In a national first, the Perth Area Consultative Committee (Perth ACC) partnered with the South West Group of Councils and the Department of Transport and Regional Services to bring to Perth an outstanding showcase of Leading Practice Initiatives from Local Government Authorities from across Australia.
‘Partnerships: Delivering Integrated Solutions’ was held at the City of Melville Council Chambers on Wednesday 18 August 2004. Projects chosen for the Leading Practice Seminar reflected the strategic direction of the Perth ACC and other local stakeholders and provided solutions and implementation strategies to address the issues they face. The Seminar could not have been held without the support and contribution of the South West Group of Councils.
Five Local Governments from across Australia presented initiatives from their regions that received an Award, Commendation or Nomination in the National Awards for Local Government. In addition, in recognition of the excellent work Local Government has undertaken in Western Australia, three local initiatives from City of Wanneroo, City of Swan and the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council were also presented as part of the national showcase. Each of these projects received the support of Perth ACC in facilitation and development of applications for funding by the Australian Government. The majority of projects presented had received Australian Government funding from the Department of Transport and Regional Services either through the former Regional Assistance Programme or Regional Solutions.
The event was a great example of the role that Regional Partnerships funding is playing in economic development and the strategic direction of Local Government. Around 60 people attended the seminar, representing many of the 27 Local Governments from the Perth metropolitan region. Representatives from beyond the metropolitan region also attended travelling from Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury and Busselton. Executive Officers from seven of the metropolitan network of Area Consultative Committees also attended the seminar, representing Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Northern Territory.
On the following day, interstate visitors had the opportunity to visit Local Governments across Perth to share further ideas and information on project initiatives, development and implementation. This is the first time that the leading practice projects have been given the opportunity to actually go on site to other Local Governments who face similar issues and are working on similar projects.
Feedback from participants was very positive, confirming that the success of the Leading Practice Seminar can reinforce the role that ACC’s can play as a facilitator of information flows, change and development in their regions. Perth ACC hopes that the success of the event will be reflected in the development of new projects and initiatives for funding through Regional Partnerships and the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
“Perth ACC has been involved in some dynamic and exciting project work,” said Chairperson of the Perth Area Consultative Committee, Zelinda Bafile. “Promoting local growth is a key priority of Perth ACC and we work proactively across the whole of Perth assisting Local Government and community stakeholders to address economic and social problems by the development of sustainable projects delivering tangible results.”
