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Reece in
City of Melbourne councillor Nicholas Reece has been sworn in as the 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne just months out from the council elections in October.
Elected as a Councillor in 2016 and Deputy Lord Mayor in late 2020, the new Lord Mayor has helped drive the city’s post-pandemic boom.
The City of Melbourne has the fastest growing population rate of any Local Government Area in the nation, the lowest retail vacancy rate of any capital city, and is home to a pipeline of city-shaping infrastructure projects.
As deputy lead of the Finance portfolio, Cr Reece helped bring the Council back into surplus for the first time in five years. As lead of the Planning portfolio, he has overseen the approval of 20,000 new homes, new policies to improve the quality of architecture and design across the city, and higher sustainability standards for buildings.
“All my life I have sought to be actively engaged in public service to help others –and it is the honour of my life to serve the city that I love,” the new Lord Mayor said.
Continued page 5
Sustainability call
Local governments could boost Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to $7 billion per year and create more liveable communities if councils were sustainably funded by the Federal Government, a Parliamentary Committee was told earlier this month.
New research, due to be released by ALGA next week, shows a $1 billion annual investment in local government roads would increase Australia’s GDP by $3.5 billion per year, and an extra $350 million for parks and open space could increase GDP by $900 million per year.
ALGA President Cr Linda Scott said the group highlighted the research while appearing at a House of Representatives inquiry into local government sustainability, along with a number of key reforms to show how local communities could grow and thrive with more federal fund-
ing and better partnerships in the future.
“With extra responsibilities being forced on to Australia’s 537 councils every year, we highlighted a range of solutions to consider and address the financial challenges and funding shortfalls currently faced by local governments,” Cr Scott said.
“This inquiry presents a valuable opportunity to outline the value and services we are delivering in our communities and to highlight the much-needed funding reforms local gov-
Changing Places Restrooms
Leaders in specialised public restrooms for greater accessibility
ernment needs to be sustainable.”
As part of its comprehensive, evidencebased submission to the inquiry, ALGA made five key recommendations to the committee, with the number one priority being increasing untied Financial Assistance Grants for local government to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue. Cr Scott said the best way to support increased efficiency and productivity in Australia was increasing federal Financial Assistance Grants so councils get our “fair share” of national tax revenue.
“ALGA’s research shows over the past decade local government expenditure per capita has flatlined, while spending by other levels of governments has continued to rise,” Cr Scott said.
“We are committed to partnering with the Commonwealth, and state and territory governments, to facilitate more affordable housing, better prepare for natural disasters, and deliver on our national emissions targets, but we can’t do this without greater support.”
New Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece. (Supplied)
A voice to listen
The 30th annual National Assembly in Canberra earlier this month marked the first introduction of many from the Local Government community to the new Governor General Her Excellency Sam Moyston, AC. Though given her eloquent speech, she was already well acquainted with the sector and promised to be even more so.
“I want to visit as many communities as possible all around the country. I will be visible. I will listen when I visit and then take your messages back where I can to whoever I can,” she told the gathering.
Tania Phillips Editorial Coordinator
Driving Sydney’s future prosperity
Leaders in innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, global events, quantum technology, business and civic life will join the City of Sydney’s next CityTalks event: “I choose Sydney – what is driving Sydney’s future prosperity?”
The free symposium, to be held at Sydney Town Hall on 1 August, will shine a spotlight on Sydney’s current economic climate and assets, and articulate the path to a more inclusive and thriving city for all.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that attendees will hear about innovation-led enterprise, inspired by creativity and technology, and get an insight into the City of Sydney’s new economic development strategy 2025-2035.
“Australia’s economy is changing. We need to stop relying on digging things out of the ground and transition instead to sustainable and inclusive industries,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“We must create space and conditions in our cities to accommodate the jobs of the future, so that innovation thrives and the world’s best and brightest minds work here.
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“This is an opportunity to hear inspiring and innovative leaders discuss how we best move our economy forward and overcome the challenges of climate change, rising inequality and economic uncertainty that pose a threat to the ongoing prosperity and way of life in Sydney.”
Emergent Global CEO Holly Ransom, an international speaker and author of The Leading Edge, will host the event at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday 1 August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Speakers and members of the discussion panel include: Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO, Zareh Nalbandian: co-founder and CEO Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures, Fenella Kernebone: Head of Conference, SxSW, Professor Michael J Biercuk: CEO and founder Q-CTRL, Creel Price: CEO Investible, Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub, Emily McDaniel: Director of First Nations, Powerhouse Museum and curator, Yananurala, Jarin Baigent: CEO and founder, Jarin Street and Trading Blak, Dr
What’s On
Water Management Conference
23-25 July 2024
· LGNSW looks forward to hosting delegates from NSW and interstate, including councillors and council general managers, water utility managers, professionals, policy makers, researchers, and other key industry stakeholders, to learn about the latest technical innovations and share best practice in water governance and management.
At the Goulburn Recreation Area at 47-131 Braidwood Road, Goulburn. The complex occupies 45 hectares alongside the Mulwaree River.
WALGA Local Government Awards
2 August, 6pm-11pm
· Join WALGA as they celebrate the individuals and teams who exemplify the ethos of Local Government. From the dedication of long-serving elected members to individual brilliance from employees and the collective innovation of Local Government teams, the awards honour those who go above and beyond in serving their communities. Winthrop Hall, UWA 35 Striling Highway, Crawley.
LGA 2024 Roads and Works Conference
28-29 August
· This is the premier event of the year for council professionals dedicated to improving our roads. The LGA Roads and Works Conference is more than a gathering. It’s a time to come together and share passion, experience and knowledge. It’s a celebration of the tireless work to maintain our roads and keep them safe for our communities. Connect with industry experts, learn about the latest advancements and join
ity
Kate Reid: founder and director, LUNE Croissanterie and Eamon Waterford: CEO, Committee for Sydney.
“Sydney stands at a pivotal moment for economic growth, positioned to capitalise on its strengths across various sectors,” Mr Nalbandian said.
“We need to harness these strengths while embracing innovation and inclusivity, focusing on attracting and retaining talent.
“Our commitment to developing Australian talent and content will play a crucial role in
shaping a sustainable future that fosters creativity, opportunity and prosperity for all.”
Fenella Kernebone added: “I am looking forward to joining this discussion featuring some brilliant speakers across industries about the breadth of what Sydney has to offer – now and into the future”.
The event is the second CityTalk for 2024 – a series of discussions designed to inspire and inform by examining significant local, national and global issues. Tickets are free but must be reserved via whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
interactive workshops to supercharge your skills. Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, 145A Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf SA.
LGAT Annual Conference 2024
4-5 September
· The LGAT Annual Conference is taking place at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart, featuring a range of keynote speakers, workshops and much more. The theme for this year is Navigating a Shifting Landscape. As the main event for the local government sector, the Annual Conference is an opportunity to network with peers and learn from a range of speakers like Saul Eslake, Lisa Denny, Lara Giddings, Frank Barta, and more. Winners of the 2024 Awards for Excellence and the 2024 Service Awards will be announced.
MAV annual conference and dinner
Thursday 12 September 2024
· The annual MAV dinner and Conference will be held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. The MAV’s Annual Conference is renowned as a Victorian local government premier event and networking opportunity for Mayors, Councillors, CEO’s, Executives and Senior Officers.
NSW Local Government elections
14 September
· There are 128 local government councils in NSW. Each council represents a local government area. The NSW Electoral Commission will be conducting the elections for 126 councils on Saturday, 14 September 2024 for the election of Councillors. Some councils will also be holding mayoral elections, constitutional referendums and/or polls.
ALGA Local Government Convention 8-10 October
· The WALGA Local Government Convention brings together elected members, suppliers, Council officers and key stakeholders as part of a unique program of professional development, networking and business opportunities. Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Rd, Perth. LGAQ Annual Conference 21-23 October
This year’s LGAQ conference, which brings together people from councils across Queensland, will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Victorian Local Government elections
26 October
· The next local council elections will be held in October 2024 for every local council except Moira Shire Council. Moira Shire Council was dismissed by an Act of Parliament in March 2023. The next election for this council will be in October 2028.
Queensland State Election
26 October
· The 2024 Queensland state election is scheduled to be held on 26 October 2024 to elect all members to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.
National Local Roads, Transport And Infrastructure Congress 3-4 December
· Save the Date: The 2024 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress will be held at the Margaret River Heart in Margaret River, Western Australia from 3-4 December.
of Sydney’s next CityTalks event: “I choose Sydney – what is driving Sydney’s future prosperity?” will be held on 1 August.
Sixteen councils for trial
Sixteen NSW councils will trial technologies to speed up development assessment timeframes, as part of the NSW Government’s $5.6 million investment into introduce artificial intelligence into the planning system.
NSW Planning and Public Spaces minister Paul Scully said the successful councils applied for grants under the State’s Early Adopter Grant Program to trial technologies that will improve the quality and accuracy of information when a development application is lodged.
“Using technology to assist in the assessment of development applications is a critical way the government can support councils to speed up development assessment times to better address the housing crisis,” he said.
“Introducing AI into the planning system is about reducing the administrative workload of planners so that they can get on with their main job of planning. It also helps applicants as it reduces delays by making sure all the required information is provided without repeated requests. This will free up their time and help build more homes faster.
“There is no denying that after a decade of confusing planning reforms and a challenging macroeconomic environment, that approvals have slowed down. As a government we are examining every way we can to speed up our planning system and build homes for our young people, our families and our workers.”
Councils assess approximately 85 per cent
of all residential development applications and this process is often strained by administrative delays, duplications and mistakes, or sitespecific requirements that are not met prior to submitting a development application.
These are all issues that could be identified and resolved before a development application even arrives on a planner’s desk, leaving our skilled planners to approve homes more efficiently.
Improving the quality of the original applica-
tion reduces the number of requests for more information which saves significant time.
For example, of nearly 500 applications accepted into the Regional Housing Flying Squad Program in the past year additional information was required for around 30 per cent of development proposals with applicants taking, on average, an additional 42 days to respond with the information.
The combined saving of not having to request additional information on this relatively small group alone would be around 6300 days – or the equivalent of 17 years. If that is applied across the nearly 60,000 applications that are submitted in NSW each year, it means a saving of hundreds of thousands of days.
Local Government minister Ron Hoenig said “unless we support the delivery of more homes, we will continue to lock young people out of housing or lose them to other states”.
“Councils are responsible for determining approximately 85 per cent of all new dwellings in NSW and I know firsthand the amount of work they do to assess development applications,” he said.
“I believe that utilising AI will accelerate the planning process and will help councils to get
And the national winners are...
The achievements of councils from across Australia have been given national recognition at the 38th National Awards for Local Government.
