P18 People of Local Government Percy Payne P4 Council Collaboration During Wooroloo Bushfire Issue 113 | Apr/May 2021
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Western Councillor ISSUE 113 | APR/MAY 2021 COUNCIL PEOPLE OF LOCAL COLLABORATION DURING GOVERNMENT P4 WOOROLOO BUSHFIRE P18 PERCY PAYNE LOCAL GOVERNMENT Peer Support Team BRINGING A practical way to provide mediation and CLARITY TO conciliation support to Local Governments COMPLEXITY in Western Australia. The Peer Support Team is of confl ict and reduce the need for an initiative between the WA formal investigations or enquiries. Local Government Association The team will meet with the affected Australia’s Local Government sector. (WALGA) and Local Government Councillors and staff individually, as Our team of highly experienced lawyers strive for clarity and well as in a group setting, allowing Professionals WA. all parties to freely express their excellence in our legal advice to our clients. The team was formed to provide views in a neutral environment. conciliation, negotiation and The team will then assist the Local manage and solve the legal issues that face your Local mediation support to Local Government to develop outcomes Government. Governments that identifi ed issues and a path forward that is suitable for of relationship confl ict between all involved. Councillors, or between Councillors So, to head off possible confl ict or An international and senior staff. member of for the best resolution in situations Contact us today The key objective is to assist Local where it already exists, call one of the For any queries, contact Governments resolve these issues team on the Hotline Numbers below. [email protected] ph: 9200 4900 LOCAL Nick Sloan Candy Choo GOVERNMENT CEO CEO PEER SUPPORT WALGA LG Professionals WA TEAM HOTLINE Tel 9213 2025 Tel 9271 1136 > www.civiclegal.com.au NUMBERS Contents ISSUE 113 | APR/MAY 2021 02 From the CEO's Office 02 President’s Report 03 Minister for Local Government Report 03 LGIS Seroja Funding GOSNELLS 04 Fire Collaboration 06 Urban Canopy 08 Around The Nation 10 Around The State In Pictures 19 Synergy Advertorial 20 The People of Local Government 21 LGIS Update 22 Training Update 24 Procurement Update 25 Happy Place Campaign Update 26 Local Government Profile 28 Legal Update 29 State Council Briefs Welcome to Issue 113 of Western Councillor COVER: Brand new playground Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny (Children Children’s Playground) has opened in Wellington Square. ROCKINGHAM WANNEROO the area of business as usual that a Local Government feels the strain. I encourage all Local This initial milestone in Local Governments to consider how Government renewable energy they can assist. collaboration is the first step of WALGA staff have been to visit many where WALGA can assist to impacted areas to hear from provide a cost effective and smooth our Members first hand what it transition to a net-zero sector. is that they need – and we are There are many other opportunities now looking to progress those to realise benefits from group requests, whether it be through sustainable procurement, such as: sourcing additional resources carbon offsets, electric vehicles, across the sector or liaising with Chief Executive Officer hydrogen technologies, large-scale Mayor Tracey Roberts JP other agencies for their assistance. Nick Sloan roof top solar, renewable energy certificates and energy management Local Governments have once FROM THE systems – the list goes on. PRESIDENT’S again stepped up and performed some amazing tasks, continuing Whilst being mindful of the need services and supporting their CEO’S OFFICE to ensure any solutions also reflect REPORT communities, often whilst also the varied scope and needs of our facing their own personal impacts I’d like to share the current progress Members – and their own local The agility of Local Government as part of the same community. of our sector Energy Sustainability communities – if Local Government and the resilience of our Local Government staff have been and Renewables Project and the can realise a uniform body for communities have once again providing welfare checks and door exciting opportunities this may bring sustainability commitment and come to the fore, whether it be knocking to ensure vulnerable to our Members in possible avenues procurement, the sky’s the limit. in response to the devastating Some thoughts include: members of the community for expansion. impacts of Cyclone Seroja or the are OK, with many setting up • Develop a long term Power changing environment in Perth and The impetus for this project stems centres for people to access food from our approach in supporting Purchase Agreement (PPA) Peel with outbreaks of COVID-19 and electricity. Members by identifying emerging with a WA sources renewable and consequent restrictions. constraints