A note from our President

Transcription

1 For LGANT to lead, represent and be influential for the benefit of local government Is this not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. A note from our President It was my great pleasure to welcome the Northern Territory Minister for Housing and Community Development, the Honourable Gerry McCarthy MLA and the President of the Local Government Association of NSW and councilor at the City of Sydney, Linda Scott to address local government delegates at the LGANT General Meeting held on 13 April Activities - MAY Council meeting - City of Palmerston Group meeting - Environment, 3, 4 Transport and Infrastructure Reference Group 9 Council meeting - West Arnhem 15 Council meeting - City of Darwin 15 Council meeting - City of Palmerston 15 Council meeting - Wagait Shire Council 16 Executive meeting - LGANT Executive 16 Council meeting - Litchfield Council 21 Committee Meeting - Alice Springs Town Council 21 Council meeting - Coomalie Community Government Council 22 Council meeting - Katherine Town Council 23 Council meeting - East Arnhem 23 Council meeting - West Daly 23, 24 Group meeting - Community Services Reference Group

2 I congratulate MacDonnell and the residents of Finke for winning two Tidy Town national awards and receiving a highly commended in a third category. It is a marvelous achievement for both the community and the MacDonnell and it just shows what can be done when community and council work together. Councils are reminded that the Community Infrastructure Register is an initiative of the ALGA that I, along with the ALGA President, Mayor David O'Loughlin, have written to all Northern Territory Mayors and Presidents about; and I encourage all of them to work with their councils to ensure we are playing our part in the national process. Further details on all the above (and other) matters are in this newsletter. Damien Ryan, President 25 Council meeting - MacDonnell 28 Council meeting - Alice Springs Town Council 28, 29 Council meeting - Victoria Daly 29 Council meeting - City of Darwin 30 Committee meeting - Roper Gulf 31 Council meeting - Barkly Regional Council 31 Council meeting - Central Desert Activities - JUNE Council meeting - City of Palmerston 5, 6, 7 Workshop/Training - Procurement Officers 12 Council meeting - City of Darwin 13 Executive meeting - LGANT Executive 13 Council meeting - West Arnhem 16, 17, 18 Board Meeting and National General Assembly - ALGA Board 18 Committee Meeting - Alice Springs Town Council 19 Council meeting - City of Palmerston 19 Council meeting - Coomalie Community Government Council 19 Council meeting - Wagait Shire Council 20 Council meeting - Litchfield Council 20 Council meeting - Tiwi Islands 20 Council meeting - West Daly 25 Council meeting - Alice Springs Town Council 26 Council meeting - City of Darwin 26 Council meeting - Katherine Town Council 26 Committee meeting - Victoria Daly

3 Local Government Association of the Northern Territory Council meeting - Roper Gulf Council meeting - Barkly Regional Council Council meeting - MacDonnell LGANT GENERAL MEETING On 13 April 2018, LGANT held its bi-annual general meeting to discuss a range of local government related matters. During the meeting, the Minister for Housing and Community Development, the Hon Gerry McCarthy, MLA and Cr. Linda Scott, the President of the Local Government Association NSW and Councillor with the City of Sydney council addressed the forum. The Hon Gerry McCarthy MLA addresses LGANT delegates The Minister spoke on a number of issues that are relevant to local government including: confirming that the Australian Institute of Company Directors elected member training course was proceeding in May;

4 the Sea Swift Ferries initiative to engage with councils on a possible cash for containers scheme; the progress on creating a new council from Coomalie and Belyuen councils; ongoing deliberations about conditional rating the review of the NT Local Government Act and NT Local Government (Accounting) Regulations; the release of an Exposure Draft on the new Cemeteries Act; matters associated with local authorities and local decision making; new housing repair and maintenance and tenancy management contract arrangements; and achieving shared procurement amongst road authorities and getting cooperation on coordinated works between authorities The Minister also considered a number of questions from delegates, to which he was able to respond and also undertook to provide more elaborate responses following the meeting. Cr Linda Scott - President Local Government Association NSW (Photo courtesy D. Ryan)

5 Councillor Linda Scott was the key note speaker at the LGANT General meeting held in City of Darwin s function room on Friday 13 April, Cr Scott is a councillor on the City of Sydney Council and is the current President of the Local Government Association of NSW. The focus of Linda s address was on planning for future activities that are likely to impact on all Australians. Of current significance to the City of Sydney is the planning for development within an urban environment that does not have the necessary infrastructure to support an increased population. Cr Scott observed that the experience of her council is not dissimilar to those of regional remote NT councils and Linda indicated that methods used by those remote councils to address their issues are being looked at for use by the City of Sydney Council. Planning to enhance community resilience against an increasing frequency of environmental events as well as those shock events (like the Lindt Café siege), should also be at the forefront of councillors considerations. Both types of event will affect the community and councils need to have strategies in place to address issues that may arise from such an event. In closing, Cr Scott also emphasised that elected members are representatives of their community and should be bringing worthy community causes to the attention of council, without fear or favour. Outcomes from the meeting included (among other matters): accepting the annual priorities of the LGANT 5 year Strategic Plan ; adopting the LGANT budget and membership fees; and supporting the NT Government implementing all the recommendations arising from the review of the Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Final Report. The next General meeting which will be followed by the Annual General Meeting will be held again in Darwin on 1-2 November LONG SERVICE AWARD Following his address to the LGANT General meeting on 13 April 2018, Minister McCarthy took the opportunity to recognise LGANT President, Mayor Damien Ryan for his 10 years service to local government in the Northern

