12 November 2020

Well done to the many councils across the state who made it possible for people to celebrate and reflect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements with a range of events this NAIDOC week. Despite COVID-19, we were spoilt for choice. Well done!

We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain vastly under-represented as elected councillors, making up just 1.9% of councillors in NSW. LGNSW would like to see change and has written to the NSW Government seeking support for a coordinated and well-resourced campaign to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to run for council at next year’s council elections.

It is also National Recycling Week, a good time to reinforce the need to overhaul the State’s waste and recycling management systems and do more to Save Our Recycling. We hope the upcoming Budget will provide much needed funding to help local government deal with the more than 580,000 tonnes of recycling from households’ yellow bins, that will need to be processed locally - starting January 2021 when the waste export bans begin. Refer to LGNSW’s media release.

This week I paid Mosman Council a visit, and I am looking forward to seeing more of our members, virtually and in-person, at the ALGA Roads Regions and Resilience conference in Wagga Wagga next week.

In parliament and regulatory news
We’re into the final sitting of the NSW Parliament, and the NSW State Budget will be delivered on 17 November. LGNSW has called for the NSW Government to invest big in local infrastructure and services to spearhead a locally led economic recovery. Refer to LGNSW’s media release and Budget submission.

LGNSW has also written to the Hon Bronnie Taylor, MLC and other members of the Legislative Council asking that the debate on the Local Land Services Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2020 be deferred until local government has been consulted on proposed measures.  LGNSW will keep you updated on developments. For more information email Susy Cenedese LGNSW Strategy Manager.

Latest advocacy wins!

• Great news! The State Government today announced Councils across NSW will be eligible to apply for grants up to $1 million to revitalise public spaces - outdoor dining, wider footpaths, lighting and art, and measures to ease traffic - to stimulate small business and bring more life back to local areas under the $15 million program. Applications close 29 January 2021. We thank the NSW Government for responding to our call for funding for councils to create vibrant outdoor experiences. 
• Dubbo’s finally getting a drug detox and rehab centre after a commitment by the State and Federal governments of more than $10 million. This is a major step forward for people struggling with drug addiction in the regions, as well as their families and communities. It follows unwavering support by Dubbo Regional Council, LGNSW and many in the local government sector. Refer to our media release.
• The NSW Government announced an extension of the COVID-19 relief funding for community and mobile preschools for 2021, which provides 15 hours of free care per child each week. Eligible services will be able to provide fee relief and maintain staffing levels, benefitting council-run preschools across NSW. LGNSW would like to see this funding relief extended to all early learning service types, not just preschool. For more information email Elizabeth Robertson, LGNSW Senior Policy Officer.

Opportunity
Are you the new Non-Executive Director of Local Government Super? Expressions of interest are sought from eligible, suitably qualified councillors who wish to be considered for appointment to the Board. Please email Bilyana Milenkovski for an information pack. Applications close 25 November 2020.

Reminder
The online Annual Conference is just days away. Don’t forget to register for the two demonstration sessions we’ve organised, to show you how to log into the event and the voting platforms for registered voting delegates - 10am Thursday, 12 November and Friday, 13 November.

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