Drought-ridden councils spearhead water collaboration

Faced with a dwindling water supply, Queensland’s agricultural powerhouse, the Lockyer Valley, is bouncing back through a unique council-led partnership.

16 April, 2018

Concern for council powers in EPA shake-up

In a move criticised as weakening councils’ ability to challenge environmentally destructive logging, the NSW Government will transfer some of the EPA’s responsibilities for protecting native vegetation.

13 April, 2018

Online tool to help governments plan solar use

A new platform that calculates the solar power potential of rooftops promises to help local councils and urban planners make decisions about investments in solar.

12 April, 2018

‘Crisis’ at the kerbside: groups seek federal action on waste, recycling

Recycled content would be a mandated component of government infrastructure projects under a new national plan put forward by the waste and recycling sectors.

10 April, 2018

International acclaim for Sydney water re-use project

The designers of Sydney Park’s wetlands, created on 40 hectares of former landfill, have again been recognised for their innovative approach.

3 April, 2018

Climate change adaptation: lessons from leading local governments

A group of councils in metropolitan Melbourne has collaborated to develop a framework that tracks their progress on climate change, writes Dr Susie Moloney.

2 April, 2018

Case study: organisations seek efficiencies through ‘integrated approach’

A shared online mapping tool and the provision of real-time data for both planners and field crews are among the first solutions a local council and water authority aim to develop together.

19 March, 2018

Councils, industry call for national waste and recycling plan  

Local government is scrambling to avoid a “recycling crisis” as China clamps down on accepting foreign waste, which threatens to derail councils’ collection of kerbside recycling, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.

19 March, 2018

States leading the way on energy storage

The Tesla battery farm in South Australia Australia’s states, and in particular South Australia, are leading a battery and energy storage boom which will transform the way energy is used and distributed in Australia. The Climate Council has released a new report on the technology: ‘Fully Charged: Renewals and Storage Powering Australia’. The report says […]

19 February, 2018

International Energy Agency gives Australia low marks for energy policy

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its first detailed analysis of Australian energy market in five years. It is not complimentary. Australia’s energy policy, it says, is uncoordinated and falling behind the rest of the world on many measures. The IEA is not given to overstatement. It is an OECD agency established in 1974 […]

15 February, 2018

Opinion – Murray Darling debacle shows the failure of federalism

The current standoff over water allocations in the Murray Darlin Basin is as good an example as you could ever find of how Australia’s federal system is broken. The Murray Darling Basin Plan was supposed to be the epitome of how Australia’s states and territories could work with each other and the Federal Government for […]

15 February, 2018

Blue Mountains City Council faces suspension – again

NSW Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton has moved to suspend Blue Mountains City Council, after doubts have being raised about the independence of its investigation into asbestos management. Ms Upton has issued a Notice of Intention to Suspend the council for three months and appoint an administrator. It has issued a previous Notice in December, […]

15 February, 2018

Local Government Super wins environmental awards

Local Government Super (LGS), the industry superannuation fund for NSW local government employees, has won two environmental awards for its property portfolio. It has been awarded a 5-Star Green Star rating for its entire direct property portfolio – the first portfolio in Australia to achieve the rating. It has also been named Australia’s ‘Best Green […]

11 February, 2018

Extreme Weather conference extremely timely

Extreme weather events are becoming more common. Heatwaves, floods bushfires and cyclones are more prevalent than ever, with Australia on the sharp end. Government News is a partner with the first Xtreme Weather Australia Conference, being held at Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel on 20 March 2018. Join Australia’s leading experts and communicators for the full day […]

6 February, 2018