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New law for outback communities on way www.themonitor.com.au
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ew legislation to govern South Australia’s outback communities, including the establishment of a new management authority, was introduced to Parliament recently. The Outback Communities Authority will replace the Outback Areas Community Development Trust whose area covers 65 per cent of our State and less than 1 per cent of the state’s population who are not covered by local councils. The Authority’s area will continue to take in remote areas of the state from Blinman, Andamooka, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Marla, Glendambo, Mungerannie, Arkaroola and Innamincka in the State’s north to Penong and Fowlers Bay in the west. Minister for State/Local Government Relations Gail Gago says the Outback Communities (Administration and Management) Bill 2009 was the result of extensive research in outback communities and will promote closer work between
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them and the Outback Communities Authority about infrastructure, service planning and community management. Minister Gago is supporting the Bill in the Legislative Council and if passed there, will go to the House of Assembly for further debate, led by Minister Jennifer Rankine. “The new Outback Communities Authority will be more responsive to community needs and aspirations,” says Minister Gago. The Bill proposes a revised governance structure for the 7-member Outback Communities Authority, which will replace the existing fivemember Port Augusta-based Outback Areas Community Development Trust. “The changes also give the Outback Communities Authority the ability to raise revenue to help maintain and develop local infrastructure and facilities,” says the Minister. “Importantly revenue raising will be done at levels to be determined by, and in consultation with, local communities.
Volume 5, Wednesday April 22nd, 2009
It will help outback regions cope with the pressures of tourism and limited local resources to provide essential services such as public amenities, rubbish collection, water, power, waste disposal and airstrips.” Support from other State Government agencies and the Commonwealth Local Government (Financial Assistance) Grants will not be affected by the new structure. The new authority will also need to develop strategic management plans, measures for increased accountability and improved consultation processes consistent with practices of other local government authorities. Key elements of the Outback Communities (Administration and Management) Bill 2009 include: Allowing for the creation of an asset sustainability levy and a community contribution where requested by the local community, to better maintain local infrastructure; Strengthening powers to manage development
and to regulate matters such as rubbish collection, litter and abandoned vehicles, land hazards including animals causing a nuisance; Enhancing communities’ tools to manage strategic directions and policies with high levels of accountability and transparency; Supporting community association volunteers with administrative and advisory support; Applying agreed standards of community amenity to matters such as noise, unauthorized dumping, roaming animals, unsafe buildings and excavations; Maintaining equitable distribution of community funds, both government grants and the outback levies. Passage of the Bill will result in the repeal of the Outback Areas Community Development Trust Act 1978. Details are on the Outback Areas Community Development Trust’s website www.oacdt.sa.gov. au or by phoning (08) 8204 8700 or freecall 1800 352 224.
The fish are biting at Innamincka! M
athew Murray, 9 of Murrumba Downs, Queensland, had a marvellous time catching fish on the Town Common at Innamincka on Easter Tuesday. Matthew was holidaying in Innamincka with his sister, Casey, parents Nikki and Glen and his grandparents. As his t-shirt proclaims, Matthew is a “junior fishing expert” who showed the locals a thing or two about angling in the Cooper. This yellow-belly was caught using frozen prawns bought from the Trading Post, as bait. Matthew also caught several small silver perch, which he liberated back into the Cooper. He says he hopes to return to catch them when they have grown to pan-size.