News
Centre for Local Government has moved!The CLG offices have relocated from Level 11 to Level 6 of the UTS Building 10. To find us, you can enter from Jones Street and walk through the atrium to the lifts at the Wattle Street end of the building. Alternatively, the same lifts can be accessed from the footpath entrance on Wattle Street. There is a pay parking station underneath the building (enter from Thomas Street). All telephone and fax numbers are unchanged.
Click here to download directions. |
Upcoming Short CoursesThe Centre's short courses provide top quality training that is recognized as part of our graduate programs. Only UTS offers this advantage to maximize long-term value for money. Upcoming courses include:
• Corporate Management and Organisation Change: starts 15 Sept • Advanced Development Assessment: starts 20 Sept • Development Control: starts 21 Oct • Development & Building in Bushfire Prone Areas (Melbourne): starts 25 Oct • Building Regulation: starts 28 Oct • Integrated Strategic Planning: starts 1 Nov For further information on all our courses please go to the short course schedule. There is also an FAQ section for short course enquiries. |
Accredited CertifiersThere is strong demand for the Certification Short Course approved by the Building Professionals Board. Register your interest now so that we can provide courses to match your needs. Go to the short course schedule for a registration form. |
Headlines
- Sydney Seminar on Climate Change More
- July Edition of Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance published More
- Launch of the Governing Sydney Project. More
- Cancer Council Local Government Engagement Strategy. More
- Centre Welcomes New Staff. More
- Brisbane Workshop on Pacific Local Government. More
- 2010 Local Government Management Challenge. More
- CLAIR Forum In Perth. More
- Integrated Planning and Reporting Program. More
- Forum of Federations on Capital Cities. More
- Other Current and Recent Projects. More
- Recent Events and Seminars. More
- Recent Conference Presentations. More
Feedback
Your feedback about our website is always appreciated. Please contact clg@uts.edu.au.
Sydney Seminar on Climate Change by Tony Jackson
As part of his extended Australian study trip, Professor Tony Jackson of the University of Dundee visited the Centre on Thursday 2 September and gave a seminar called "Scottish responses to climate change: mitigation and adaptation strategies for the development process".
Our audience learned that Scottish responses to this issue are seemingly advanced. As Professor Jackson outlined, UK and Scottish climate change legislation sets out legally-binding targets for the abatement of greenhouse gases, and offered a critical review of Scottish Government proposals both for realising such targets (mitigation) and for accommodating inescapable consequences of global warming commitments (adaptation). A particular focus was on legislation claimed to be world-leading and designed to mainstream environmental considerations in Scottish policy formulation (the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005). The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) obligations imposed on Scottish policy-makers was briefly examined in the light of the Local Footprints Initiative. This provides a means to quantify ecological and carbon footprints and which is being piloted by some Scottish local authorities as a way of proofing their development plan proposals for climate change implications.
Professor Jackson's Presentation at the Climate Change Seminar
Tony Jackson is with the School of Social & Environmental Sciences (Town and Regional Planning), University of Dundee, and is a past chair of the Institution of Economic Development (the UK's premier professional body for local development practitioners). Tony is a recognized authority on sustainable development, and has worked in Africa, Europe, Australasia and North America on economic and environmental issues.
For a copy of Professor Jackson's presentation click here [PDF - 918KB]
Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance
From intergovernmental relations in Ghana, local decision-making in Papua New Guinea, to the nature of local government in federal systems, the latest Issue of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance makes compelling reading about particular aspects of local government in the Commonwealth today. To view this the July issue or view our closing dates for 2010, please follow this link MORE
Launch of the Governing Sydney Project
On 29 April the Centre launched its new Governing Sydney project. This is being conducted by Centre associate Jeremy Dawkins, a former Sydney Harbour Manager and Chairperson of the Western Australian Planning Commission. It flows in part from the Roundtable on Metropolitan Governance convened by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government in December.
The launch took the form of a seminar at UTS featuring a presentation on recent Canadian experience by Dr Enid Slack, Director of the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance, University of Toronto. This was followed by a roundtable discussion amongst over 30 senior academics, planning and governance practitioners, and business and local government leaders.
Click here for further details of the Governing Sydney project.
Edith Slack's Presentation at the Governing Sydney Project Launch
Cancer Council Local Government Engagement Strategy
Cancer Council NSW seeks to defeat cancer through engaging the community, and local government is one of their important partners in helping achieve this ambition. The Cancer Council recognises that local government is a 'change agent' that can and does foster change in a community, because local government has a custodial role over the environments and instruments that affect exposure to cancer risks and impacts.
The UTS Centre for Local Government is preparing a series of publications which outline the relevance of cancer control to local government, describe a menu of key cancer control issues, and provide an overview of strategies which local government can undertake to address these issues. In addition, the Centre is working with Hazel Storey to prepare a training program for the Cancer Council workforce to equip them with the knowledge, skills, confidence and tools to maximise relationships with the local government sector.
For further information contact Stefanie Pillora.
Centre welcomes new staff
The Centre recently welcomed two new staff members.
Ann O'Loughlin has replaced Chris Watterson as Short Courses Coordinator. Chris is taking an extended break for overseas travel and will transfer to ACELG on his return.
In addition, Karen Purser has joined ACELG - but based at UTS - as Program Coordinator for the federally-funded Women in Local Government program that CLG has helped develop over the past few years.
