January 2010 Main Articles Climate change remains strong on the agenda for 2010 The economy is recovering from the global financial crisis and councils are still working to finalise major projects funded under the Federal Government’s $1 billion stimulus package, but President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Councillor Geoff Lake, said that climate change will be the issue for Local Government in 2010. Editorial: Copenhagen highlights climate change on global agenda Although December’s Copenhagen climate change summit produced an underwhelming result, the event in itself has placed a far greater global emphasis on the need for action than we have ever seen before. COAG focuses on health and urban planning The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 28th meeting at Parliament House in Brisbane on 7 December. Camden’s harmony strategy ready as population grows Camden Council in Sydney’s southwest refused a development application in 2008 for an Islamic school in a rural area close to Camden. National LG Touch Carnival Parkes Shire Council in central west New South Wales is gearing up to host the next Annual National Local Government Touch Carnival on 27 February 2010 Commission misses the point on pokies The Good Oil by Rod Brown The Productivity Commission’s (PC) final report on gambling hits Ministers’ desks on 26 February and councils should be paying close attention because communities throughout Australia will face major problems if this issue is not handled intelligently. GreenFields makeover for Brimbank* On 15 December 2009, the Federal Member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten, officially opened the Keilor Park synthetic turf facility in Melbourne’s Brimbank City Council. 2010 – Ready, set, go! It’s been an exciting year for the Shire of Busselton in Western Australia’s southwest, and if the number of major projects scheduled for the next 12 months is any indication, 2010 looks set to be just as full and exciting. LG to take stronger action on alcohol The launch of a new resource by ICLEI Oceania aims to provide councils with greater confidence and clarity when addressing alcohol related harms in their municipality. Liquor Accord recognised for injury prevention Following the highly successful relaunch of the Town of Vincent’s Liquor Accord, the initiative has been Highly Commended in the Injury Prevention category of the Injury Control Council of Western Australia (ICCWA) Awards. Recharge scheme: ‘you have the power!’ More than half of Victoria’s 79 councils are demonstrating their commitment to support users of mobility aids through a Recharge Scheme initiated by Nillumbik Shire Council in 2006. Stronger focus needed on free access and inclusion With almost one fifth of Australians living with some form of impairment, and one in 12 children suffering a disability, Local Government must do more to ensure full and free access is available to everyone. It’s playtime for all at Redland Redland City Council in southeast Queensland opened its new all abilities playground at Capalaba Regional Park for the holiday season, following the recent completion of Stage 3 works. Graffiti vandals sent to court* Two surprised graffiti vandals are facing charges in a South Australian court after being apprehended while spraying tags onto a Salisbury City Council property. Centre of Excellence officially opened In December, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, officially opened the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government. Communicators battle to reclaim local grunt* Increasingly, people are seeking certainty in a world brimming over with uncertainty. Adelaide reduces carbon emissions In September, Adelaide City Council unveiled another of many projects scheduled for 2009/2010 under the City’s Major Solar Panels Installation project. Helping communities to tackle climate change* Victorian Local Government has, for more than a decade, been working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, largely by developing and implementing mitigation strategies. Riverbank slumping: more than it’s cracked up to be South Australia’s Coorong District Council has implemented a risk management approach to address riverbank slumping caused by the ongoing drought. Coastal walk opens in Kiama Located 120 kilometres south of Sydney, Kiama Council recently opened a new section of the Kiama Coast Walk, providing the general public with access to previously unavailable coastline areas. Planning for a sustainable future* Among Local Governments and communities around the world there is a growing sense of urgency to address accelerating climate change. A key challenge for Local Governments is how to engage with their communities to mitigate its effect. Conversations in Kingborough A mobile red couch was a great conversation starter in Kingborough, Tasmania, last year, with young people taking a seat to share their views on the area’s transport issues. Best practice Australian innovation for unsealed roads* Polycom Stabilising Aid is fast being adopted as the best practice method for unsealed road management. Local Governments around the country are embracing Delete the Re-Sheet. Farmers save time, money and the environment Like many regional councils, Towong Shire Council in northeast Victoria is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector. Victorian councils work with Tapex for a low cost recycling solution* Over 5,000 tonnes of silage film and covers are discarded after use every year in Australia. These products are made from high quality linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic, which does not break down when buried, is unsightly and presents a hazard to stock. New idea making solar more accessible to councils* In tough and often volatile economic times it’s difficult for councils and community groups to justify investing taxpayer dollars on solar power. Doing the right thing The UK Experience by Malcolm Morley* With the United Nations Climate Change Conference ending in only a ‘letter of intent’ rather than a binding agreement to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius above preindustrial times, the challenge remains of how the issue of climate change is to be dealt with in practice. Synthetic surfaces for all applications* As part of the Logic Australia group, Flexitec Rubber Surfaces is a major national supplier and installer of synthetic rubber, plastic and grass safety surfaces for children’s playgrounds, water play areas, swimming pool surrounds, school play and recreational areas, sporting grounds, and athletic running and jumping tracks, as well as surfacing for gymnasiums, equine and domestic applications.   Feature Council - Waverley Council Snapshot Waverley spans only 9.2 square kilometres and is the most densely populated Local Government area in New South Wales, with 61,689 residents calling it home. Waverley leads the way to diversity Waverley has been leading the way with significant numbers of women in leadership roles for many years. History of women in the top job Overall, Local Government has a low representation of women as Councillors and Mayors. Of the 1,468 elected Councillors in New South Wales, just 396 are female, with 31 women Mayors and one Lord Mayor. Spotlight on Mayor Sally Betts Waverley Mayor Sally Betts is now in her second consecutive year in Council’s top job. Women break down barriers in non traditional roles Womens profiles

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