It is with great pleasure that I welcome readers to this special issue of A National Perspective. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the National Awards for Innovation in Local Government. These prestigious Awards provide councils from all over Australia with the opportunity to demonstrate innovative and resourceful solutions to the myriad of challenges facing local government.
The Awards also provide recognition of local government’s self reliance, resourcefulness and innovative thinking &endash; qualities which today’s social and economic climate demands.
This issue of A National Perspective provides a range of information on the 1998 Awards. A retrospective on the winners from last year further highlights the capacity of councils to not only create and implement innovation, but to adapt existing practices and technologies in an innovative way.
Some of these councils have now made innovation a part of their organisational culture, and have developed the capacity to create and assess innovations on an ongoing basis.
I congratulate these councils and encourage others to follow their example. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors of this year’s Awards.
AusIndustry, Bushcare and Active Australia have provided invaluable support as category sponsors for the Awards, and with the assistance of the National Office of Local Government, are working to ensure a successful and professional Awards’ programme.
I am also grateful for the continued support of the Institute of Municipal Management and the Australian Local Government Association. Their respective annual conferences provide the ideal fora for exposing innovative ideas to councillors and senior council staff from across Australia.
Local government has shown its continued support for the Awards with over 2,500 entries received since its inception in 1986, and more than 240 entries received last year. The National Office of Local Government will soon be distributing information kits to every council in Australia, and I encourage all of you, on behalf of your councils, to participate in the 1998 Awards.
Alex Somlyay