6 Territory. Mayor Damien Ryan and the Hon Gerry McCarthy MLA (Photo courtesy Mali Banks) Elected as Mayor of Alice Springs in March 2008, Mayor Ryan is passionate about promoting and working for the Alice Springs community. He works tirelessly towards making Alice Springs the best possible place to live, work and visit. Mayor Ryan is strongly committed to the sustainable development and advancement of Alice Springs.

7 In addition to being the President of the Local Government Association NT; Mayor Ryan is the Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association; an NT Grants Commissioner; Deputy Chair of the Outback Highway Development Council and Vice-President of the Finke Desert Race. He is also a White Ribbon Ambassador. Congratulations Mayor Ryan on achieving this milestone. CONGRATULATIONS FINKE (APUTULA) LGANT wishes to congratulate Finke (Aputula) community on their recent success at the 2018 National Tidy Towns Awards held in Barmera, South Australia. Finke won two National category awards and received a highly commended in a third National category. Results were: Winner Community Action & Well Being (Joint) Winner Heritage and Culture Highly Commended Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management and Resource Recovery. For the community to be broadly recognised at a national level, judged against the Tidy Towns winners in the other states of Australia, is testimony to the hard work by all who reside and work at Finke. It demonstrates the community has a strong focus on sustainable practices and successful collaborations in their community. They are creating a healthy community that engages with groups from all sectors, and has a commitment to improving the lives of their residents. The Finke (Aputula) video presentation can be viewed on the MacDonnell website.

8 Winners are Grinners - Finke representatives at National Tidy Towns Awards (Photo courtesy - MacDonnell ) All communities can enjoy successes similar to the Finke community and are strongly encouraged to participate in the KAB program. On the few occasions that we get special recognition for doing our good work, it is important to recognise how we support each other and work together to achieve our goals.

9 ALGA COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE REGISTER At a recent Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) board meeting a range of issues was discussed. One of these issues was the Community Infrastructure Register, which is an initiative of the ALGA to maintain a central register of potential community infrastructure projects around Australia. ALGA will draw on this register in building the evidence base to strengthen the case for a Commonwealth funding program to assist councils to undertake vital projects to meet community needs. Further detail can be found at aspx Australian Government increases commitment to iconic Outback Way The Australian Government will deliver another $160 million to seal and widen priority sections of the iconic Outback Way, taking the Government's total commitment to the route to $330 million and continuing the Government's commitment to nation building and improving regional connectivity. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said the additional investment builds upon a longstanding commitment to progressively upgrade the route, which links Laverton in Western Australia with Winton in Queensland via Alice Springs and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. A better Outback Way means better links between Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, improved travel times and operating costs, better flood immunity, improved access to remote communities and mining operations and a safer road, Mr McCormack said. This latest funding builds on the important upgrades already completed or underway thanks to the Liberal and Nationals Coalition Government, including the Government's $100 million 2016 election commitment, and

10 a further $28 million committed under the Northern Australia Roads Program. The Liberal and Nationals Government's strong economic management is enabling us to make crucial investments in infrastructure like this that will grow our economy and create jobs. Today's funding follows the announcement of nation building projects already announced in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales in recent weeks. Further detail can be found at OUTBACK WAY NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY (NGA) OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT JUNE 2018 NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, CANBERRA AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE: MAKE IT LOCAL Remember to include these dates in your diary and discuss with your council the opportunity to attend. Convened annually by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government is the peak annual event for Local Government, attracting in excess of 800 Mayors and Councillors each year. This event provides a unique opportunity for Local Government to engage directly with the Federal Government, to develop national policy and to influence the future direction of our councils and our communities. Further information can be found at the ALGA website.

