Local government activities
Local governments play a vital role in bringing The Queensland Plan to life as councils constantly work to create connected and liveable communities for all Queenslanders.
As well as delivering a vast range of services directly to communities, councils continue to look to the future and work towards new models of sustainable growth.
The role of local government continues to evolve as communities’ needs and demands change, with councils finding innovative ways to solve problems old and new. From digital connectivity and literacy, to protecting natural assets and supporting economic and social well-being, there are not many areas of Queenslanders’ lives that councils do not touch.
Over the past 12 months there have been many case studies that highlight the diverse ways local governments are contributing to The Queensland Plan’s nine foundation areas: education; community; regions; economy; health and wellbeing; environment; people; infrastructure; and governance.
The examples below show the strength of councils in helping to deliver the Plan’s vision for Queensland. This is only a sample of the positive outcomes this year—the local government sector continues to work with the Queensland Government on this plan to see a healthier, more connected and prosperous future for everyone in this great state.
Mayor Mark Jamieson
President
Local Government Association of Queensland
Redland City Council
Designed to spark ideas on how to keep young people in the area after finishing school, Redland City Council hosted a youth innovation forum, RedGen, bringing together a line-up of successful young innovators to share their personal journey of how they turned their dream into reality.
Open to 18- to 30-year-olds who have lived in the Redlands, the Redland City Economic Development Advisory Board spawned the idea as part of Council’s commitment to supporting a vibrant and innovative local economy.
It represented the first in a series of Council forums to explore how innovative businesses can grow the local economy, recognising that one of the city’s best exports is its youth.
Within 24 hours of the forum’s survey going live, Council received more than 100 responses to participate.
For more information visit https://news.redland.qld.gov.au/2017/04/redlands-youth-innovation-forum-generates-fresh-ideas/.
The Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD)
The Remote Area Planning and Development Board continues to lead the way in engaging its community on the importance of digital communications to qualities such as community liveability, and attracting and retaining residents.
RAPAD—comprising the councils of Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Boulia, Blackall-Tambo, Diamantina and Barcoo shires in the state’s central west—this year produced a ‘digitally-enabled’ community strategic plan.
The Smart Central West Digital Strategy contains more than 40 recommendations to achieve a more digitally-enabled community to take advantage of opportunities to grow the regional economy.
RAPAD also hosted Startup Weekend Outback Edition, a first for remote Australia which saw 35 participants deliver 19 pitches covering a variety of issues.
For more information visit http://www.rapad.com.au/.
South West Regional Economic Development
Regional cross-promotion, enhancing business skills and building tourism products are the focus areas for the South West Regional Economic Development (SWRED) in boosting tourism numbers in the region.
A partnership with the then Department of Education and Training, University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and Tourism Events Queensland (TEQ), the tourism project saw students from five regions—Murweh, Quilpie, Bulloo, Balonne and Maranoa—embark on shire familiarisations to better prepare them to promote the whole region.
USQ also worked with local businesses and community to identify priority projects and their tourism potential.
Douglas Shire Council
Douglas Shire became the first council in Queensland to complete the first two phases of a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) under the QCoast2100 program.
Funded by the state government and facilitated by the Local Government Association of Queensland, the $12 million program is helping local governments impacted by coastal hazards as a result of climate change to get on the front foot in adaptation planning.
Council also teamed up with the Douglas Local Marine Advisory Committee to send a sustainability officer to a coastal management short course to help council strengthen its long-term disaster management planning.
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council
2017 was a big year for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, with projects like the seawall upgrade and revamp of the waste facility clear wins for the community. The Shire is also well into planning its 2018 centenary, with a focus on tourism this year through a series of workshops.
Council finished 2017 with a clean bill of financial health for the 12th year running, after a range of projects, upgrades and initiatives:
- upgrading the water treatment plant to ensure the shire’s water remains highest possible quality
- upgrading the seawall to protect the community from storm surges
- building netball courts and a clubhouse for the community
- working to completely redevelop the beautiful foreshore to make visiting and enjoying Palm Island even easier
- resurfacing and maintaining roads and bridges on the island and fencing at the aerodrome.
South Burnett Regional Council
Harnessing technology not yet used in Australia saw South Burnett Regional Council take out a Queensland Water Award for its Kingaroy Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade.
In partnership with Aquatec Maxcon the project delivered Australia’s first aerobic granular sludge, Nereda, with the plant achieving exceptional effluent quality and a significant reduction in both capital and operating expenses.
The project has received recognition by the Dutch Government, which issued a postage stamp celebrating the relationship between Australia and The Netherlands.
For more information visit https://www.awa.asn.au/documents/MR_2017_QLD_Water_Awards_winners_announced.pdf.
Maranoa Regional Council
Libraries across Maranoa offered free Tech Savvy Seniors Queensland training sessions designed to teach older people to use a variety of technologies to help them navigate the evolving digital world.
Local seniors participated in 19 different training modules covering a range of essential topics from introducing people to the internet and email to online shopping and banking, cyber safety and social media.
Funded by Telstra and the State Library of Queensland, the program will provide Queensland’s growing senior population with the skills needed to securely access essential services online.
http://www.maranoa.qld.gov.au/.
Ipswich City Council
Ipswich City Council is using drone technology to further its status as a smart city, using high definition photos and thermal imagery where it’s difficult for a human to access.
The data and images obtained from a variety of cameras will help monitor the condition of council assets, such as identifying cracks or movement in bridges or rust spots in building roofs and gutters which can be quickly fixed.
Some of the key benefit areas include asset management, disaster management, surveying of landfill and quarries, marketing and tourism, vegetation and pest management, and in the future, compliance. The areas for drone use have been identified where operational savings and efficiencies could be achieved.
In the instance of a disaster, drones could fly over flooded areas which are dangerous for SES volunteers to enter. This would help determine safer passageways. At quarry sites, drones could help with volumetric surveys to provide more accurate information of volumes of material being excavated.
Flyovers of conservation estates and other tourist spots would help further promote the attractiveness of the Ipswich region to a growing tourism market. Drones would be able to monitor over time the success of weed management programs and map the growth of revegetation areas.
For more information visit https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/drones-help-smart-city-push/.
Queenslanders working together
The Works for Queensland funding program supported regional councils across the state to undertake hundreds of infrastructure and maintenance projects in 2017, creating jobs as well as improved facilities for communities.
The program allows councils to manage the projects, determining priorities for their own region.
For more information visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pry058TL7uA.
