledge and a practical approach to overcoming the many unknowns of a pandemic.

“We wish Vicky the very best as she takes a well-deserved rest before looking for new opportunities.”

Ms Mason said she thoroughly enjoyed her time at the City and would remain a champion of the organisation and its work.

“I am very proud of all we have been able to achieve at the City with the support of a fantastic team that has continually risen to whatever challenge was in front of us,” she said.

“I leave the role extremely fulfilled and grateful for the opportunity to have made a contribution to this community in areas I am passionate about.”

Ms Mason will finish on 1 July. The Director role will be advertised in the coming weeks and the position renamed Director Healthy Communities and Environments, to better reflect the increased responsibilities of the directorate including its new focus

Fraser Coast has new deputy mayor

Councillor Paul Truscott was elected as Deputy Mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council at its meeting, Wednesday, 23 March.

Council appoints the position annually.

Paul replaces Darren Everard as Deputy Mayor.

Fraser Coast Regional Council is headed up by Mayor George Seymour. Out-going deputy Darren Everard with new deputy mayor Paul Truscott and Mayor George Seymour.

Swan Hill performs

Swan Hill Rural City Council is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Venue and Performing Arts Manager, based out of the Swan Hill Town Hall Performing Arts Conference Centre.

Councils Acting CEO, Rosanne Kava, said Simon Myers has been appointed to the role andwill start on Monday, 4 April.

“We are extremely excited to have Simon coming on board, following a lengthy position vacancy.

“Simon will bring a wealth of experience, both as a producer and director along with his experience in leadership and management of a mutli-purpose theatre”, Ms Kava said.

Ms Kava said following the considerable disruption to the arts industry over the past two years, Council was looking forward to getting top quality events back at the Town Hall, complemented by Simon’s expertise.

“Simon is excited by opportunities in the region, with venue programming, the Fairfax Festival returning, as well as great shows in Robinvale and providing a better range of experiences for communities and hirers of performing arts venues,” Ms Kava added.