In the media – National
NBN Co to publish customer experience progress
report
NBN Co has announced "a new monthly report to track service
and quality improvements on the nbn broadband access network.
"It includes details such as the number of homes and
businesses on a 50mbps (download) wholesale speed plan or higher,
installations completed right the first time and average number of
faults." NBN Co says the rollout of the nbn access network was
more than halfway built and and is expected to be completed in 2020
(13 March 2018).
More...
Call for local solutions on housing and heatwave
risk
The energy sector should collaborate with state and local
governments to develop solutions that alleviate demand during
heatwaves given 'peak pricing' is likely to negatively
impact vulnerable residents (13 March 2018).
More...
Microsoft to roll out versions of Azure for local
governments
Microsoft Corp on Monday said it will soon make it possible for
government clients to run its cloud technology on their own servers
as part of a concerted effort to make Azure more appealing to local
and federal agencies (06 March 2018).
More...
Victoria commits to Inland Rail freight
corridor
The Victorian Government has just signed up to the Inland Rail
Project, a development that will provide a direct rail freight
connection between Melbourne and Brisbane and jumpstart the
state's Regional Rail Revival program (16 March 2018).
More...
Productivity Commission Issues paper - Murray-Darling
Basin Plan released
The Productivity Commission released as issues paper this week to
assist individuals and organisations to prepare submissions to its
inquiry into the effectiveness of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. It
contains and outlines the scope of the inquiry, the
Commission's procedures, matters about which the Commission is
seeking comment and information, how to make a submission (13 March
2018). More...
In the media – Queensland
Local government key player in
biodiversity
In response to the Australian Government's draft Strategy for
Nature, the LGAQ has emphasised that the role of the Australian
Government is to provide leadership by establishing the broad
strategic vision and objectives and to develop robust regulatory
frameworks for biodiversity conservation in Australia. The LGAQ
does not support the draft strategy in its current form and
proposes that it be revised (16 March 2018).
More...
Fraser Coast councillor to represent local government on
waste advisory panel
The LGAQ this week nominated Cr Anne Maddern from Fraser Coast
Regional Council to represent local government on a technical
advisory panel for the Department of Environment and Science (16
March 2018).
More...
'Devastated' Kirra Beach caravan park retirees
vow to fight eviction
A group of retirees fight eviction from their caravan park after
getting a letter from the Gold Coast City Council telling them they
have to move out of the homes some of them have lived in for 30
years (15 March 2018).
More...
With several Queensland councils in crisis, what is
going so wrong?
It seems every week there is a new scandal at a Queensland council,
and despite the State Government promising a crackdown on developer
donations, experts warn that could just be a band-aid solution (13
March 2018).
More...
$22 million in funding for councils to boost
infrastructure projects
The Palaszczuk Government is calling on councils to apply for a
share of $22 million in funding to support their infrastructure
planning, under the Maturing the Infrastructure Pipeline Program
(12 March 2018).
More...
New $1 million Glass House Mountains District Park
officially opened
Mr Hinchliffe was joined by Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark
Jamieson at the opening of the park, partly funded by a $400,000
contribution from the Palaszczuk Government's Local Government
Grants and Subsidies Program (16 March 2018).
More...
Councillors criticise mayor for missing neighbourhood
meetings
Brisbane City Council's approach to development has been
criticised by councillors who called out the lord mayor for not
taking the time to listen to concerned residents. On Tuesday,
opposition councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka) asked lord mayor
Graham Quirk if he would meet with residents on Wednesday to
discuss a controversial development application at Nathan (14 March
2018).
More...
Premier announces State Recovery
Co-ordinator
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today announced the appointment
of a State Recovery Co-ordinator to work with communities affected
by flooding in North Queensland. The Premier said Brendan Moon will
begin work immediately to assist local Councils and communities in
the recovery effort following this flooding event (12 March 2018).
More...
Work under way on new Ipswich Town Centre
Demolition crews have started tearing down the old Woolworths
building as Ipswich City Council moves forward with the next stage
of the $150 million CBD redevelopment. The Ipswich central
revitalisation is the biggest transformation of the city centre in
three decades (12 March 2018).
More...
Gold Coast Mayor at centre of corruption watchdog
investigation
Queensland's corruption watchdog confirms it is investigating
allegations Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate influenced council
decision-making for personal benefit, failed to declare possible
conflicts of interest, and did not disclose flights and
accommodation received from a Chinese developer within the required
timeframe (09 March 2018).
More...
Palaszczuk Government committed to protecting
wildlife
The Palaszczuk Government is delivering on a major election
commitment with work underway to establish its flagship $500
million Land Restoration Fund (09 March 2018).
More...
