Well, December is finally here, and what a huge year it’s been for local government in Australia …
2012 has seen council elections in four out of the seven states and territories, with a real improvement in women’s representation as elected members in most cases, and a marked shift to diversity within councils in many.
We’ve also finally seen some light at the end of the constitutional recognition tunnel, and major reform and restructuring of councils is being tackled right across the board.
Our front-page story covers some of the outcomes from the recent National Local Roads and Transport Congress, where the urgent need to address maintenance and repair of road and transport infrastructure was the dominant theme.
Councils are not only keeping up the pressure on the Federal Government to increase funding for this vital infrastructure, but are turning their attention to achieving best practice in asset and financial management at the organisational level.
The Congress also saw the election of Councillor Felicity-ann Lewis to ALGA President, and LG Focus extends congratulations and looks forward to working with Felicity-ann into 2013 and beyond.
Appropriately, business efficiency and sustainability is the topic of our feature, and this has produced an array of fascinating articles, from councils that have developed tourism apps to improve the economy of a region, to those that have forged strategic partnerships in order to achieve sustainability in uncertain times.
The twin topics of climate change and the Carbon Tax have predominated throughout the year, and a majority of councils are ahead of the game in tackling the most serious issue of the 21st century.
It is encouraging to realise just how far councils across Australia have come in achieving sustainability, and how much further many are prepared to go in protecting and supporting their communities.
LG Focus wishes all councillors and staff a safe holiday season, and we look forward to a positive and productive 2013.
