Welcome to a new year.
What opportunities and challenges will it bring?
While the international health crisis is still a hot topic for most people, and the weather whether brutal or benign continues to impact our day to day choices and activities, there are still many other topics that keep the wheels turning.
In Tasmania, LGAT is expecting 2021 to be a big year in waste. The State Government’s commitment to plough 100 percent of waste levy funds back to waste shows true leadership, especially as it will include initiatives in resource recovery activities, waste avoidance, market development, recovery and recycling infrastructure, education, increased compliance/enforcement, and regional collaboration. The latest news is that they are gearing up to develop a statewide organics strategy which comes on top of the container deposit scheme to roll out by the end of next year.
LGAQ is getting down to the business of implementing their ‘Battleplan for Queensland Local Communities economic recovery’. The re-elected Pałaszczuk Government restructured the local government portfolio linking it once again with infrastructure and planning.
With a raft of ministers on the case, namely Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning; Mark Furner, Minister for Rural Communities, Glenn Butcher Minister for Water and an Assistant Minister for Local Government in Nikki Boyd; local government is looking pretty well supported in Queensland.
Congratulations to newly elected President of LGANT, Darwin Lord Mayor, Kon Vatskalis, who’s President’s Comment in this issue is a terrific read. Six fresh faces were elected to the nine person executive giving the organisation a completely new energy. On the to do list is a LGANT marketing strategy, developing a Reconciliation and Action Plan, examining the costs of delivering services to remote communities, NT Government Homelands Policy, climate change adaptation plans, and mining, oil and gas companies engaging with local government as part of the approval and social licence to operate processes. That’s a mouthful to be starting with.
LGA South Australia claimed a success in the November State Budget receiving a $100 million Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program which provides councils with dollar for dollar funding for projects that will support businesses and create jobs. Councils can bring forward projects to improve the liveability and amenity of streets, suburbs, towns and regions. An additional $10 million commitment to deliver regional sport and recreation facilities in partnership with local government leaves no one guessing how South Australians want to spend their summers.
In the west, WALGA is trying to imagine a zero road toll – that’s zero deaths and zero serious injuries. The association has always been a devoted champion of road safety and councils will need every cent of the $100 million Regional Road Safety Improvement Program federal and state funds to seal the shoulders of 1400km of regional roads.
Both MAV and LGNSW are cross about their states’ rating systems, viewing recent reviews of the rates systems in Victoria and New South Wales as missed chances for meaningful reform.
Looks like councils will have to continue working their magic and doing more with less for another year.
Congratulations to LGNSW President, Linda Scott on her election as
President of ALGA.
