Motorola tuned out of government radio deal

By Paul Hemsley The New South Wales Government has changed channels on the day-to-day management, monitoring, maintenance and service restoration of the state’s Government Radio Network. The NSW Telco Authority, which oversees government radio communications assets and services, has confirmed that it will move from Motorola to Airwave in a deal that aims to improve […]

Positions splinter on NSW planning overhaul

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Extensive changes to planning and development laws proposed by the New South Wales government have produced widely divergent positions among key stakeholders in the local government and property development sectors as negotiations with Macquarie Street start in earnest. NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard announced the proposed […]

Combet moves to measure fugitive CSG

By Julian Bajkowski The Federal Government has moved to start overhauling the way greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere from highly controversial coal seam gas (CSG) sites are measured and reported, a move that could reshape the economics of the financially cheap fuel. Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet has released a […]

NSW overhauls contingent workforce recruitment

By Staff writers New South Wales Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce, has pushed on with a shake-up to open the state government’s procurement machinery to a wider array of suppliers, with human resources and recruitment services now squarely in the frame. Recent changes ushered in by Mr Pearce’s department have been revealed in […]

Forced council amalgamations in NSW repudiated

By Paul Hemsley New South Wales Minister for Local Government Don Page has strenuously denied that the O’Farrell government is covertly conspiring to ram through amalgamations, vowing that the government will stick to its promise of not forcing council mergers. The pledge to not force amalgamations on NSW councils was a core promise from the […]

Developer group wants councils as members

By Julian Bajkowski Property development industry group Urban Taskforce has taken the highly controversial step of throwing open its doors to allow local governments to formally become “associate members” of the lobbying outfit as it seeks to redefine its engagement with policymakers. The move comes as the New South Wales government scopes-out a root-and-branch overhaul […]

Boarding house clean-up for NSW

By Julian Bajkowski New South Wales councils have been put on notice by the Department of Premier and Cabinet over tough new mandatory inspection requirements for boarding houses that are intended to protect vulnerable tenants and clean-up the often criticised accommodation sector. A circular issued to councils by the Division of Local Government sets out […]

O’Farrell cracks down on nocturnal drunks

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski When the tragic death of Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross from a so-called king-hit made headlines across Australia, it was the final straw for the O’Farrell government. After several months of dramatic news reports filled with colourful identities and bikies parading their power, shootings in crowded streets and seemingly […]

Urban Taskforce backs NSW council reform calls

By Paul Hemsley The head of property development lobby group Urban Taskforce Australia, Chris Johnson, has weighed in behind the O’Farrell government’s push for more planning powers and panels and councils in New South Wales. Mr Johnson has come out in support of the Independent Local Government Review Panel’s (ILGRP) call for improvements in local […]

ALGA draws an arts hub for councils

By Paul Hemsley The merits of civic art might draw contrasting viewpoints, but the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is urging councils to indulge in some blatant exhibitionism by throwing their weight behind a new forum designed to show-off creative activities in their own back yards. The peak body has linked-up with not-for-profit organisation Cultural […]

Adelaide peddles plan to double cyclists

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Patrick Conlon and Adelaide City Council Deputy Mayor David Plumridge have wheeled out a plan to push more people into riding bikes. The council and the state government have announced the formation the Bicycle Infrastructure Group (BIG) to improve cycling infrastructure and double […]

NSW covers council infrastructure debt

By Paul Hemsley New South Wales local governments have been invited to apply for funding under a state government plan to subsidise interest payments for commercial loans intended to reduce a backlog of infrastructure projects that councils have difficulty raising capital for on their own. The state government is hoping to take the financial pressure […]

Councils demand say on NSW planning overhaul

By Paul Hemsley The Local Government and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA) has demanded a much closer look at the NSW Government’s planning reforms to ensure that communities get a say in local development applications. Dubbed

NSW talks-up ‘plain English’ supplier paperwork

By Staff Writers The NSW government has wasted little time in hard-selling its move to decentralise procurement and promote greater competition between suppliers, with state Finance and Services minister Greg Pearce claiming that recent contracts to 12 suppliers show the controversial shake-up is working. Mr Pearce said that the latest contracts had axed costly management […]

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