On Friday 5 July Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP, presented winners with their awards at a ceremony at the Australian Council of Local Government gala dinner – a first in the awards’ history.
The National Awards for Local Government are an annual celebration of local government achievements in Australia. They highlight initiatives that are innovative, strengthen communities, and have outcomes that are replicable across the country.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said was blown away by this year’s winners.
“With the awards now in its 38th year, we continue to see how councils regularly go above and beyond, delivering new solutions and incredible achievements every year – and 2024 was no different,” she said.
“This year’s awards received 144 submissions from 74 councils which worked tirelessly to make a difference in their communities, so I congratulate all of them.”
Federal Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister Kristy McBain said Local Governments were an important to the everyday running of the country.
“Local governments deliver critical day-today services that all Australians rely on, and without their work, our nation stops,” she said.
“These National Awards for Local Government provide an opportunity to shine a light on the excellent work our councils are delivering.
“I’ve been blown away – yet again – by the range of innovative and resourceful projects councils have delivered this year for their local communities. They demonstrate excellence in service delivery and I’m thrilled to celebrate their achievements.”
Nominations fall under eleven categories including road saftey and regional growth to social cohesion and addressing violence against women and children.
One hundred and forty-four nominations were received for this year’s awards, demonstrating how councils continue to improve the standard of living for Australians in a range of sectors.
Around half of the entries were from councils located in regional or remote areas, with just over half being small and medium sized councils servicing populations of less than 70,000.
Nearly 12,000 votes were cast from councils and the public from right across the nation.
For further information on the National Awards for Local Government, including a full list of winners and honourable mentions, visit
www.infrastructure.gov.au/NALG.
The 2024 award winners are:
· Western Australia’s Shire of Chittering for its Mentoring, Training and Career Development Program, in the Women in Local Government category
· New South Wales’ Inner West Council for its CRC Rap Video, in the Waste Management category
· Queensland’s City of Gold Coast for its Active School Travel Program, in the Road Safety category
· Tasmania’s City of Launceston for its Connecting Communities – Launceston’s Public Wi-fi Network project, in the Regional Growth category
· New South Wales’ Armidale Regional Council for Girls in Civil Program, in the Career Starter category
· Western Australia’s City of Stirling for its Trackless Tram Trial, in the Productivity through Infrastructure category
· Victoria’s City of Greater Dandenong for its
Wominjeka project, in the Indigenous Recognition category
· Western Australia’s City of Gosnells for its Tackling Flood Prevention and Response through Smart Engineering Solutions at the City of Gosnells project, in the Disaster Readiness and Recovery category
· Victoria’s Wyndham City Council for its LIT
– A Light Experience to Build Audiences for New Arts Experiences in the West project, in the Creativity and Culture category
· Northern Territory’s Alice Springs Town Council for its Diwali Night Market, in the Cohesive Communities category
· Western Australia’s City of Greater Geraldton for its Active Bystander Training – Speaking out Against Disrespect project, in the Addressing Violence against Women and their Children category
An additional 13 councils were also awarded honourable mentions under these 11 categories, recognising the high quality of submissions this year.
on with delivering for their communities.”
Each Council grant recipient will be supported to trial their nominated new technology for a year.
The Early Adopter Grant Program recipients include:
· Bayside Council
· Blacktown City Council
· Burwood Council
· Cessnock City Council
· City of Canterbury Bankstown
· City of Newcastle (with co-applicants: Central Coast Council and Muswellbrook Shire Council)
· Cumberland City Council
· Eurobodalla Shire Council
· Hawkesbury City Council
· Inner West Council
· Lake Macquarie City Council
· Randwick City Council
· Wagga Wagga City Council
· Wingecarribee Shire Council
The grant funding forms part of the NSW Government’s wider AI in NSW Planning package.
Youth grants
The Cook Government is encouraging community organisations and local governments to get involved in Youth Week WA 2025 with applications for grant funding now open.
Grants between $1,500 and $3,000 are available to support activities and events during next year’s Youth Week WA from 10 to 17 April 2025.
Western Australia’s Local Government and Youth Minister Hannah Beazley said Youth Week was the largest annual celebration of young people aged 10 to 25.
“The Cook Government is proud to support initiatives that celebrate and recognise young people across Western Australia,” she said.
“We’re committed to building on the epic 2024 Youth Week celebrations and encouraging community organisations and local governments across the State to join us to make 2025 even better.
“These grants will support some great events and activities for young people.”
Grants up to $1,500 are available for eligible organisations and local governments to deliver a range of projects including festivals, events, workshops, seminars, presentations, award ceremonies and youth forums.
Grants up to $3,000 are also available for collaborative, community-wide events such as youth festivals with multiple organisations hosting a program of activities.
Youth Week WA offers opportunities for young people to express ideas, raise important issues and connect with peers in their local communities.
Thirty-six community organisations and local governments across WA received grant funding to support activities during Youth Week 2024 held earlier this year.
Applications for Youth Week WA Grants close at 2:30pm on Tuesday, August 6 2024.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chats with Kevin Bell of Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council at the National Council Awards in Canberra. (Supplied)
Paul Scully (File)
Delegation success
The role of local government in creating sustainable and smart cities was the focus of a visit by a delegation from the Philippines in Sydney late last month.
The delegation included 35 national executive board members from the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP), as well as representatives of the Centre for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG), University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG).
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Cr Darriea Turley AM hosted the delegates during their visit to the organisation’s headquarters in Sydney this week.
The tour aimed to provide professional development relevant to the Vice Mayors in their role, through exposure to international policies and processes in enabling smart city development.
LGNSW Chief Executive David Reynolds provided an overview of the organisation’s structure and local government’s relationships with its state and federal counterparts.
Director Advocacy Damian Thomas discussed how the organisation identifies key advocacy priorities, develops policies, and how it pursues them for the benefit of the state’s councils.
Special guest Dr Tom Gao, City of Sydney’s Chief Technology and Digital Services Officer, shared his council’s experiences with digital services program development, which relies on the application of technological foundations that enable smart cities.
The delegation’s week-long visit started with an introduction to the Australian local government system at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Centre for Local Government,
and a briefing from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Industry about the state government’s role in providing and enabling environment for smart cities.
The delegates also learned first-hand about smart-city initiatives from Blacktown City Council and Campbelltown City Council.
Cr Turley said the learning visit was an enjoyable and enriching experience for both the host councils and the Philippines delegation.
“It’s important that local government takes a real leadership role to ensure communities are not left behind in this era of rapid technological advancement,” Cr Turley said.
“The development of smart cities is an important area of study for local government organisations all over the world as we prepare ourselves and our communities for change.
“It was wonderful to share information about the NSW local government sector and discuss policymaking and program implementation for smart cities and services.
“Like our wonderful councils in NSW, our guests know the importance of hard-working advocates who can identify the needs of their communities and implement solutions considered, sustainable solutions,” Cr Turley said.
Victorian councils feel crunch
The head of the peak body for rural councils has told the Victorian Parliament that small councils are in danger of cutting services due to lack of fundings.
Chair of Rural Councils Victoria, Cr Mary-Ann Brown OAM made the statement during an address to the Parliament of Victoria’s public hearings for the Inquiry into Local Government funding and services.
“Small councils are at a point where we have to make some hard decisions, such as cutting services, closing facilities or cutting back on maintenance of essential public infrastructure,” she told the inquiry.
“The financial sustainability of local government is a pressing issue for RCV member councils.
“Over many years, local governments across the country have been facing a situation where their capacity to raise revenue is not matching the expectations and needs of their communities.
“RCV recently surveyed member councils
and none indicated that they were in an excellent financial sustainability position,” Cr Brown said.
“Over half the councils surveyed indicated that their financial position was average, while a further quarter said that their situation was poor.
“Councils cannot be expected to continue with adjusted underlying deficits without a deterioration in cash and/or infrastructure,” Cr Brown said.
“Councils only have two reliable sources of income, rates – which are capped – and grants, which have been declining in real terms for years.
“Small rural communities are resilient and self-reliant but rural councils are being hit from many directions all at once.
“In recent years there have been successive natural disasters, a cost-of-living crisis, community expectations have changed and the system for financing councils and council services has not kept up.
“Put simply, councils need more resources, and we need federal and state governments to help us keep up with inflation,” Cr Brown said.
RCV was among several organisations invited to speak at hearings on Wednesday 26 June.
The other organisations which addressed the hearing included Local Government Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Victorian Local Governance Association, Local Government Finance Professionals (FinPro) and Council Watch.
NT code changes questioned
The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) is calling on the Northern Territory Government and the Opposition to address the deficiencies in the current code of conduct legislation for local government elected members.
“Local Government is at the heart of every community across the Territory. Territorians rely on strong, trustworthy councils to deliver essential services and positive outcomes for their communities.”
“However, misconduct by council members is severely undermining this trust and eroding the integrity of local government,” said LGANT president, the Hon Kon Vatskalis.
Under the Local Government Act, it is the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government to manage and address misconduct by council members.
The current code of conduct legislation is inadequate and Government is taking too long to address misconduct by elected members, LGANT said. This means council members are not held accountable for their actions in a timely manner, which in turn undermines the trust of
the public in local government, LGANT added.
“We need the Government and the Opposition to commit to fixing this problem,” said Vatskalis.
LGANT is calling for specific actions from both the Government and the Opposition:
1. Commitment to Reform the Code of Conduct Legislation: It is imperative that bad behaviour among elected members is addressed swiftly and effectively, with consequences that are proportionate to the misconduct.
2. Funding for Governance Training: A commitment to fund comprehensive governance training for all elected council members is crucial. This training will build capacity, ensure better understanding and adherence to good governance practices, and help prevent misconduct.
MAV on stand-by
Victorian councils stand ready to support their current and future communities through the period of growth required to address the current housing crisis, according to the peak body.
The Municipal Association of Victoria president Cr David Clark said the group understands the need for aspirational targets and looks forward to working closely with the State Government to ensure we shape our cities and places to be more human-centered and connected to enable communities to thrive.
This requires joined-up thinking about housing, employment centres and clusters, transport, the environmental context, and importantly human connection.
The declaration comes after the Victorian government revealed the number of new homes it is proposing to see built in each local government area across the state to reach its ambitious target of two million new dwellings by 2051.
It follows the release of its housing statement in September last year, which aimed to increase housing stock to keep up with demands of the growing population while addressing affordability issues.
“The data tells us that Melbourne and Victoria’s population is going to grow and continue to grow significantly over the decades ahead,” Premier Jacinta Allan said recently.
“We need to take a long term view for that long term change that is coming to our city and state.”
After the announcement MAV said it looked forward to leading discussions with the local government sector to ensure aspirational housing targets align with international best-practice planning principles and are designed and delivered with councils and communities at the heart.
President Clark said the sector welcomed the opportunity to work with the State Government to further develop housing targets for all municipalities, to ensure all councils can share in the growth of the state to meet current and future community needs.
“We recognise housing targets are only meaningful if they are linked to specific areas of development. Sustainable growth requires the associated community infrastructure to make areas liveable and to have employment and services close by are part of the development process,” Cr Clark said.
“Across Victoria’s cities, suburbs, and regional towns a key focus must be on the quality and diversity of housing type.”
Cr Clark said councils had already acknowledged their role in addressing the housing crisis and have been working hard to facilitate solutions.
3. Increase resources for NTG Local Government Unit: Proper resources are required to enable the Local Government Unit to respond to misconduct complaints as quickly as possible.
“Better legislation, combined with robust governance training and required resources will help put a stop to poor behaviour from elected members and will help rebuild capacity and trust in local government,” Mr Vatskalis added.
LGANT believes that these measures are essential for the continued trust and effectiveness of local government in the Northern Territory. Territorians deserve councils that operate with integrity and accountability, and it is the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government to ensure this is achieved.
“Many councils are continuing to rezone land and lodge planning scheme amendments to allow the possibility of additional housing stock to be built. We seek to work with the Planning Minister to open up these pathways to providing new housing development opportunities,” Cr Clark explained.
“We will also seek to work with the development industry and the State Government to get the more than 100,000 dwellings that have already been approved by councils – but not yet begun construction – built.”
“Alongside these key partners, we’ll continue the task of stimulating development by discussing incentives to achieve these targets, reduce other market impediments, and standardise a robust, place-based, developer contribution system across the state to accelerate housing development.”
The Philippines delegation.
Vale, Neil Fisher
Queensland’s local government sector is mourning the passing of four-term Rockhampton Regional Councillor and former Deputy Mayor, Neil Fisher.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Chief Executive Officer Alison Smith said Cr Fisher served on the old Rockhampton City Council, before being elected to Rockhampton Regional Council in 2012, and leaves a significant legacy.
“Neil was an enthusiastic and admired councillor, whose commitment to the Rockhampton community and wider local government sector will be long remembered,” Ms Smith said. “The local government family has lost a passionate, popular and generous champion. His level-headed leadership of Council following the (then) Mayor’s sudden resignation in 2020 was typical of Neil – unfussed, exemplary and ever concerned for the welfare of others.
“Neil was a committed campaigner for his region’s economy, championing the upgrading of the Rockhampton Airport – which now welcomes some 650,000 passengers each year –and the resource and agricultural sectors.”
Ms Smith said Cr Fisher was also an energetic advocate for waste management reform through his leadership of the Local Authority Waste Management Action Committee (LAWMAC), a ground-breaking and successful partnership between regional Queensland councils and more than four dozen waste industry representatives.
“Neil received the 2022 Ross Overton (Rossko) Memorial Award for Excellence in Waste Management, a tremendous honour that showcases achievements and innovation in waste management, recycling and environmental awareness,” Ms Smith said. “Though he had battled several health challenges in recent years, Neil faced each obstacle placed in his path with remarkable good cheer and an indefatigable spirit. “We extend our sympathies and warmest good wishes to Neil’s wife Sherrie, their family and friends, as well his council colleagues.”
Four-term Rockhampton Regional Councillor and former Deputy Mayor, Neil Fisher mourned.
Mayor Sheahan stands down
Late last month, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) Mayor, Councillor Charlie Sheahan, informed CGRC staff and fellow councillors of his intention to resign as mayor and not seek re-election as a councillor in the forthcoming Council elections to be held in September.
Cr Sheahan cited his decision to resign effective from July 8, 2024, was as a result of the inaction by the Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig on deferring the Council elections for CGRC given the demerger proposal that is before the Local Government Boundaries Commission.
Minister Hoeing has referred the demerger proposal to the Boundaries Commission.
Cr Sheahan released a statement following his decision.
“Last Thursday 27 June I gave notice to all councillors and all staff that as of the 8 July 2024, I would be resigning as Mayor,” Cr Sheahan said.
“I will continue as a councillor up until the elections in September.
“I will not be seeking re-election.
“My decision came as a result of a late urgent business item before council at last Tuesday’s ordinary meeting.
“The business item was to engage the electoral commission to run the Local Government election for the 14 September, at a cost to the rate payer in the vicinity of $220,000.
“I along with councillors and staff were expecting the Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig to defer our election given that CGRC is in the process of demerging and that he had previously stated that he could do this if the process was delayed.
“I had pursued clarification on this right up until the meeting and had even requested the
“To go to an election now when our Council is once again before the Boundaries Commission and under review is not practical, not fair to the candidates or the incoming council and can be seen as an unnecessary waste of money if and when another election is needed for new councils.
“I have lost all trust in the Minister for Local Government, in regard to the demerger process, he has shown no real commitment or resolve to expedite a solution to the problem of his own making.
“The minister has shown no support or concern for our communities or our staff, who are facing extraordinary difficulties on a daily basis. Many staff have left the organisation, often in tears, losing their jobs, careers that they love and cherish, jeopardising their livelihoods.
“I personally don’t want to see anyone else suffering because of this situation.
“I stated in my speech in the chamber that I would not be a party to anything that would prolong the anxiety and suffering that I have witnessed throughout my entire two terms of this merger.
“I have had enough, agreeing to an election for the existing CGRC is only going to prolong the process and is playing into the Minister’s hand.
“I thank councillors Bowden, Boyd and Glover, for seeing this as I do and putting the communities’ interests first and foremost, and not supporting going to an election.”
Move to Bundy
Narrabri
Shire
General Manager Rob Williams is set to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer position at Bundaberg Regional Council.
In offering his resignation, Mr Williams extended his sincerest thanks to Council’s elected members for the opportunity to work at Narrabri Shire.
“It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the numerous and varied communities in this beautiful part of New South Wales and to work with an organisation of such outstanding skill and potential,” Mr Williams said.
“Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and generous to Viv and myself and we will treasure the memories that we have created during my tenure here.”
Mr Williams’ final day at Narrabri Shire Council will be Thursday, 15 August 2024.
Mayor Tiemens noted that the team surrounding the General Manager has flourished during Mr Williams’ tenure.
“I am very confident that our organisation and our management executive team will do all they can to steer the ship in the best direction possible alongside the elected team while we decide upon an interim replacement in the role,” he said. Mr Williams wished everyone involved with the organisation, together with the communities of Narrabri Shire, all the very best for the future.
“This is a location of huge beauty and potential and my short time here has only reinforced my knowledge of the wealth of opportunity that will be realised with some strategic focus, genuine collaboration, and hard work in times to come.”
Reece new Lord Mayor
From page 1
“Melbourne is the best and fairest city in the world. It is also the biggest and fastestgrowing capital city in Australia. I will be hitting the ground running to deliver the services and infrastructure our community needs and deserves.”
“I will be a hands-on Lord Mayor. I love fixing things, solving problems, making decisions and making things happen. I will work hard every single day to make life better for the people of Melbourne.”
“To the residents, businesses, ratepayers, workers, international students and visitors to Melbourne – I promise strong leadership, I will listen and act.”
“Melbourne has gone through some difficult times as the most locked down city in the world. While the city is bouncing back, I know there are people and businesses who are still doing it tough. I won’t shy away from the challenges – I will be a Lord Mayor for every Melburnian.”
“Melbourne’s best days are ahead, with more shovels in the ground than ever before through our city-shaping projects – like the redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market, the Greenline Project river front transformation and our life-changing Make Room initiative for the homeless.”
“I want to thank outgoing Lord Mayor Sally Capp for her extraordinary energy and drive –together with the Council group, she steered Melbourne through COVID lockdowns to emerge as a stronger and more resilient city.” City of Melbourne CEO Alison Leighton said the Lord Mayor had led a distinguished career in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors – primarily in Melbourne.
Premier for NSW, Chris Minns, to intervene and somehow persuade Minister Hoenig to defer the election in our case.
Cr Charlie Sheahan.
Dutton’s huge nuke play
The decision by Opposition leader Dutton to make a captain’s call on nuclear energy is astonishing for numerous reasons. Most of all it’s premature and lacks detailed analysis.
The energy industry worldwide is in a state of flux due to fast-moving technology shifts and uncertain energy prices. So for the federal Coalition to spruik six nuclear plants - and their location at this early stage - is a huge play.
Let’s strip away the politics, because neither side of politics has made a decent fist of energy policy.
The economic reality is that Australia has strong global competitiveness in solar, natural gas and coal. Any thinking person has deleted coal from the equation, while natural gas is borderline. And we have a decent track record in hydro energy and wind energy, and geothermal and biomass have potential in some local circumstances. The majority of energy expert opinion is therefore that the solution has to be a mix of solar (both roof-top and solar farms), natural gas (with a winding down over mediumterm), hydro and wind.
However we’re a long way from gaining community acceptance of the expert opinion, hence Dutton and others have every right to push their ideas.
Collaborative approach needed
The lack of a clear energy policy is arguably due not only to the inherent complexity of the industry (fast-moving technologies, international politics etc.), but the dominance of privately-owned energy companies over government agencies responsible for the public good.
To address the latter problem requires the acceptance by the federal and state governments that they have to collaborate, lead and shape our energy future along sound economic and environment principles. Our national interest is at stake here – the influence of foreign multinationals must be tempered.
To this end, the following suggestions are offered:
· Greater emphasis on public ownership of energy production and transmission. This is the norm overseas. Energy is inherently a public good, because of the equity, environmental safety, consumer protection and downstream
THE GOOD OIL
ROD BROWN
impact issues. Private sector involvement should be re-calibrated to public-private partnerships in specific fields.
· - Reserving significant supplies of natural gas for the local market, as is the case in Western Australia. Our governments must not fall for the multinationals’ scare tactics of taking their business elsewhere.
· Strengthening the policy development process between the feds and the states. More regular meetings between officials and ministers.
· Driving the development of industry precincts and hubs around the energy sources. In respect of solar, there are scores of places with new solar energy capability (viz. Barcaldine, Mildura, Narrandera). But the widening and deepening of this capability into manufacturing and resource processing won’t necessarily happen naturally. Industry programs and proactive people are needed to nudge things along. The same opportunity presents itself in places proximate to hydro energy sources (viz. Cooma, Borumba, Kununurra). And similarly, in places near wind farms (viz. Yarram, Warrnambool, Crookwell), there are real opportunities. The aim is surely to create industrial hotspots with economic and commercial synergies leveraging the energy advantage. This will also reduce the need for poles and wires.
· Allowing companies and consumers close to
the energy source to derive a price advantage. This is not a common practice, due to a combination of antiquated government policies and energy companies charging what the market will bear. Local stakeholders should surely get a 10-15 per cent discount on their electricity bills that reflect the lesser distribution costs. Distance-based energy tariffs would also make these locations more attractive to investors for all the right reasons.