LGAQ announces new digital partnership
A new partnership with Jadu, leading global provider of web
experience management software and digital services, will give
councils access to a world-class content management system (08
March 2018).
More...
New tree clearing laws introduced to
Parliament
Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today introduced
tree-clearing reforms to Parliament. New, more accurate vegetation
maps were also released today for the entire state, the first major
review of major update to vegetation and ecosystem mapping in five
years (08 March 2018).
More...
Changes to telco carrier powers
The Minister for Communications and the Arts has released a
determination following consultation on the powers and immunities
afforded to communications carriers. In a statement released last
week, the Minister stated that ten of the 24 proposed amendments
will be carried. While the LGAQ objected to a number of the
proposals that have been accepted as part of these amendments, the
Department has indicated that the proposal to install cable and
conduit on bridges will not proceed (08 March 2018).
More...
New online tool shows latest land
valuations
Queenslanders can now access real-time property data showing the
state's latest land valuations (07 March 2018).
More...
Solar farm forums shine a light on new planning
guidelines
New planning and community engagement guidelines are in development
to guide Queensland's solar farm boom (07 March 2018).
More...
Developer donation ban sought under Local Government
transparency reforms
Increased transparency, integrity and accountability measures for
Local Government, including a ban on political donations from
property developers, will become a reality in Queensland under
reforms introduced in State Parliament today (06 March 2018).
More...
Queensland land values increase
Queensland's Valuer-General Neil Bray said the 2018 Property
Market Movement Report shows improved land values in a number of
major urban and farming areas across the state. These new land
valuations will be available from 7 March and will provide new
valuations for 22 local government areas on the basis of each
area's recent land sales history and the state of the
surrounding economy (05 March 2018).
More...
Palaszczuk Government program delivers new wheelchair
bus for Napranum
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the funding from the Palaszczuk
Government's Indigenous Local Government Sustainability Program
2016-18 (ILGSP) would also enable Council to
upgrade its asset and project management systems, human resources
system, financial management system and records management systems
(08 March 2018).
More...
Developer donation ban sought under Local Government
transparency reforms
Increased transparency, integrity and accountability measures for
Local Government, including a ban on political donations from
property developers, will become a reality in Queensland under
reforms introduced in State Parliament today. The latest reform
measures were recommended by the Crime and Corruption
Commission's Operation Belcarra Report (06 March 2018).
More...
In the media – Victoria
Council voices concerns over some elements of the new
local government act
The City of Greater Bendigo is concerned some elements of a new
local government bill may be too restrictive for councils,
described by Margaret O'Rourke as "unnecessary
regulation" (16 March 2018).
More...
'Skill and talent' key to councils' economic
development
Victoria's Corangamite Council says a $300,000 support fund it
established to attract and expand businesses in its area has
contributed $9.2 million in benefits to the local economy (16 March
2018).
More...
Local Government and Economic Development
Economic prosperity is important on both a national and local
scale, enabling communities to improve their economic future. A
number of Victorian councils, particularly non-metropolitan
councils, have experienced a decline in their economic growth over
the past 10 years (08 March 2018).
More...
Waste collection suspended in two Victorian shires as
recycling crisis deepens
A waste contractor has suspended household collection services in
two central Victorian shires, as the state's recycling problems
intensify (07 March 2018).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
NSW Government delivers more affordable
homes
More affordable housing stock is being delivered to inner-Sydney,
following the release of more than $23 million to a key affordable
housing supplier, thanks to a NSW Government policy (14 March
2018).
More...
Parramatta Council signs MOU for new Gateway
Bridge
City of Parramatta Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with property company, PAYCE enabling
detailed planning and design work to commence for a possible new
bridge across the Parramatta River linking Melrose Park and
Wentworth Point (12 March 2018).
More...
Fed up council impounds dozens of abandoned share
bikes
A Sydney council impounds dozens of broken and abandoned share
bikes, after losing patience with operators it says need to
"clean up their act" (05 March 2018).
More...
In Practice and Courts
New South Wales
Remuneration and Legacy Report March 2018
LGNSW's remuneration and legacy report is now available to
council general managers and human resources managers. The report
contains comparative benchmarking data and reporting on general
manager remuneration which can be useful to consider when
attracting or retaining general managers, developing organisational
structures, and negotiating performance-based pay increases. To
order a copy,
visit the LGNSW website.
New Round of Circulate Grants Now Open The NSW EPA is offering grants ranging from $20,000 to $150,000 to promote the recovery of commercial and industrial, and construction and demolition waste. Salvaged material can be used for other commercial, industrial or construction processes. Grants are being offered under the Circulate Program which has diverted more than 50,000 tonnes of this type of waste from landfill to date. More...
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.