Premier’s Local Government Council – Meeting Report

7 December 2006

The Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) held its 19th meeting on 7 December 2006. The Premier welcomed Mayor Mike Gaffney to his first PLGC meeting as President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT). He also welcomed Michelle O’Byrne to her first meeting of the PLGC as the Minister Assisting the Premier on Local Government. Mayor Kevin Hyland was welcomed to his first meeting of the PLGC.

The PLGC was provided with a presentation on the 2007 ‘Ten Days on the Island’ program and informed about the excellent Local Government support and involvement.

The PLGC noted progress on a number of major projects it oversees:

• Strategic infrastructure project: The PLGC noted that the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources will be liaising with the LGAT, with a likely focus of the project in 2007 to be transport infrastructure.
• Regional Economic Development and Infrastructure (REDI) Plans: The Council was informed that the Department of Economic Development had released three key items to aid the planning and promotion of investment in Tasmanian. These are Edition 2 of the REDI Map, the REDI Report and the Tasmanian Prospectus. Regionally focused investment information is planned for release in 2007.
• Review of the Operations and Functions of the Local Government Board: The Council noted that the Issues Paper for the review of the operations and functions of the Local Government Board had been circulated for public consultation, with responses requested by 9 February 2007.
• Tripartite Partnership Agreement for Population Ageing in Tasmania: The PLGC noted that the ground breaking Agreement had been signed on 28 August 2006 and was being implemented. It also noted that the Commonwealth Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro, had praised the Agreement in the Senate and in his recent speech to the Australian Local Government Association Congress, and had recommended it to other States and Territories.

The PLGC agreed that local needs and issues related to young people are best pursued through bilateral Partnership Agreements, rather than through a statewide Partnership Agreement. It agreed that bilateral Agreements provide flexibility and recognition of the different approaches adopted by Councils.

The Council received reports and exchanged information on a range of issues, including action to address skill shortages in Local Government, the Premier’s Physical Activity Council, waste management and climate change. It was agreed that, as part of the 2007 PLGC Work Program, a new project would be undertaken to review the Statewide Partnership Agreement on Communication and Consultation.

Three meetings of the PLGC are scheduled in 2007, with the first meeting planned for April 2007 in Launceston.

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