A suite of initiatives like the above would rejuvenate regional communities with the potential to harness energy resources. But it takes leadership by local councils and stakeholders, otherwise these ideas will remain just that. A good example is Barcaldine (west of Rockhampton) where the eminent economist Ross Garnaut has been engaged to advance the concept of the Barcaldine Renewable Green Energy Zone.
Please drop me a line if any of this makes sense.
Back Roads
The ABC television series Back Roads is looking for towns (under 5,000 population) across rural and regional Australia to feature in its next series. The communities in question are those with fascinating stories, beautiful scenery and interesting characters from a variety of age groups and backgrounds. They’re also suggesting that a big annual event could be the catalyst for the program.
And I’m suggesting that Back Roads coverage of communities could be incorporated into tourism and investment attraction efforts by the states.
For example, Bemm River, the fishing village in east Gippsland, recently featured as having the lowest taxable incomes in Australia. The chief reasons are the closure of native forest logging in Victoria, and the SECV downsizing in the Latrobe Valley which has severely restricted tourism numbers. Sadly there has been minimal adjustment assistance to affected communities in region. But I digress. Bemm River’s
natural advantages will endure and its bream fishing, beautiful natural features and interesting locals should make for a great Back Roads program.
Another fascinating town is Wilcannia, in the far west of NSW. There I saw a blue pyramid in a front yard, and a green pyramid around the corner. The council CEO explained that it’s a hot place and the citizens are keen to use their Fosters and VB stubby empties to highlight their artistic flair.
Wilcannia has a fascinating history of indigenous culture, riverboats and a pub on every corner. Most of the latter are now boarded up, but there is a Golf Club. The building is in far better shape than the golf course, and the food and cold beer are very good.
If you have a town worthy of Back Roads treatment, please contact me. I can help draw out the pluses and refer you to the ABC folk. Freo
‘Escape’ in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph is a seriously good travel magazine. Last month (9 June) it featured an article by Stuart Gregor that despaired about the Perth CBD, but was absolutely positive about Fremantle. Big old Australian pubs, craft beers, gin distilleries, great seafood, hawker-style food outlets.
He concluded that ‘Freo is easily the best town in the West’ which is high praise indeed. It’s interesting to reflect on how Freo has transformed into a high-performing food and lifestyle cluster. It started out as an important trade port, then came a prison, a Naval Base, nearby businesses, America’s Cup fame, the Fremantle Dockers as well as innovation driven by competing business operators.
Might the City of Fremantle consider engaging a university student to analyse the success factors and interrelationships underpinning the development of this lifestyle cluster?
Rod Brown is a Canberra-based lobbyist specialising in industry/regional development. Email apdcockatoo@iprimus.com.au
Athletes set to head off to Paris Olympics
Athletes from across Australia are preparing to head to Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic games this month and next and their local communities have been getting behind them.
Two such are athletes are the swimmers and their coach who train at Blacktown Aquatic Centre who will compete in the Paralympic Games.
Tim Hodge and Chloe Osborn from ACU Blacktown Swim Club both qualified following the Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane in June.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting congratulated the trio and labelled them ‘Team Blacktown’.
“Tim, Chloe and Misha are inspiring people who have shown how dedication and hard work can lead to big things,” he said.
“I am sure everyone in Blacktown City will be cheering them on at the Paralympics.”
Tim, 23, was 2023 Blacktown City Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year. He was Young Citizen of the Year in 2012.
The Kings Langley resident will compete at his third Paralympics. He will swim in the men’s 400m freestyle S9 class, men’s 100m breaststroke SB8 class, men’s 100m backstroke S9 class, men’s 200m individual medley SM9 class, men’s 100m butterfly S9 class and the mixed 4x100m medley relay 34 points.
Chloe, 20, is making her Paralympics debut.
She has been in great form and in April won two gold medals in freestyle at the World Para Swimming European Open Championships.
The Rouse Hill resident will swim in the women’s 400m freestyle S7 class.
Club coach Misha Payne has been named among the coaching staff for the Australian
ues and community partnerships.
on 28 August
and
Dolphins team. Blacktown City Council has supported the club by ensuring junior and adult swimmers can practise to the best of their ability at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. Mayor Bunting was pleased Council had played a role in their success.
“Providing quality facilities gives people such as Tim, Chloe and Misha the opportunity to make the most of their ability and fulfill their dreams,” he said.
In June 2024 Blacktown City was named ‘Council of the Year’ at the Sport NSW Community Sports Awards for its top quality ven-
The Paralympics begins
2024
Olympics on July 26. The staff of LG Focus congratulate all the athletes competing and the communities who have supported them.
Tim Hodge, Mayor Brad Bunting, Misha Payne and Chloe Osborn. (Supplied)
Easing the housing pain
The peak body for Queensland councils has welcomed a critical piece of the puzzle to address housing supply challenges in local communities across the state.
Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith said that a new policy proposal from the Opposition for a $2 billion fund to deliver trunk infrastructure was not only important to address housing supply shortages but could also take the pressure directly off ratepayers.
“Queensland communities rely on councils to provide critical infrastructure like roads, parks and water and wastewater to keep pace with growth,” Ms Smith said.
“You don’t have new housing if you can’t unlock this critical trunk infrastructure to support development.”
Ms Smith said councils have been doing the heavy lifting to unlock residential lot approvals, with almost 100,000 sitting available across the state.
“Councils can facilitate land, but they can’t activate construction. A fund to deliver trunk infrastructure is something councils have been calling for; however, they also want the true cost of infrastructure to be met.”
New research conducted for the LGAQ and released in April this year revealed councils will have to cover a $2.2 billion funding gap without support from the State Government.
“Solutions identified in our latest research included investment of $500 million a year for the next four years to support catalytic trunk infrastructure to unlock housing supply, as committed to by the Opposition today,” Ms Smith said.
The LGAQ also identified other key solutions to provide certainty for councils now and into the future, such as improving the fairness of the cap placed by the State Government on how much councils can charge developers to help deliver trunk infrastructure like roads, water and wastewater infrastructure.
“The State Government’s cap on the dollar amount councils can recover from developersfor the trunk infrastructure that councils install - has been in place since 2011. It has not kept pace with rising costs, leaving councils to cover the bill,” Ms Smith said.
“We continue to seek a policy solution to lift this cap on councils.”
Ms Smith said the LGAQ’s Vote for Local 2024 State Election platform called for a commitment to reinforce the planning authority of local governments and local land use decisionmaking through a new planning partnership, which has been acknowledged today by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.
“Queensland councils will always welcome opportunities to partner with the State, where local decision-making is not only protected, but enshrined through a strong planning partnership,” Ms Smith said.
“Local communities deserve to have their say on planning the future of their communities and anything that reiterates this principle is always welcomed by our member councils.”
Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith. (Supplied)
Bird flu: ‘Time running out’
Australia is facing a potential wildlife wipeout that could be as deadly as the black summer bushfires and the country is currently under-prepared despite a new government preparation package, according to Invasive Species Council Advocacy Director Jack Gough.
“This deadly H5 strain of bird flu could be equivalent to the black summer bushfires in terms of the scale of deaths of our native animals,” he said.
His comments follow the Federal Government’s announcement of a $7 million preparation package.
“The announcement is an encouraging sign that the federal biosecurity agency is recognising the urgency and the current lack of preparedness for this deadly disease,” he said.
“But time is running out.
“The science tells us this virus is likely to arrive with the spring migration of shorebirds from the northern hemisphere in a few months’ time. When it does it could wipe out hundreds of thousands of native birds, tens of thousands of seals and other marine mammals and even lead to localised extinctions.”
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said Australia was now the last continent to remain free of the H5 strain.
“The strength of our national biosecurity system and Australia’s geographic isolation has kept us free from H5 HPAI, which is currently having a major impact across the globe,” Minister Watt said.
“But we cannot rest on our laurels.
“The arrival of migratory birds from areas where H5 HPAI is present – particularly as spring approaches – means we face a constant risk that is outside of our control.
“We can’t stop the natural migration patterns of wild birds that may be sick, but we can prepare ourselves if that does occur.
“That is why we are investing $6.9 million in enhanced capability to detect and respond to avian influenza in wildlife.”
He said the money included $2.2 million for the Wildlife Health Australia One Health Surveillance Initiative, $1.95 million to Animal Health Australia to support the national response capability for avian influenza in poultry, including investigating the potential of commercial avian influenza vaccines for use in Australia; $1.1 million to extend the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program for a further four years; $800,000 invested in communication with stakeholders, industry and the general public to strengthen awareness and
understanding of Australia’s biosecurity measures and preparedness; $580,000 to support early detection and response capability for H5 HPAI in wildlife; $200,000 invested in analysis to quantify the location, structure, biosecurity, routine husbandry practices, and movement patterns of Australia’s commercial poultry industries and $70,000 for work to better understand the link between the presence of H7 low pathogenicity avian influenza in Australian wild birds and the outbreaks of H7 HPAI in Australian poultry.
Minister Watt said the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry continued to undertake a national coordination and leadership role for H5 HPAI preparedness.
However while Gough welcomed the announcement as a starting point, the group believes more needs to be done.
“We understand that today’s announcement is not new money, but is a reprioritisation of some existing departmental resources to focus on this urgent threat,” he said.
“As a first step this is very welcome but clearly more funding and focus is needed in the months ahead to reflect the seriousness of the threat.
“We are particularly concerned at the lack of engagement from environment agencies around the country and are calling on Minister Plibersek to step up and make this issue a priority, given the scale of the threat to Australia’s wildlife.
“It was a huge disappointment that this issue wasn’t even on the agenda of the recent meeting of all state and territory environment Ministers.’
Invasive Species Council Principal Policy Analyst Dr Carol Booth said the virus had already proven deadly in other parts of the world.
“Since arriving in South America in late 2022, bird flu has killed more than 30,000 South American sea lions, 17,000 southern elephant seal pups and unknown numbers of porpoises, dolphins and otters, as well as at least 650,000 native birds,” she said.
“The mortality rate of elephant seal pups in Argentina’s Península Valdes reached 95 per cent in 2023 compared to only one per cent in 2022.
“If high pathogenicity bird flu turns up in Australia, the government-commissioned risk assessment predicts ‘catastrophic’ impacts on our native birds.
“Although much work has been done by Wildlife Health Australia to prepare resources for decision-makers and wildlife managers, with mitigation toolboxes outlining response options, an effective response needs much more.
“This should include urgently developing template local preparedness and response plans and dedicated coordinators in each state and territory.
“We also need a national taskforce to drive implementation and collaboration between governments and with key non-government response partners.