Brisbane Workshop on Pacific Local Government Projects
The Centre continues to be closely involved in two major local government capacity building projects in the Pacific, managed by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum through its Suva, Fiji office. These are the regional Pacific Local Government Project covering nine Commonwealth countries from PNG in the west to Samoa in the east, and the Honiara City Council capacity building project in the Solomon Islands. The Centre provides monitoring and evaluation advice, as well as some technical support
On 13-14 Program Manager Robert Mellor participated in a 2-day workshop in Brisbane aimed at developing an updated regional strategy for local government capacity building. The workshop was attended by delegates from eight Pacific Island Countries, as well as representatives of aid agencies and development partners. It identified opportunities to build on the strengths of the existing regional project and will be followed by a second workshop in May or June to begin articulating a revised strategy and results-based project management framework.Also, in late 2009 Centre Director Graham Sansom worked with New Zealand consultant Kim Whitaker to complete a mid-term review of the Honiara project.
Also, in late 2009 Centre Director Graham Sansom worked with New Zealand consultant Kim Whitaker to complete a mid-term review of the Honiara project. Much of the information obtained will feed into the Centre's research on Pacific local government legislation.
For further details contact Graham Sansom.
2010 Local Government Management Challenge
This year the Centre was engaged by Local Government Managers Australia to undertake a comprehensive update of the LGMA's Australia-New Zealand Local Government Management Challenge. Program Manager Dr Robert Mellor developed a completely new scenario for the Challenge and a set of new tasks. He also introduced use of modern IT to the event for the first time.
The Centre then facilitated the NSW Regional Challenge, held over 3 days on 15-17 March, with 25 teams entering from across the State. This was won by Tweed Shire Council, with Randwick City second, and Wollongong City third.
The Tweed team will now take part in the national final, which will be held in Melbourne 3rd July. It will be coordinated by Robert Mellor and will also feature an updated format and new tasks.
Action at the 2010 Local Government Management Challenge
CLAIR Forum in Perth
On 10 March the Centre's Japanese partner CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) held its annual Forum in Perth, in conjunction with the WA Local Government Association and City of Stirling. The theme was Local Government Reform, currently a highly controversial issue in Western Australia. Visiting speakers from Japan included Prof Sachio Konishi, former chair of the Advisory Committee on Municipal Amalgamation, and Mr Osamu Niitsu, formerly Deputy Secretary General of the Hokuto City Amalgamation Transitional Committee. Centre Director Graham Sansom presented an overview of recent reform initiatives across Australia.
For further details contact Graham Sansom and click here for a copy of his presentation.
A full summary of the Forum proceedings can be found at the Japan Local Government Website.
CLAIR Forum Perth
Integrated Planning and Reporting Program
The Centre's new program to help council's prepare for the NSW Department of Local Government's integrated planning and reporting framework (or simply upgrade their existing strategic planning and Management Plans framework) is gaining momentum. The Centre is currently working with two councils and has undertaken preliminary work or had discussions with several others.
This Program aims to build in-house capacity for the medium-long term and is NOT a traditional consultancy service for preparing plans. It offers councils appropriate guidance, training, mentoring and support, enabling them to prepare and implement their own new-style community strategic and related corporate plans. The Program brings together a team of highly experienced local government practitioners, consultants and facilitators who can provide the support needed by councils to move ahead with the planning and reporting reforms.
For further details click here.
Capital Cities in Federal Systems
In 2008 the Centre was commissioned by the Forum of Federations to undertake the Australian component of a global research study into the Finance and Governance of Capital Cities in Federal Systems. The study compared Canberra with other federal capitals in Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
A book based on the study was launched by the Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government, on the 14th of December at the launch of the new Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government. Key questions addressed include:
- How is the capital city governed - is it a city-state, a city within a province or state, or a federal district? Is there a capital commission?
- What are the responsibilities of the capital city and how are they funded? How have responsibilities and revenues changed over the last 20 years?
- How much financial support does the federal government provide for its capital city? How does this arrangement differ with respect to other cities?
- What are the major issues around the capital city? Are there fiscal issues around federal funding of the city? Are there governance issues around who is responsible for decision-making? Are there unique planning issues around keeping the capital city beautiful, maintaining green space, etc.? How are these issues being resolved?
For further information, contact Graham Sansom, or visit the Forum of Federations website.
Other Current and Recent Projects
The Centre undertakes a broad range of research and consultancy projects. Current projects include:
- Review of economic development and tourism programs for Tweed Shire Council (with Gibbs Consulting)
- Integrated planning and reporting support, for Richmond Valley, Yass, Snowy River and Willoughby Councils (with Martin Bass Consulting). For more details of the Centre's IPR program, click here.
- Support for implementation of the revised National Framework for Women in Local Government and development of gender equity program, for the Australian Local Government Women's Association. More.
- Pacific local government capacity building projects. More.
- Research into principles for more effective local government legislation in the Pacific. More.
In addition, the Centre has recently completed the following:
- Research into Drivers and Barriers for Sustainability within Local Government, for NSW Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (with Institute for Sustainable Futures). For a copy of the stage one report, please click here.
- Strategic Directions Review and Resource Sharing Implementation Strategy, for Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (with Gibbs Consulting).
- Development of Capacity Building Guidelines and Training Packages for the Integration of Natural Resource Management into Local Government Operations, for NSW Local Government and Shires Associations (with Walsh Consulting and Gibbs Consulting). More
- Research Paper on Service Delivery in Local Government, for Penrith City Council. For a copy of this paper, please click here.
For further information on any of these projects, contact Sarah Artist or Graham Sansom.
Conference Presentations
Recent presentations have included:
Local Government under a New Federalism, LGMA National Congress, Gold Coast, May 2008.
Property Rating: Recent Developments in Australia, University of Western Cape, South Africa, January 2009.
© Copyright UTS
(CRICOS Provider No: 00099F)
Last Modified 9 September 2010 10:15 AM
Site Authorised by Director, CLG
Comments to clg@uts.edu.au
Disclaimer | Privacy Statement | UTS homepage