In March 140 delegates met for the biennial Conference and Expo held as part of South Australia’s Local Government Week. The Conference was jointly organised by the IMEA, the Local Government Supervisory Officers Association and Transport SA.
John Andrews, Manager of Environmental Services at the City of Charles Sturt and a convenor of the Conference, said this was an excellent response, given the reduction in the number of Councils brought about by amalgamations over the last two years.
He said delegates to the Conference were treated to a broad range of discussion on issues including stormwater management, environmental issues and road safety.
Keynote speaker, Professor Michael Tyler from the University of Adelaide, described the importance of frogs in ecosystems and how they can reflect the quality of an environment and the changes it is undergoing.
John Andrews said this was of much interest given the efforts by many South Australian Councils to rehabilitate and recreate wetlands in both rural and urban environments.
A session on road safety issues addressed the importance of community consultation in planning for pedestrian safety particularly for schools and retirement villages.
“We in Local Government are all aware we have to get close to our community,” John Andrews said. “If not we will not get it right.”
The University of Adelaide’s John Argue discussed stormwater management. He demonstrated porous bricks which allow water to filter through to groundwater, simultaneously reducing the amount of stormwater flowing down drains and the pollution carried with it.
“If we can decrease the amount of stormwater that flows down drains we can decrease pollution and the amount of money we need to invest in stormwater drains,” John Andrews said. “Stormwater is a resource and we must manage it the best we can.”
Commenting on the Expo, John said it presents a venue for people to discuss issues with each other and with suppliers.
“It is also an important opportunity for engineers to provide feedback to manufacturers about their products and how they work in the field,” he said.
Other issues discussed at the Conference included change management, intellectual property rights and compulsory competitive tendering. A highlight was a visit to the Adelaide, Crafers Freeway project where eight kilometres of road is being duplicated to improve alignment and grades on a major commuting route.
For further information contact John Andrews, telephone (08) 8408 1273.