“Implementation has been patchy on the critical recommendation by Wildlife Health Australia to develop site-specific and population-specific risk mitigation plans
“The public should report any unusual bird deaths immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”
The key elements of preparedness that the Invasive Species Council are keen to see progress on are:
· Urgently develop and disseminate template local/species preparedness and response plans which can be adapted for local circumstances (e.g. urban, remote and island sites, wetland/seabird colonies, marine mammal colonies). Funding may need to be provided for implementation of this at a local level.
· Development of national plans for monitoring, communications, threatened species and other issues for which it makes sense to
take a national approach.
· Ensure H5N1 preparedness and response is a priority issue on the agenda for environment ministers and agriculture ministers to discuss ahead of the spring migration.
· Set agreed national milestones to meet in time for the spring migration, with national tracking and reporting on preparedness.
· Each state/territory government to appoint a dedicated bird flu coordinator for wildlife responses and allocate a preparedness budget. Where there is need, the federal government should provide funding to ensure this occurs.
· Establish a broader national taskforce with non-governmental input and greater participation of environment agencies.
· Scale up public communication, including working with non government partners to achieve this effectively.
· Undertake simulation exercises for the most difficult response scenarios.
· Address the difficult questions about effective responses such as carcass removal, measures to protect critically threatened species and when to prevent disturbance. What to look out for
· The public should report any unusual bird deaths immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
· Wildlife Health Australia have produced detailed advice for people who encounter sick or dead wild birds.
Look for:
· Small groups or clusters (five or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species.
· Individual or less than five sick or dead wild seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds or birds of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
Infected live birds may show a wide range of signs if they are sick, including:
· Lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
· Twisted necks or other unusual posture
· Inability to stand or fly
· Diarrhoea
· Difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
· Swelling around the head, neck and eyes
· Cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes.
Australia’s tax landscape has changed
According to UNSW tax expert, Associate Professor Dale Boccabella, for many Australians, these tax cuts translate into an increase in net wages, providing financial relief against the backdrop of ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The broader implications of these cuts extend beyond the immediate boost to takehome pay, prompting important questions about their long-term effects on the economy.
“Tax cut relief touches all taxpayers, providing them with more income to manage during this cost-of-living crisis,” the Associate Professor said. “The critical elements of the Stage Three tax cuts involve reducing tax rates for income brackets and adjusting the taxable income bands to which these rates apply. The average yearly income of Australians is said to be roughly ~$100,000. A person with a taxable income of $100,000 will be $2,180 better off because of the Stage Three tax cuts. This is about $42 per week.”
The cuts aim to provide tax relief, but what are the long-term benefits, and how will this impact consumer spending and the overall economic landscape? What impact do the tax cuts have on inflation and the broader economic landscape? The Stage Three tax cuts’ immediate effect is an increase in in-
come for many Australians. This additional income could lead to higher spending, savings, or both.
“Everyone likes getting more income,” says Dr Nalini Prasad, from the School of Economics, UNSW Business School.
Dr Prasad said that the impact on inflation and the cash rate largely depends on how taxpayers use their increased take-home pay.
“The increased average take-home pay is $42 per week. If individuals decide to spend most of the increase in their income from the tax cut, then this will be inflationary and put upward pressure on the cash rate. This option is concerning as the current period shows that the economy is struggling to produce as much goods as people demand,” she says.
Dr Prasad explained that, on the other hand, if most individuals decide to save money from tax cuts by increasing their mortgage repayments, “then the effect on inflation will be muted.”
If the economy experienced higher inflation due to increased spending from tax cut savings, Dr Prasad explained that she would expect small increases in economic growth.
“Given that businesses are struggling to keep up with current demand, most are already producing close to their capacity. High-
er inflation tends to lead to higher wages. This is of particular concern to the services sector since wages are a big part of the costs for these businesses,” she says.
Long-term tax benefits
The Stage Three tax cuts also offer several long-term benefits for taxpayers and the broader economy. Addressing bracket creep is a key advantage. Bracket creep occurs when inflation pushes people into higher tax brackets, causing them to pay more tax even though their real income hasn’t increased.
“The cuts help taxpayers by adjusting for inflation, so they aren’t unfairly pushed into higher tax brackets just because their nominal income has gone up,” says A/Prof. Boccabella.
While A/Prof. Boccabella explains that tax cuts can help alleviate symptoms of bracket creep, he says this isn’t an ideal or comprehensive solution to fixing the entire bracket creep issue. “A better approach would be to use an objective method like indexing to adjust tax brackets automatically,” he says.
The tax cuts also aim to maintain the tax system’s progressivity, ensuring that higher earners continue to pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes compared to lower earners.
“Compared to the Coalition’s Stage Three proposal, which had a 30 per cent rate between $45,000 and $200,000, the current system maintains progressivity, with higher earners paying a higher percentage of their income in taxes. A progressive tax system can be viewed as more effective for wealth redistribution and achieving social equity,” says A/Prof. Boccabella.
Long-term economic and tax outlook
Dr Prasad explains that while tax cuts can stimulate investment and growth in the longterm, their success depends on resolving current inflation issues and increasing the economy’s productive capacity.
“In the longer term, if the economy builds more productive capacity, then I’d expect more investment to occur from the tax cuts, but we need to resolve the inflationary problems in the short-term first,” says Dr Prasad.
“For the economy to benefit fully from these tax cuts, productive capacity needs to be increased. Otherwise, the immediate effect might be limited to higher inflation without significant gains in economic growth.”
From a tax perspective, A/Prof. Boccabella says the cuts invariably lead to reduced government revenue, which can affect the budget deficit or surplus.
Wildlife on Montague Island. (Supplied)
Renewable gases, like biomethane and renewable hydrogen, are being demonstrated and developed around the country and already being used successfully overseas, in places like Europe, UK and USA.
If we look at the big picture we can find big opportunities, more solutions and more ways to support the energy transition.
The maintenance of trust
A record number of local government leaders attended the historic 30th National General Assembly in Canberra from 2-4 July.
Around 1200 mayors, shire presidents and councillors from across Australia converged in the capital for the annual conference held at the National Convention Centre.
This year’s theme was Building Community Trust, which aims to explore the critical importance of trust in governments, between governments, its institutions and citizens, acknowledging trust as a fundamental building block of the nation’s democracy.
There was also a new addition to the 2024 program, with four concurrent listening sessions providing attendees with the opportunity to have their say about federal policies affecting local communities. These sessions were held directly after the Regional Forum before the NGA officially began on the Wednesday morning.
Once again the NGA led into the Australian Council of Local Government on Friday, with ALGA thrilled to once again be partnering with the Federal Government to host the ACLG event.
The event marked the first public address by the new Governor General Sam Mostyn AC, who was sworn in as Australia’s 28th Governor-General on 1 July.
“Linda, thank you very much for your somewhat extraordinarily full-of-foresight invitation to address this important event,” she told the gathering.
“I am so delighted that this is my first official public event since being sworn in as your 28th Governor-General on Monday.
“Given that the focus of my address in the Senate was care and kindness and respect, it seems so appropriate to start my term in the company of local government leaders.
“As your communities know, it is local government and local decision-making that make a significant difference in the lives of so many. Your theme for this year, ’Building community trust’, could not be more timely.
“So, firstly, from me on behalf of all Australians, thank you for all that you do. You epitomise so much of what I spoke about on Monday: passion, commitment, kindness and care, and deep engagement in your communities.
“In my swearing-in speech, I referred to the listening I have been doing since the Prime Minister announced my appointment, from those who have held this position over many years to people in the street all around the country.
“It was particularly important to spend time with my predecessor, General David Hurley. I want to acknowledge the very fine service of the Hurleys over the past five years and thank them both for their gracious welcoming of Simeon and me to Government House.
“One of the topics General Hurley discussed with me was our shared interest in ever-increasing natural disasters and the question of who bears the risk of those events.
“I know that the former Governor-General often visited many of your communities, particularly after significant events, and came back many times. We spoke about his eight visits to Lismore, in the wake of repeated floods.
ThecrowdfortheGovernor-General’saddress.
ThenewGovernor-Generalinaction.(Supplied)
Addressingthecrowd.
ALGApresidentLindaScottwithnewGovernorGeneralHerExcellencytheHonourableSam MostynAC. ALGApresidentLindaScott. Motionsbeingmade.
“So, it was also appropriate that my first official meeting as Governor-General was with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Lismore City Council, Steve Krieg and Jeri Hall. We met yesterday, where I committed to continue General Hurley’s practise and will visit Lismore and meet the community and listen carefully to their experiences, with a particular focus on recovery and mental health.
“Our meeting and discussion was a great example of how trust is built and reflects what I have heard across the country in recent months — that communities crave kindness and care and seek empathy from those with power over the decisions affecting them. They deserve respect and engagement.
“I also heard repeatedly that Australians desire unity and optimism. We must be realistic and remain vigilant about contemporary challenges that place strains on confidence and optimism across our communities. That is why your theme is so vital.”
Seally good
Ararat Rural City Council has carried out new road sealing technology trials using a circular road solution to improve road efficiency within the community.
The innovative method utilises recycled tyre rubber as both a modifier for bitumen binder and a substitute for traditional aggregates. It marks a significant advance in sustainable road construction practices and has the potential to increase the number of waste tyres being used on our rural road network by 10 times.
The Council’s recent adoption of a Graded Aggregate Seal (GAS) has already demonstrated notable benefits, including improved road durability, reduced maintenance needs, and elimination of dust emissions for local landowners.
In collaboration with Inroads, a specialised bituminous pavement firm based in Wimmera, Ararat has implemented this novel approach on a 500-metre stretch of Garden Gully Road.
Unlike previous methods, which mainly used crumbed rubber as a bitumen enhancer, this new technique blends waste tyre chips directly with quarry aggregates to form the road surface. Specifically, the treatment replaces 10 per cent of conventional bitumen with crumbed rubber and substitutes 25 per cent of the aggregate with 14mm rubber chips. This application has effectively utilised 12 tonnes of rubber crumb and chips, diverting 2000 tyres from landfill.
The tyre chips, sourced from a Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) accredited recycler in Victoria, underwent rigorous testing to ensure compatibility with hot bitumen and durability under wheel track conditions. Initial tests confirmed excellent bitumen adhesion and wear resistance, when combined with virgin aggregate from Western Quarries in Ararat.
Prior to application, the rubber chips were
From tyres to road surfaces.
blended with precoated aggregate at the quarry’s onsite laboratory to maintain consistency.
Looking ahead, Inroads has applied for funding from TSA to extend this sustainable road treatment to an additional 2km of gravel roads in 2024. This expansion will facilitate ongoing monitoring and testing, with the aim of promoting wider adoption across municipalities in Western Victoria.
“Council’s new road seal trials epitomise the efficiency and community benefit we aim for with all infrastructure improvements,” said Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison.
