Local Government Activities

Local government offers a vital contribution to the effort to bring The Queensland Plan to life and to the prosperity and liveability of Queensland communities.

Through a vast and diverse range of initiatives, councils are at the forefront of delivering services that meet the current and future needs of their residents, visitors and local businesses. The role of local government has evolved considerably in recent decades from its traditional mandate to one where we are very much at the heart of planning and supporting the economic and social well-being of Queensland and the protection of its outstanding natural assets.

Local government has embraced the importance of incorporating strategy and innovation into our operations to achieve the outcomes our communities require. Improving productivity, fostering connectivity and being responsive to our customers are hallmarks of our approach. Queensland councils are willing travellers on this exciting journey.

In the past 12 months in particular, local government has led many activities that align with The Queensland Plan’s nine foundation areas: education; community; regions; economy; health and wellbeing; environment; people; infrastructure; and governance. The case studies below demonstrate how local government is contributing to the plan’s vision for Queensland.

Local government looks forward to working with the Queensland Government on this important strategy and playing its part in securing a more prosperous, healthier and liveable future for all Queenslanders.

Mayor Mark Jamieson
President
Local Government Association of Queensland

Aurukun Shire Council

Aurukun Shire Council has long craved opportunities to develop its economy, generate jobs for locals and promote and preserve its community’s cultural heritage. This year, the council unveiled plans to introduce tourism to the Cape York community and provide visitors with an authentic Indigenous experience.
The council will document walking trails, significant historical sites and scenic waterfront locations and is exploring options including fly-in, fly-out tours for people wanting to meet acclaimed local Wik and Kugu artists or experience camping and fishing with Aurukun’s Traditional Owners. By introducing tourism ventures on country, the council will enable Traditional Owners to develop their own businesses, generate employment and preserve and showcase their culture.

Barcoo and Diamantina shire councils

Patchy phone service and unreliable internet connectivity had held back five remote towns—Stonehenge, Jundah, Windorah, Birdsville and Bedourie—in western Queensland.

The shires of Barcoo and Diamantina united to spearhead a campaign for vastly improved communication services. The result of their advocacy was a $21.5 million project that will see Telstra and federal, state and local governments contribute to the roll-out of 400km of fibre-optic cable to connect the towns and bring them up to speed with world standards.

Local government has partnered with the University of Southern Queensland to measure the digital benefits of the upgrade to these two shires, particularly the delivery of public services and the impacts on local businesses.

Cairns Regional Council

Like all local governments, Cairns Regional Council faces financial constraints and continues to investigate ways to achieve cost savings while maintaining, or even improving, its levels of service. The council introduced a GPS remote monitoring program to maximise productivity of its resources, which include $4.7 billion worth of assets, 1200 staff members, approximately 470 mobile vehicles and plant items and 2073 hectares of maintained parkland.

Whether it be performing services such as street sweeping, public bin collections, lawn mowing or animal management, the program has led to more informed logistical decision-making and generated a positive return on investment.

Cherbourg and Yarrabah Aboriginal shire councils

Several councils have teamed up with their local police to develop innovative ways of reducing anti-social behaviour in their communities.

Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council has installed smart lights which, combined with closed-circuit television cameras, helps deter or capture offenders who commit offences such as graffiti and property damage.

Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council has deployed noise sensors to reduce offences associated with “party houses”.

Ipswich City Council

As one of Queensland’s fastest growing cities, Ipswich has a strong track record in driving the innovation agenda. Ipswich City Council this year launched Fire Station 101, Australia’s only fully government-backed hub that brings together an inspiring workplace, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Fire Station 101 provides contemporary workspaces, high-speed data/high-capacity internet and Wi-Fi, networking/business development/investment pathways, event space for more than 100 people, and mentoring, training and professional development. The facility’s overall aim is to inspire innovation and help entrepreneurs succeed.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Engaging the community is a must for any government body. Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s interactive budget allocator has given residents the opportunity to have a say in how their rates are spent.

The online tool, launched this year, is designed to determine the community’s priorities in regards to services, helping the council determine how frequently to mow parks or grade unsealed roads. The allocator also helps residents understand the direct connection between levels of service, the budget and rates.

Sunshine Coast Council

Sunshine Coast Council this year unveiled its commitment to Australia’s first automated waste collection system for a CBD. The $21 million system will be installed in the new Maroochydore City Centre—Australia’s only green field CBD at this time—and making it one of the cleanest, greenest and most innovative cities in the country. Waste will be placed into three separate inlets—organic, recyclable and general—built into commercial buildings, apartments and public areas and transported at a speed of up to 70km/h through a 6.5km network of underground vacuum pipes beneath the city centre. The system, to be delivered by Envac, will eliminate the need for wheelie bins and rubbish trucks, reduce odours and the presence of vermin in public and lower the cost of daily street-cleaning.

Winton Shire Council

With its community enduring drought, economic hardship and reduced government funding, Winton Shire Council is constantly exploring ways to be innovative and sustainable to survive financially.

By early next year, the council will commission its $3.5 million geothermal power plant, which will convert heat from an existing artesian bore into a long-term energy source for the town. The facility will offset almost all of council’s energy use with renewable power. It will be the first time in Australia that this form of energy production has been adopted to deliver such wide-ranging benefits.

Drones

The LGAQ has commissioned reports to identify the value that drones can provide to local government. Its research has revealed opportunities to collect data more efficiently in activities including volumetrics, asset management, pest and weed control, compliance management and disaster recovery.

Local government is also participating in “Beyond Visible Line of Sight” drone trials on the Next Generation technology mobile phone network.

Digital economy

The Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD), a local government body, has championed initiatives and driven strategies to ensure their councils capitalise on opportunities presented by the digital economy, particularly in the form of new jobs and skills.

The LGAQ’s bi-annual Digital Productivity Report highlights insights into how councils are using technology to perform services more efficiently and engage better with their communities.