in sector supply and energy generator. In one instance, Greater Geraldton WALGA is supporting our Members exploring ways in which to overcome staff put out the call to the • Establish community circular as they support their communities, their future impacts, as is the case community for generators, and economies where the sector with WALGA CEO Nick Sloan with the emerging focus on carbon received a staggering 60 units could build, develop and receive engaged in ongoing discussions neutral targets and their impact in one day! A great example of resources from renewable projects with the Chief Executive Officers of on procurement of energy and such as Local Government owned the generosity and resilient sprit those Local Governments impacted renewables technology. solar and wind farms. found amongst the community in by the cyclone. times of need. Our Commercial Development • Facilitate a movement in the Our LGIS service has confirmed team, led by Andrew Blitz and transportation sector through In the metro and Peel regions, advanced payments of $1 million to Toby Costanzo, have been actively electric and hydrogen fleet and we’ve been following the changing some impacted Members to enable engaging with the sector. This infrastructure development. circumstances closely – again them to commence clean up works consultation has established that through representation at this challenge is important to our • Sponsor, develop and operate immediately, with more likely to State Government Emergency Members and we have received sustainable local infrastructure come. This is one of the benefits Committee level and across outstanding support for developing projects to provide power of a mutual service structure in grid stability to our regional agency working groups, energy solutions enabling members which we are able to respond communities. communicating with Members as to make a sustainable transition more immediately to the needs different restrictions are imposed towards net zero emissions. • Enabling our communities directly of Members. by retailing our own renewable and sharing their implications for As at February this year, forty-six WALGA staff continue to represent energy to local residents and the sector. WALGA Members have made the sector in State Emergency providing a more affordable green Again, the resilience of the sector Climate Change declarations, Coordination Group and All Hazard solution to household power. and our communities are coming with many also having adopted Liaison Group meetings, with environmental policies with carbon • to the fore as we all respond with Provide community outreach and former WALGA staff member Mel neutral targets included. education on sustainability and agility and grace to challenges as Pexton recently announced as State how each and every ones of us can they arise. We have established a steering Recovery Controller for this event. committee of Local Government be a part of the positive change. Our status as leaders in the local In addition, we are looking to match appointed officers to provide In engaging with this project and community is further evidenced by up offers of assistance from Local guidance into the scope of this its expanded opportunities, Local requests for Local Governments Governments not immediately Project, with the initial approach Government can ensure they are and Elected Members to provide impacted across the service areas being to aggregate Local on the front foot in shaping this new their assistance in supporting the of administration, finance and rural Government energy supplies and era in energy, being able to claim State’s vaccination campaign. outreach and seeking to solve the related supply charges for a three our space in this emerging market We are being asked to help immediate problem of mulchers year agreement. This time frame has and supporting the commitments share across staff and local required to handle the large amount been set in order to realise optimum to climate change made by all levels communities the facts about costs, support Members in achieving of organic debris caused by the of Government. It’s an exciting vaccination and the benefits to policy targets and also align prospect and one I am looking cyclone. During emergencies be derived from being vaccinated contracts for future developments forward to exploring further together existing staff are diverted to dealing once eligible. To find out more and negotiations. with our Members. with the event and recovery about the campaign, got to www. responsibilities and it is often in rollup.wa.gov.au PAGE 2 CYCLONE SEROJA FUNDS FOR WORST HIT Minister for Local Government Hon John Carey MLA COMMUNITIES Emergency payments are being immediately FROM THE provided to Local Governments worst hit by cyclone Seroja to assist with their recovery. MINISTER Communities with severe