“It promotes environmental stewardship by repurposing waste resources tenfold, and underscores our commitment to sustainable development.”
Call for transport
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery has called on the Queensland State Government to fund more public transport across the city.
The Hills District was named one of the worst for public transport in the Climate Council report recently, Next Stop Suburbia: Making Shared Transport Work for Everyone in Aussie Cities.
“We know public transport in our City has not kept pace with demand, so it is refreshing to see this called out,” Mayor Flannery said. “The Climate Council identifies our Hills District as having the worst availability of frequent public transport and a suburb that deserves immediate attention. I’d welcome a serious look at the rest of City of Moreton Bay, where we know that only three per cent of resident’s trips are made by rail and an even worse, two per cent by bus. This is unsustainable with congestion choking roads and the City of Moreton already supporting rapid population growth on top of the State’s demands in their Shaping SEQ 2023 Regional Plan. It is therefore concerning to us that the State’s current plans are devoid of any meaningful public transport planning.
“On the back of the 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard also released this month that identifies Brisbane’s traffic congestion as the 12th worst in the world out of more than 900 cities across 37 countries, we are calling on the State to plan ahead to ensure City of Moreton Bay does not go the same way.
“Provision of bus services and infrastructure to support a rapid bus transport system would connect key growth corridors with major employment, shopping centre and transport hubs including train stations to help connectivity.
“As the operator of public transport in Moreton Bay the State needs to factor this into planning for new roads - it’s just a non-negotiable - especially those roads connecting our growth areas such as Waraba. While Brisbane has State funding for the Brisbane Metro and bus network, and the Gold Coast has the light rail, City of Moreton Bay has received nothing for commuter transport to alleviate car use and ensure better connectivity between our city hubs.
“We commissioned a report to look at State investment in Moreton Bay and on a per capita basis, Moreton Bay is consistently one of the lowest funded South East Queensland councils. We’ve been told the demand is not there for our public transport, but that was measured years ago and with limited services, why would people bother. We need to create that demand with reliable public transport services in the first place, especially in the lead up to the Olympics 2032. Council is working hard to ensure active transport planning is prioritised for new growth areas, and improved where possible, but the State Government via Translink also have a role to play and they need to give us a chance.
Mayor Flannery said the City was ready for a possible influx of commuters parking at train stations with the introduction of the 50-cent fare trial in August.
“We appreciate this cost-of-living support for local families, that will cut regular travel costs on average from Petrie to the City by more than $8 each way and will no doubt increase patronage, with over 52,000 of our residents travelling into Brisbane to work each day by car.
Alice Springs feted
Alice Springs Town Council has been recognised as a national leader in championing diversity and multiculturalism, being awarded the 2024 Cohesive Communities Award at the National Awards for Local Government earlier this month.
The prestigious award, presented on Thursday 4 July, highlights local government initiatives that foster inclusion and celebrate cultural diversity with ASTC recognised for the 2023 Diwali Night Market.
The Diwali Night Market was held with support from SBS on Demand and saw more than 2,000 residents descend on the Todd Mall for a night full of culture and fun, with traditional Punjab, Malayalee and Indian dance and music performances, international cuisine and craft exhibits. ASTC CEO Andrew Wilsmore said the award was great recognition of Council’s dedication to making everyone feel welcome in the community.
“We are thrilled to receive the 2024 Cohesive Communities Award, it’s a wonder-
ful acknowledgement for the hard work our team members put in to benefit the community,” Mr Wilsmore said.
“The Council team is dedicated to working together and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and included.
“Putting these events on takes a lot of hard work and collaboration but it’s absolutely worth it to see the smiles on peoples’ faces.
“The Council team deserves a lot of credit for the work they have put in and I also want to thank all community members that voted for Council through this process. Most importantly everyone that came out to the Diwali Night Markets to help make it an incredible event.”
‘‘Residents should rest assured Council has plans in place for parking at rail stations when this initiative is introduced and will be monitoring the impact. Public transport is key to our polycentric city vision as we increase local employment opportunities and shorten resident’s journey to work.
the grey zone Want to improve council outcomes & mandatory component of Councillor training.”
“I regularly refer to the concepts, tips & resources from the Professional Ethics course.”
www.democracymatters.com.au Contact: sandy@democracymatters.com.au
Federal Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain, PM Anthony Albanese and Mayor Paterson.
Moreton Bay congestion. (Supplied)
Saying YES
Young people in the City of Gosnells will soon have an exciting new space to hang out and have fun, with site works now under way for a new Youth Entertainment Space (YES) at Sutherlands Park.
City Councillors and Member for Southern River Terry Healy turned the sod on the $6.5 million project this month, with completion anticipated by mid-2025.
Mayor Terresa Lynes said the whole entertainment space would be covered by a shelter, which would make the space more comfortable and enjoyable year-round.
“The design for YES was developed in consultation with local young people and it will offer a range of things to do and appeal to young people with many different interests,” she said.
“The City of Gosnells is a rapidly-growing community, home to an increasing number of young people who are seeking welcoming places to spend time, exercise and make quality connections with other people.”
Once complete, YES will include:
· A split-level skating plaza with rails and banks
· A shallow skate bowl perfect for all skill levels
· A sealed pump track for BMX and mountain bikes or scooters
· An urban play area incorporating a social hangout zone with social swings and platformed seating
· A rebound wall and multi-purpose area to play games such as futsal and basketball
· Coloured and sports-level LED lighting.
The Mayor said the city would contribute $4.5 million to the project, with the State Government contributing $2 million.
She said YES was an important part of an overall Master Plan to transform Sutherlands Park into a one-stop shop for recreation and sports for City of Gosnells residents.
Council vision complete for cafe
A former surf lifesaving club has become a major coastal dining area under the watchful eye of the City of Marion Council.
The Council upgraded the building into a commercial business and issued the initial lease for the cafe in December 2007 which has now become the Boatshed Cafe.
It has delivered a new dining area on the upper level which will be home to the new Sugarloaf Restaurant and Bar, providing an elegant Coastal dining experience. The deck area has a small undercover sheltered space and a large open area, connecting to two inside areas offering dining or functions.
All these areas showcase some of the best views of Adelaide’s southern coastline. It also includes the installation of a new lift and stairs to improve accessibility to the upper level.
The lift will be operational in the coming months. The life of the building will also be extended through the enhancement of external cladding to coastal environment-
friendly materials.
The Boatshed has something for everyone, whether it’s a quick catch up with friends for a coffee, a Sunday lunch on the deck, some seafood takeaway with family out on the grass or a unique dining experience at the new restaurant.
“The Boatshed Cafe is a popular spot among locals and also visitors to Hallett Cove,” Mayor of Marion Kris Hanna said.
“These upgrades will provide some of best views of Adelaide’s southern coast on offer.”
Owner of the Boatshed Haidee Farrugia said the cafe was a hidden gem.
“It’s just such a nice vibe upstairs - we are so excited that this project is complete,” she said. “We’re really looking forward to the future and the chance to showcase some of our local produce at the restaurant.”
Roleystone gem shines once more
The City of Armadale proudly financed the full rebuild of the iconic Roleystone Theatre, nestled among the hills of Roleystone,in Perth, Western Australia.
The Roleystone Theatre holds a rich history, dating back to 1922 when the local community constructed a weather board hall. In 1975, it was developed and exclusively became a theatre. By 2018 the theatre was in dire need of a rebuild.
The building was totally dismantled, with key elements stored to be reinstated as part of the rebuild process.
The new building is 616m2, with a stage area of 90.8m2, and has 111 auditorium seats. During the process, asbestos was discovered, adding to the many challenges faced by the construction team, most notably including the Covid 19 pandemic. Working through those challenges, the team persevered.
The theatre rebuild was solely funded by the City of Armadale, and is now a state-ofthe-art theatre, fully accessible, with a sunken orchestra pit, auto retractable tiered seating and flexible auditorium space.
The original theatre floorboards have been repurposed in the foyer, still evidencing paint markings and wear and tear from the original stage floor dating back to 1922.
Of the same vintage, the original external timber weatherboards were recycled and used in a feature wall cladding element in the front entry foyer.
The original timber wall panelling with new timber panelling were integrated to clad the lower half of the auditorium wall. All of these original features are easily identifiable to visitors, along with the original ‘Roleystone Theatre’ sign which greets patrons at the entrance.
the Arts, Hon David Templemen MLA.
Soon playtime again
Repairs and upgrades to a much-loved playground in Pennant Hills have begun, six months after falling victim to vandalism late last year.
Wollundry Park Playground – a thriving playground loved by many Hornsby Shire residents who enjoy the shade cover from trees and the locality to cafes and the local library – was vandalised in December 2023, resulting in unrepairable damage.
In light of the importance of this park to the Pennant Hills community, Council staff brought the upgrade forward and invited residents to submit their vote for a new design. An incredible 500 votes were received during the consultation period.
In response to the community feedback, adjustments were made to create the final design, ensuring the playground meets the diverse needs and preferences of local families.
The upgraded playground will feature a nursery rhyme theme of bright, colourful equipment, complemented by a natural colour palate for the taller structures, creating a harmonious blend with the surrounding bush environment.
Key features include a tall play tower and monkey bars, which will expand play opportunities for older kids – a much-requested addition by the community.
Visiting the construction site last Thursday, Hornsby Shire Mayor the Hon Philip Ruddock AO said the eagerly anticipated upgrade of the playground has been a community-driven effort.
“I’m incredibly proud of the community’s involvement in bringing the new Wollundry Park Playground to life and similarly of the work of our staff to deliver this important repair and upgrade so swiftly.
“This is what local government is about: listening to the needs of our community and delivering the services and assets that improve our residents’ lives. The new Wollundry Park Playground will serve as a symbol for that and of the strength and resilience of Hornsby Shire,” said Mayor Ruddock.
The new-look park is under construction.
From surf club to coastal cafe destination.
The theatre was officially on Friday 19 April, with a Hollywood themed gala, MC’ed by Minister for
The restored “Roley” theatre.
Inside the theatre.
City of Gosnells Councillors and Member for Southern River Terry Healy turn the sod to celebrate the start of work to build a new Youth Entertainment Space at Sutherlands Park. Pictured (left –right): Councillors Kylie Dalton, Aaron Adams, Saiful Islam, David Goode, Deputy Mayor Adam Hort, Member for Southern River Terry Healy, Councillors Serena Williamson and Diane Lloyd.
Community spirit
The Penrith community came together on Friday 21 June for a night filled with community spirit, spectacular entertainment, and heartwarming true stories raising $67,000 for the Penrith Community Kitchen at the Mayoral Charity Fundraiser.