11 2018 Local Government Procurement Program 5 to 7 June 2018 The Local Government Procurement Program is to be held on 5 to 7 June LGANT is consulting with the Local Government NSW - Procurement Division and Arc Blue, as service provider, regarding the course content. The three day (3) event which will consist of two days of Procurement Principles and Advanced Contract Management training delivered by one of Australia s leading procurement and contract management training organisations, Arc Blue, to be followed by a one day expo. The 2 days training, compliant with NT Legislation, will be targeted at those who wish to advance their skills in high risk, complex contract management, such as finance and procurement officers or those simply wishing to learn more in this area- an important factor in continuous improvement for any business. The one day forum includes presentations from relevant procurement representatives from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), National Procurement Network -Local Buy and WALGA, Contractor Accreditation Ltd (CAT) and Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT). Registration particulars have recently been circulated to all councils. For further information contact LGANT on or info@lgant.asn.au

12 Reforms to reduce impact of natural disasters in Australia Following the recent floods, cyclones and fires that have greatly impacted communities across the country, the Turnbull Government will establish a National Resilience Taskforce to reduce the impacts of natural disasters on the Australian community. The Taskforce will sit within the new Home Affairs Department and will lead nation-wide reforms to reduce the impact and financial burden of disasters on our communities and economy. Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Angus Taylor said the Taskforce's first priority is to develop a five-year national disaster mitigation framework to reduce the impact of disasters. "The framework will be developed in consultation with the states and territories and the private sector, including insurance and finance, and will seek to limit risks, provide prevention strategies, and improve decision-making," Mr Taylor said. "It will also establish a national disaster risk information capability to equip decision-makers and Australians with the knowledge they need to prepare for natural disasters. "Natural disasters have cost the Australian economy on average more than $18 billion per year for the past 10 years. "As Australians we know we are lucky to live in this beautiful country, but we are also all too familiar with the disruption and devastation bush fires, cyclones, flooding and droughts can cause. "The Australian Government is committed to working with the states and territories to prepare for future disasters, and will continue to provide more than $26 million per year for Natural Disaster Resilience. "This issue requires strong national leadership and coordination, and our ambitious reform agenda will seek to deliver a united approach to enhancing the nation's resilience." The Taskforce will be led by Mark Crosweller AFSM, the former Director General of Emergency Management Australia, and will comprise about 20 staff from across the Home Affairs Portfolio. The Taskforce will work closely with Emergency Management Australia,

13 ensuring a dedicated focus to the framework and the Government's disaster mitigation reform agenda. Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) Spontaneous Volunteers Planning Clinic 10 May Darwin AIDR is currently rolling out a utilisation event for the newly published Communities Responding to Disasters: Planning for Spontaneous Volunteers Handbook About the clinic This clinic will provide guidance on applying the principles to plan for spontaneous volunteers in disasters as outlined in Communities Responding to Disasters: Planning for Spontaneous Volunteers Handbook. In these interactive clinics, participants will be provided with the skills and resources to work with and plan for spontaneous volunteers. In addition to the lead presenter, guest presenters in each jurisdiction will provide context and information specific to the local setting. Participants will collaborate to examine the opportunities and barriers for their own organisations, and to identify how to effectively plan for and engage with spontaneous volunteers before, during and after an emergency. Who should attend These clinics are designed to benefit those working with, and planning for spontaneous volunteers before, during and after an event. The clinic will support those working in volunteer management, recruitment and policy making from organisations such as; local, state, and commonwealth governments, volunteering groups including emergency volunteers, community groups and emergency services and emergency management organisations Fee $ per person including GST

14 AIDR will be offering limited sponsored places to volunteers and community groups to enable them to participate in these events. Clinic Date and Location 10 May Darwin Further information can be found at Planning for Spontaneous Volunteers Registrations now open for Australian Disaster Resilience Conference 6-7 September 2018 Our understanding of disaster resilience is changing. With new groups, new technologies and new partnerships, we have a chance to build new approaches to tackle the challenges. Organised by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, the first-ever Australian Disaster Resilience Conference will be held in Perth on 6-7 September 2018, to share thinking and practice in meeting the challenges of future disasters. The Conference will explore: disaster resilience strategy and policy new directions in resilience thinking education for young people animals in disasters measuring and assessing disaster resilience community recovery innovative case studies that demonstrate disaster resilience in practice. Tailored for a diverse audience, including local government, communities, NGOs, research organisations, education partners and the private sector, join the sector for two energising days of keynotes, panels, workshops, networking and more - all curated to broaden learning and encourage lively debate and discussion. The Conference will provide an opportunity to share lessons and good practice and build a more inclusive and diverse community committed to building disaster resilience across Australia. Register now to help shape the future thinking and action in disaster resilience.

15 NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK 30 April - 6 May 2018 Drive so others survive TOWARDS ZERO DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON NT ROADS SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY WEARING A YELLOW RIBBON AND FOLLOWING TOWARDS ZERO ON SOCIAL MEDIA VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES for more information Towards Zero National Road Safety Week follow on twitter forward to a friend subscribe to this newsletter Send news stories as they occur to: info@lgant.asn.au Thanks to our sponsors Copyright 2013 Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because you are a local government staff or elected member OR because you have opted into our mailing list. Our mailing address is: Local Government Association of the Northern Territory PO Box 2017 Parap, NT, 0804 Australia unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences