I travelled to Broken Hill in my Prius, car-sharing with the two Greens Councillors from Lake Macquarie and a Greens supporter.
It was a long journey but well worth it to lobby fellow Councillors for those issues that are important to Newcastle, to network about issues of common concern and to discuss how things are done elsewhere.
The conference covered a range of motions from the member Councils (less than previous years but it was an election year!) including these motions from Newcastle which were successful:
23 - Newcastle Impact of Climate Change on Coastal and Estuarine Development
Newcastle City Council calls on the New South Wales and Federal Governments to determine and adopt a State-wide standard for Sea Level Rise to allow Council to have consistent planning levels for development assessment and strategic planning for coastal and estuarine areas in New South Wales.
The Local Government & Shires Association calls on the New South Wales State Government to make the State-wide standard for Sea Level Rise policy across the State.
48 - Shoalhaven & Newcastle Combined Motion Proposed Amendment of Local Government Act to Extend Alcohol Prohibition from Reserves to Roads and Car Parks
That the Local Government Association seek amendments to the Local Government Act to extend the prohibition of Alcohol Prohibited Zones to include nominated public spaces. The New South Wales Local Government Association write to the Minister for Local Government requesting that urgent consideration be given to:
1 Reviewing the provisions and penalties of both Alcohol Free Areas and Alcohol Free Zones to ensure that the legislation provides an effective and workable tool for Police to manage consumption of alcohol in streets and parks.
2 Particular attention be given in the review to increasing the penalties for consuming alcohol in an Alcohol Free Zone and Alcohol Free Area in line with penalties currently imposed for consuming alcohol on public transport.
3 Particular attention be given in the review to removing the requirement to warn a person who is consuming alcohol in an Alcohol Free Zone prior to alcohol being confiscated and a fine imposed.
161 - Newcastle *Rating and Annual Charges Structure
The New South Wales Local Government Association writes to the Minister and the Department of Local Government requesting an urgent review and increase in the pensioner subsidy which is currently set at $250 (shared equally between State and Councils).
Councils draw attention to the yearly impact on Council's budget, in a time of rate capping and serious under funding of infrastructure.
The New South Wales Local Government Association calls on the State Government to make an amendment to the existing legislation to allow a lower Stormwater Management Service Charge to be levied on land categorised as business where the land has a large site area but relatively minor areas of impervious material. Examples of such are golf courses, bowling clubs and racecourses. This would allow a different charging structure to be used for these property types from that implemented for significant stormwater producers such as heavy industry and major commercial businesses.
The New South Wales Local Government Association calls on the State Government to support an increase in the mandatory pension rebate granted in accordance with s575. The maximum amount granted annually is indexed by the same amount determined by the Minister in respect of rate pegging.
The New South Wales Local Government Association also supports an increase in the amount of subsidy currently paid to Councils.
The New South Wales Local Government Association moves that the pension subsidy be increased, effective for the 2009/2010 rating cycle, from 55% to 100%.
Eligible pensioners are not the responsibility of Local Government, and as such should not have any impact on a Council's expenditure.
Executive Note: This is existing Local Government Association policy or subject to ongoing work and appropriate representations.
165 - Newcastle *Section 94A Contribution
The Local Government Association calls on the Minister for Planning to ensure that the Department of Planning enters into meaningful dialogue with Local Councils on these issues in the future to ensure that the Community receives the full benefit accruing from new development.
Note from Council: Newcastle Council notes the decision on the amount of developer contribution for the redevelopment of the former Royal Newcastle Hospital site has been made by the New South Wales Government without any consultation with Newcastle City Council. Newcastle Council notes the decision by the New South Wales Government has cost the Community of Newcastle in the order of $1million in lost developer contributions for urgently needed civic improvements across the City Centre.
Executive Note: This is existing Local Government Association policy or subject to ongoing work and appropriate representations.
166 - Newcastle *Part 3A and Part 4 Private Certifiers
1 The Local Government and Shires Association write to the Premier and Minister for Planning to oppose in the strongest possible terms, his decision to allow private certifiers, under part 3A of the EP&A Act, to approve subdivision construction plans, carry out inspections and subdivision “sign offs” without any involvement from Councils.
2 The Local Government and Shires Association calls on the Minister to reconsider his stand on this matter.
Executive Note: This is existing Local Government Association policy or subject to ongoing work and appropriate representations.
Unfortunately this motion was narrowly not supported by the conference:
76 - Newcastle *Bus Shelters
1 The Local Government Association write to the Premier and the Minister for Transport, objecting to his statement that “the provision of bus shelters and bus seats is recognised across the State as the responsibility of Local Government”, and asks the Minister to indicate who recognises this?
2 The Local Government Association writes to the Minister for Transport, and the Minister for Local Government, to ask them to specify where in the NSW Local Government Act or any other State statute or regulation is it stated that:
• the provision and/or maintenance of bus shelters and seats; and
• the future replacement of shelters and seats provided in the past by State Transit, are statutory responsibilities of Local Government.
3 The Local Government Association calls on the Minister for Transport to provide evidence for his claim that State Transit and private bus operators have “no ability” to fund roadside infrastructure, other than bus stops and timetable displays, “because they are expected to operate commercially”.
4 The Local Government Association inform the Ministers that the expectation that Local Government should provide shelters and seats and fund replacements for those presently maintained by State Transit is yet another example of cost shifting and, therefore, unacceptable to Councils.
Other motions supported were:
5 - Lake Macquarie Support for a Two Tier System of Government
That the Local Government Association support a review into the Australian Constitution that examines the elimination of State Governments with the aim of having a two tier system of Government; that being the Federal Government supplemented by a system of regional Governments and the associated financial arrangements to support the new system.
22 - Lake Macquarie Sea Level Rise
That the Local Government Association lobby the NSW Government to establish a projected sea level rise figure of 0.91m consistent with upper level Department of Environment and Climate Change predictions, as the basis for coastal Councils to proceed with preparedness measures including risk assessment, policy development, community empowerment, and planning and development decisions.
23 - Newcastle Impact of Climate Change on Coastal and Estuarine Development
Newcastle City Council calls on the New South Wales and Federal Governments to determine and adopt a State-wide standard for Sea Level Rise to allow Council to have consistent planning levels for development assessment and strategic planning for coastal and estuarine areas in New South Wales.
The Local Government & Shires Association calls on the New South Wales State Government to make the State-wide standard for Sea Level Rise policy across the State.
24 - Lake Macquarie Coastline Management Manual
That the Local Government Association request that the NSW Government review and finalise its current review of the Coastline Management Manual
25 - Lake Macquarie NSW Coastal Council
That the Local Government Association request that the NSW Government re-establish the NSW Coastal Council.
40 - Gosford *Coastal Oil Exploration And/Or Mining of the Central Coast Region
That the Local Government Association make representations to the State Government requesting that Gosford City Council be included in the decision making process regarding any licences pertaining to the exploration or mining for oil off the sea basin area on the Central Coast of NSW.
L6 - The Executive Australian Government commitment on climate change
That the Australian Government be urged to:
• not merely meet, but instead substantially beat its Kyoto target of 108% of 1990 baseline greenhouse gas emission levels by 2012;
• introduce and implement (as early as possible in its first term) policies and programs designed to minimise the national carbon footprint as well as the necessary supporting provisions for an emissions trading scheme, fuel and building efficiency standards, clean energy production and related taxation reform;
• make firm commitments to stringent national greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 and each subsequent decade thereafter in order to achieve the stated 2050 target;
• be prepared to go beyond the stated reduction target of 60% by 2050 if the science and international agreements (and in particular the Bali roadmap discussions) so dictate; and
• develop and negotiate domestic, regional and international agreements (even bilateral agreements) to accelerate the process of implementing strong and comprehensive global action.
L23 – Leichhardt Bicycle Advanced Storage Boxes
That the Local Government Association:
• Notes a lack of adequate State Government support for bicycle facilities throughout NSW;
• Calls on the NSW Government to redress this inadequate support for bicycle facilities particularly in matters such as instructing the Roads and Traffic Authority to proceed with the installation of bicycle advanced storage boxes at signalised intersections.
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