Well-known Australian actor, author, television, and radio personality Andrew Daddo emceed the night as guests were wowed by the circus performances by PAWS Studio, amazed by speed painter Brad Blaze and danced along to groovy tunes by Dj Alejandro and saxophonist Orget Sadiku. Along with the silent auction and raffle prizes, the donations to the Penrith Community Kitchen kept on coming throughout the evening.
With more than 270 attendees enjoying the sold-out event for a very worthy cause, Penrith Mayor Todd Carney is extremely proud of how our City comes together to help and support one another when times get tough.
“I was absolutely blown away by the heartfelt generosity of the Penrith community and its supporters, as every dollar collected on the night went towards keeping the Kitchen’s doors open to those in need,” Cr Carney said.
“I want to personally thank each and every person, business and sponsor who has advocated and championed for the significance of this event and have chosen to support the Penrith Community Kitchen by attending the Mayoral Charity Fundraiser.
“Your contribution has helped this critical local service to continue to operate by support-
ing the community’s most vulnerable, whether it be families, individuals, the lonely or school students, I want to thank you for your generosity.”
Jeremy Bentvelzen, Penrith Community Kitchen’s President said he was grateful for the overwhelming support and generosity of the community’s contributions to the charity.
“On behalf of the Penrith Community Kitchen’s Committee, our dedicated Coordinator Cathy Craig, and our invaluable volunteers, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Penrith City Council for their unwavering support and
amazing contributions,” Mr Bentvelzen said.
“With this ongoing support, we can continue to offer a comforting meal and vital social connection to those facing hardship in our community. It also sustains our Food for Kids school program currently in 11 local schools.”
The reality is that of Australians are currently experiencing financial hardship and/or food insecurity. The Penrith Community Kitchen is a welcoming space to all and are open Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 11:30am1:30pm for a meal.
Good Korea move for mayor
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan is set to visit Changwon, South Korea, in a significant step to advance agreements under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and explore future business opportunities.
This visit aims to build relationships in South Korean to encourage investment in Geelong and strengthen existing ties with key industries in Changwon City including manufacturing and technology.
This is Mayor Sullivan’s first trip to Changwon. He will travel independently to South Korea where he will be welcomed by the Mayor of Changwon City Huh Sungmoo, who has visited Geelong multiple times.
Located on South Korea’s southeast coast, Changwon City is an industrial and manufacturing hub that is home to global manufacturers including Hanwha Corporation, South Korea’s seventh-largest business group.
Hanwha Corporation is building a $170 million facility at Avalon, where it will construct vehicles for the Australian Defence Force, an investment creating opportunities for local Geelong businesses.
Meetings in South Korea will be centred around deepening partnerships with Changwon National University established
through a MOU with Deakin University, exploring South Korea’s leadership in hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and drawing insights from Changwon’s successful urban planning strategies, particularly in medium density housing and industrial clustering.
The City of Greater Geelong signed a MOU with Changwon City on 31 March, 2022, formalising an agreement to collaborate on trade, education, and cultural exchanges to promote investment and employment opportunities for both cities.
As a UNESCO City of Design with a strong history of manufacturing and Clever and Creative goals, the MOU is an opportunity to attract further investment and cement Greater Geelong as an innovative international manufacturing hub.
Mayor Sullivan said the trip will be an opportunity to increase Greater Geelong’s global visibility as a place to invest, do business, visit and study.
“The aim is to attract more South Korean investment to our city by making connec-
Health program feted
A City of Cockburn men’s health program has won a WA Men’s Wellbeing Award.
Kicking Goals For Life (KGFL) is a joint winner in the Community Support category of the inaugural WA Men’s Wellbeing Award announced on 13 June in the lead-up to the WA Men’s Wellbeing Conference 2024.
KGFL is a social soccer program that helps men aged 18plus lose weight, get fit and healthy, and stay connected with their mates. More than 280 participants have lost approximately 360kg across seven seasons of social soccer games as part of the Cockburn program.
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the City was thrilled to be a joint winner in the inaugural awards during International Men’s Health Week.
“Our City provides a huge range of health promotion activities for all sections of our di-
verse community and it’s heartening to see how popular and successful this program has been over several seasons,” Mayor Howlett said. “We all deserve to feel enabled to live our best and healthiest lives, and I’m proud to say, the City’s small but mighty health promotion team is another hardworking part of our Council that strives to collaborate with our community to provide the services it wants and needs.
“Kicking Goals For Life is one of many healthy lifestyle programs offered by the City specifically to men. The focus is on prevention and intervention that fosters belonging, connection, and pride in leading a healthy lifestyle.”
The City was joint winner with Len Yarran of Wadjak Northside based in Balga, who runs a program for First Nations men transitioning from prison back into the community.
tions and strongly promoting Geelong’s advantages,” he said.
“There is potential to generate significant investment directly into our local economy, supporting local businesses and increasing local job opportunities for our community.
“With an international airport, major port, leading research university and our world standard advanced manufacturing sector, we have a lot to offer that other cities don’t.
“Promoting ourselves to the world is a key part of our strategy to secure the longterm health of our local economy.”
At its April Council meeting, the City adopted its International Engagement Strategy, identifying South Korea as a targeted market and supporting Council to fulfill the key objectives outlined in the strategy.
The cost of the Mayor’s trip to Changwon will be limited to economy class flights, with the Mayor’s hosts to cover accommodation and other expenses.
Subiaco on move
The City of Subiaco has moved to a new, and what they consider more efficient, Softwareas-a-Service enabled platform as part of the first phase of its digital transformation project.
Staff have begun using TechnologyOne’s OneCouncil software, marking the City’s phase out of multiple older systems.
To deliver on its vision to create opportunities for growth and development, elevate services and futureproof operations, the City is undertaking the three-year project to upgrade its existing on-premise applications to the TechnologyOne solution.
City of Subiaco CEO Colin Cameron said a combination of the City’s rapid growth trajectory – against a backdrop of what’s been labelled its ‘renaissance’ — meant the time was right to introduce an integrated digital system.
“This is the first step in changing to one new system that is more effective for staff working across the City,” he said. “TechnologyOne will help reduce time spent on manual processes, data entry and switching between systems — as well as provide a consolidated source of information for our diverse branches. All that adds up to more time and energy for staff, contractors and volunteers to spend on what matters most; serving our community.”
Though residents won’t experience the new digital platform themselves until the next phase of the rollout (currently scheduled for the second half of 2025), City of Subiaco Mayor David McMullen said the move to TechnologyOne aims to bring positive change for residents and ratepayers.
“In order to remain positioned as a modern, business-like organisation — and a leader in the local government sector — well into the future, the City of Subiaco needs the right mix of traditional human- centred processes, and digital systems,” he said.
“Introducing the TechnologyOne platform to our staff is a step in an ongoing transformation. The TechnologyOne system promises to equip the City to deliver for our growing community, with a focus on continuous improvement, innovation, organisational efficiency and high-level customer experience.
Penrith Mayor Todd Carney with the Penrith Community Kitchen Volunteer Committee Members.
Mayor sleeps out for cause
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek is challenging business CEOs and community leaders to help tackle homelessness with his second annual Lights Out Sleepout.
On Thursday 18 July, Mayor El-Hayek will bunker down at Belmore Sports Ground to raise money for Mission Australia, Maronites on Mission and Brothers in Need.
Mayor El-Hayek said he wants leaders to join him and experience what it is like to sleep rough on a cold winter’s night, or to dig deep and support the event by donating.
“I hope we can all come together to raise awareness and much needed funds for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
According to the latest statistics, more than 120,000 Australians experience homelessness. Canterbury-Bankstown alone has experienced a 10 per cent jump in homelessness from 2021-2023.
“Thousands of men, women, young people and children forced to ‘rough it out’ on the streets, ‘couch surf’, seek shelter in a car or rely on temporary and insecure accommodation,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“A heartbreaking situation that I encourage each of us to consider when we return to our warm homes at night while others face harsh conditions out on the street.”
The inaugural sleepout in 2023 raised more than $30,000 for vital services to help those in need across our City and Mayor El-Hayek aims to do the same again this sleepout.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek is set to sleep out for a cause.
“I know that our passionate community members and determined businesses can come together to repeat, or even better, last year’s amount.”
The Mayors Lights Out Sleepout will take place on Thursday 18 July from 7pm-7am.
Former minister Amery honoured
Long-serving Member of the NSW Parliament Richard Amery has received one of the Blacktown City community’s highest honours for the progress and service he delivered during his career.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting awarded Mr Amery the Key to Blacktown City in recognition of the major infrastructure and important public services he helped improve through his work.
“Richard’s name is known throughout the community thanks to his legacy of delivering for the area,” Mayor Bunting said.
“He was keenly attuned to people’s needs and worked hard to deliver solutions both during and outside of his parliamentary career.”
Mr Amery served Blacktown City in NSW Parliament for 32 years. He was Member for Riverstone for eight years and then became the longest-serving Member for Mount Druitt (24 years).
Mr Amery served eight years as a minister in the formidable cabinet of Premier Bob Carr, in the portfolios of Minister for Agriculture, Land and Water Conservation and Corrective Services.
His advocacy for constituents delivered benefits including: extensions to Mount Druitt TAFE, the upgrade of Mount Druitt railway station, the Mount Druitt Hospital palliative care ward, Chifley Senior College’s Mount Druitt.
Before his parliamentary career, Mr Amery risked his safety for others as a police officer for 13 years.
He served on the board of directors of Mount Druitt Hospital, worked on the management committee of Rooty Hill School of
service for his children and grandchildren.
RICHARD AMERY PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE SNAPSHOT
· Member for Riverstone 1983 – 1991
· Member for Mount Druitt 1991 - 2015
· Minister for Agriculture 995 – 2003
· Minister for Land and Water Conservation 1997 - 2001
· Minister for Corrective Services 001 –2003
Latrobe council battles trolley dumping
Dumping hotspots have been identified across the municipality, which will see increased contactor collection services. Trolleys in hard-toaccess areas will be removed by a specialist Trolley Tracker contractor, a process which was previously highly costly for the Council Depot crews.
New signage will be displayed at the path leading to waterholes and creeks, advising residents on how to report abandoned trolleys. In addition, major retailers are beginning the process of investigating the feasibility of trolley locking devices and perimeter locks to prevent abandoned trolleys.
Latrobe City Council Mayor Councillor Darren Howe, said that these outcomes will make the retrieval of abandoned trolleys simpler,
their major shopping trolley abandonment problem.
faster and safer.
“Recovery of abandoned shopping trolleys is time-consuming and causes risk to health and safety, and significantly lowers the amenity of our region,” said the Mayor.
“These proactive solutions to the ongoing issue of abandoned trolleys are in line with the Council Plan 2021-2025, which demonstrates a commitment to protect the environment and ensure Latrobe City is a healthy place to live, learn and work.”
Central Ward Councillor, Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, has been at the forefront of advocating for proactive solutions to the issue of abandoned trolleys. His assistance in resolving this issue has led to the removal of abandoned trolleys and the improvement of the visual ame-
nity of Latrobe City.
“Fast reporting of abandoned trolleys to the appropriate authorities is the easiest way to keep our environment clean and safe. I urge residents and visitors to report abandoned shopping trolleys as soon as they see them. Hopefully, this overcomes what has become a real nuisance in some areas. Council will also be monitoring the collection response by businesses in the hope that further action is not required,” said Councillor Middlemiss.
The Latrobe Local Laws Team conducted a series of meetings in October and November 2023 with retailers who offer shopping trolleys, to find proactive solutions for the ongoing issue of abandoned shopping trolleys.
Representatives from Australia’s largest
trolley recovery company, Trolley Tracker, and Latrobe City Council’s Waste Management Depot Team provided significant input.
Abandoned trolleys across Latrobe City have negative social and environmental impacts. These trolleys can create safety risks for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. In Morwell, Moe and Traralgon, many trolleys are dumped in nearby waterways, clogging rivers, drains, creeks, and culverts, contributing to flash flooding during extreme weather events.
These consultations resulted in several positive outcomes for Latrobe City. Contractor collection services by all major supermarkets in Morwell, Moe, Traralgon, and Churchill have been increased.
Arts and was involved in Girl Guides. Richard lives in Rooty Hill with wife Marie and has set a fine example of community
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting, Key to the City recipient Richard Amery and wife Marie Amery.
Latrobe City Council are set to battle
Tough job for the mayor
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Mayor Cr Charlie Sheahan made some tough decisions after being asked to judge the children’s NAIDOC Week colouring competition.
The competition saw entries from across the LGA. Entries were received from children aged two years to 14 years.
Cr Sheahan said it was a difficult decision to pick winners because all entries were deserving.
“I’m overwhelmed at the number of entries we have received for this competition; NAIDOC Week is a very special time for our indigenous community and our kids have shown their support by taking the time to colour in these pictures and enter them in the competition,” Cr Sheahan said.
The pictures were drawn by local artist Dianne Berkrey, focussing on native turtles and lizards. Prizes included First Nations colouring in book and stickers for the six years and under category, whilst the seven to 10 years and 11 years plus categories received Indigenous notepad and pen sets and stickers.
“As one of my last duties as Mayor, this one has been a delight as well as tough, to pick six overall winners from the huge number received was demanding. I’d like to congratulate all who entered,” Cr Sheahan added.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Mayor Cr Charlie Sheahan takes on the tough jobsincluding judging colouring competitions.
New icon a boost to online accessibility
The new accessibility tool on Whyalla City Council’s website is helping more people make better use of all the site has to offer.
The Council added the tool late last year during its broader website refresh as part of its focus on improving accessibility to its services.
Mayor Phill Stone said making the website more user-friendly for everyone was a key focus of the refresh.
“While our aim was to improve the experience for all of our customers, we also needed to ensure it was more accessible to those with challenges such as vision impairment, dyslexia, ADHD or learning difficulties,” May-
or Stone said.
“We hope this accessibility widget – which is now available on every page of the website – helps address some of those issues and provides a more enjoyable, barrier-free experience for all users.”
The accessibility tool is available by clicking on an icon.
Since being introduced, the tool has been opened more than 6,500 times, with the most popular functions including:
Changing landscape
The Town of Cambridge has progressed in developing its Precinct Structure Plan for the Floreat Activity Centre, to transform the Precinct into a vibrant urban landscape.
The Town resolved to prepare a plan to guide this evolution of the Floreat Activity Centre, in the form of a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP). A PSP is a holistic plan for an area’s development that considers the land’s physical, governance, community context and design elements across urban ecology, urban structure, public realm, movement, land use, and built form.
“The PSP will identify and contextualise appropriate land use and development controls that best reflect the priorities and vision of our current and future community,” Mayor Gary Mack said.
In February and March 2024, the Town hosted four community workshops and one open day to facilitate community visioning for the Floreat PSP area.
The purpose of the four workshops was to enable community members to express their aspirations and concerns about future developments in and around the area.
Approximately 300 community members registered to participate over the course of the four evening workshops.
The Town is committed to building upon shared aspirations for the Floreat Activity Centre captured in previous workshops and engagement to date.
To build upon feedback received to date
and support the PSP development, the Town has appointed a Community Working Group (CWG) comprised of the Mayor, three Elected Members, and three community representatives.
“The Town is collaborating with the CWG to validate your community voice and influence strategic and technical outcomes of the PSP,” the mayor said.
“The CWG will represent community feedback on matters which require knowledge to be built under the guidance of technical experts for specific design and strategic outcomes,” Mayor Mack added.
“We will continue to provide timely project updates and promote further opportunities for engagement through our social media, website, e-newsletter, and Cambridge News.”
The Town’s Local Planning Strategy (LPS), endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) in 2021, provides robust direction on the future of land use and development within the Town, including growth consolidation to key areas.
The LPS recognises that the Floreat Activity Centre will evolve over time to accommodate medium to high-density mixed-use development with increased functions in housing, employment, and activity.
· Highlight links (making it easier to find clickable areas of the site)
· Bigger text
· Contrast plus (creates distinct contrast between page elements)
· Screen reader
The tool also features accessibility profiles (ie colour blind, dyslexic, ADHD), which suggest particular functions based on the profile selected by the user. For example, selecting ‘visually-impaired’ turns on bigger text, legible fonts, a large cursor and high saturation. ‘Co-
lour blind’ has been the most selected profile on the website to-date.
“We encourage people with accessibility issues to try out the tool and let us know what they think and any ways it could be improved,” Mayor Stone said.
“Also be sure to check out the broader improvements to the website, which now has simplified dropdown boxes, an upgraded search bar, social feed and a most-visitedpages section to make popular pages easier to find.”
Tourism kiosks go live in Baw Baw
New Digital Tourism and Community Information Hubs are now live in two towns across Baw Baw Shire.
Representatives from Council met with locals in Neerim South recently to celebrate the official launch of the new kiosks.
Located in Yarragon and Neerim South, the new hubs will further activate the towns, and broader West Gippsland, by providing real time information for locals and visitors to the area.
The interactive kiosks, which are live 24/7, list information on local places to eat, drink and stay, arts and culture, as well as where to shop, popular attractions and nature trails to visit.
Destinations featured include Neerim South and Yarragon, Walhalla, Noojee, Jindivick, Mt Baw Baw, Erica and Rawson, Trafalgar and Thorpdale, Mount Worth Skate Park, Willow Grove/Blue Rock Lake, Warragul and Drouin.
The kiosks are a partnership between Council and the Neerim District Community Bank and are also thanks to a Living Local Grant from the State Government, worth more than $28,000.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie Mc-
Cabe said she looked forward to seeing the social and economic outcomes these new hubs were sure to generate.
“The new digital information kiosks will provide more promotion for our local businesses and highlight all the wonderful things there are to see and do throughout West Gippsland,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Cr Tricia Jones said they marked an extremely exciting milestone in Council’s journey for Baw Baw to become a premier tourist destination.
“These hubs will further enable our region’s visitors and tourists to become more familiar with everything that there is to see and do in the local area,” Cr Jones said.
“As locals, we know how much our region has to offer, and it’s an exciting thought to know that we can now share this knowledge with more ease to people visiting our region.”
The two kiosks are a pilot program for Council and depending on their outcomes, will determine if Council will install more in other towns across Baw Baw.
Sutherland honours Arnold
The remarkable career of one of Australia’s most celebrated football figures, Graham Arnold, was recognised by Sutherland Shire Council earlier this month with Canberra Road Oval, the ground on which he first developed his skills and love for the game, officially renamed in his honour.
The oval, home to the Gwawley Bay Football Club, will now bear the name of one of the club’s favourite sons, standing as permanent tribute to the career and achievements of the Australian Football Hall of Famer.
The Socceroos coach was welcomed to the oval that now bears his name by former Socceroos teammates, scores of local footballers and football fans as well as family members and friends drawn from the course of a lengthy and accomplished career as both an Australian national player and coach.
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce, said he was delighted to officially rename the well-loved and well-used football oval in honour of Arnold – known affectionately as ‘Arnie’ to legions of football fans – with the event serving as a touching tribute to one of the Sutherland Shire’s most celebrated sporting exports.
“The Sutherland Shire always punches above it weight when it comes to producing world-beating sporting talent, but when it comes to the footballing talent that our community has produced over the years, there is no one who comes close to the stature of Graham Arnold,” Mayor Pesce said.
“We’re proud to honour Arnie’s legacy at Gwawley Bay Football Club where he first laced up the boots and developed his love for the game that he has since given so much to as both a player and coach.
“With 19,000 registered football players, the Sutherland Shire is home to Australia’s largest footballing association, owing in no small part to the inspiration that greats of the game like Arnie have provided to those who have fol-
lowed in their footsteps.
“It’s important that our community honours the impact that our home-grown sporting talent has had on the global stage, and Arnie’s incredible achievements – particularly as coach of our national team – will no doubt serve as inspiration for local footballing talent for generations to come.
“It was wonderful to welcome Arnie back to Gwawley Bay and provide so many local football fans and members of our community to wish him luck as he continues to drive our Socceroos towards qualification for their sixth straight World Cup and thank him for his immense contribution to Australian football.”
Speaking at the event Socceroos’ Head Coach, Graham Arnold said the occasion was a special moment for his entire family.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank Sutherland Shire
Council and Gwawley Bay Football Club for their involvement in this project and say what an honour it is for not just myself, but my entire family,” Mr Arnold said.
“This is a special place for the Arnolds – I’ve always said that Gwawley Bay Football Club was our second family – Mum and Dad were heavily involved with the club and many of the earliest memories of my childhood were here at this oval.
“This is where I grew up and developed my love for football, a place where I made lifelong friendships that have been so pivotal in both my playing and coaching career.
“To see a place so significant to my family now named after me is a little bit surreal. I know my parents – who both loved being part of this club – would be so proud.
“I’m very grateful to everyone involved in
renaming this oval and look forward to young people from across the Sutherland Shire enjoying football here for many years to come,” Mr Arnold said.
Gwawley Bay Football Club President Janine McCrohon, paid tribute to the club’s most celebrated former player, saying that the values which remain pivotal to the success of the club were echoed in those that had been the hallmark of the many teams lead by Arnie throughout his successful career.
“Arnie’s teams are known for their unity, built on values of family, friendship, and brotherhood,” Ms McCrohon said.
“These ideals, instilled at the grassroots level here at Gwawley Bay, are a cornerstone of his success and continue to inspire the next generation of footballers.”
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. Graham Arnold with current members of the club where he started playing football.