Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT)

The April edition of LGAT News is out now 🗞️ This month we cover: - Lift the Tone campaign - Change for Children Strategy - Launch of Recycle Rewards - Tasmanian Disaster Resilience Strategy - Available grants and training opportunities ... and more! Read it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g8bV4ktr

The Crowther Reinterpreted Project has been nominated for a National Award for Local Government under the Arts & Culture and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recognition categories. Led by the City of Hobart, the project responded to continued requests from the Palawa community for action and began with a series of temporary public artworks throughout 2021. The artwork raised awareness and generated discussion within the community. Further consultation was undertaken with Palawa and non-Palawa community members, leading to a proposal for the removal of the bronze statue, which was ultimately approved. Despite being complicated by illegal vandalism, the project was completed in 2024, and a legal precedent was established that acknowledges how Palawa culture and associations must be considered in significance assessment. You can vote for this project by registering an account before 28 April: https://lnkd.in/gUfKXdTs

West Tamar Council officially opened the Legana Sports Oval in February this year. The oval is a community hub for sport and recreation, which will improve physical and mental health and create positive outcomes for West Tamar residents. The facility includes a full-sized sports oval, along with four light towers, a cricket pitch and perimeter fencing. It is available for use by both the school community during school hours and the broader community outside of school hours. West Tamar is undertaking work on the Master Plan for the Legana Oval Precinct, with initial plans to build club and changeroom facilities alongside the oval, as well as indoor cricket nets. The project, worth $2.5 million, was funded by council with additional grant funding support from both the state and federal governments. We're excited to see the community and local sporting clubs embrace this incredible recreational area, which has also become a vibrant part of the recently opened Legana Primary School. The Legana Sports Oval has been nominated for a National Award for Local Government under the Productivity through Infrastructure category. Voting is open until 28 April. Register an account and vote today: https://lnkd.in/gUfKXdTs

The updated proposal for the Development Assessment Panels Bill was discussed at our General Meeting last week. Tasmanian councils were overwhelmingly against the Bill in its current form. We remain unconvinced that an additional process is necessary when our existing development assessment process is the fastest in the country. We urge the State Government to prioritise the completion of overdue planning reform projects such as Regional Land Use Strategies and subdivision legislation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gp8zvfyu

The local government sector is committed to the wellbeing and liveability of communities. Councils are more than just roads, rates and rubbish. They provide the libraries, playgrounds, swimming pools and sporting facilities that we enjoy every day. They also often provide free or low-cost activities that build social connections and encourage us to live healthier lives. However, many of the facilities they manage are aging and need significant improvements. This federal election, we're supporting the Australian Local Government Association in calling for a $500 million per year community infrastructure fund so councils can build and maintain the facilities that make your community great. Find out how councils #PutOurCommunitiesFirst: https://lnkd.in/gtxrE9pp

In today's edition of The Mercury, our CEO Dion Lester highlights why abuse, threats and intimidation are driving capable people away from local government. Council representatives and staff are facing increased toxic behaviour in their communities and online. Being able to tolerate abuse is not part of their job descriptions – or anyone else's for that matter. Would you apply for a job if enduring abuse was listed as a required skill? As Dion says, "For local government to thrive, a culture of respect and accountability is essential to support and protect representatives from such harmful behaviour". That's why we're asking everyone to #LiftTheTone. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gF29Qiq4

Break O'Day Council's Volunteer Film Festival has earned them a nomination as an Outstanding Rural and Remote Council in the National Awards for Local Government. As part of National Volunteer Week, the Break O’Day Community Services team encouraged local volunteer groups to create short films about their volunteer opportunities and efforts, with 11 vibrant films screened at a gala premiere at a local cinema. The Film Festival provided volunteers with a fun and engaging way to share their stories, highlighting the diverse volunteering opportunities within the community. Over 70 attendees enjoyed the event, with films shown on two screens to accommodate the crowd. The films were later displayed at the St Helens Library and shared on social media. Council staff developed supporting materials that included guidelines, consent forms, and submission instructions to make it as easy as possible for groups to take part. The event provided volunteers with a sense of recognition and connection. Participants expressed feeling valued and inspired, and one volunteer group’s video even gained national attention. You can view the films here: https://lnkd.in/ggrASFHp We love that Break O Day promoted and celebrated the vast contributions that volunteers make within their community. You can submit a vote for this event under the Cohesive Communities category and importantly, under the Outstanding Rural and Remote Council category. Register an account to submit a vote before 28 April: https://lnkd.in/gUfKXdTs

Hear from LGAT Vice President Paula Wriedt, MBA and CEO Dion Lester about the launch of Lift the Tone 📢 They caught up with Leon Compton on Thursday morning to discuss the campaign and why LGAT is urging people to commit to respectful debate with elected officials. As Paula highlights, councils are the closest level of government to local communities, where councillors and staff also live, work, and play. This accessibility makes them more vulnerable to receiving abuse, harassment and intimidation. We can disagree without disrespect. Help us #LiftTheTone: https://lnkd.in/gzWqKRth

Over the past two years, more than 60 per cent of local government areas have been declared natural disaster areas. Councils play a key role preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural disasters, as seen this year with multiple bushfires across Tasmania. Yet local government is not effectively funded to carry out these duties during emergency events, which currently cost Australia $38 billion per year. This is guaranteed to rise with the number of days of dangerous weather conditions for bushfires increasing across Tasmania. We know that investing in mitigation and resilience, along with emergency management capacity and capability will help build safer communities. That is why we are supporting the proposal from the Australian Local Government Association for a dedicated fund for councils so they can improve their ability to respond to emergencies and #PutOurCommunitiesFirst. Find out how councils provide support when it's needed the most: https://lnkd.in/gtxrE9pp

It's time to 'Lift the Tone'! 📢 Local government representatives and council staff are facing increasing abuse, and it's time for change. “This behaviour has serious impacts on both mental and physical health, not only for elected representatives but also for their families," said LGAT Vice President Paula Wriedt. Today we launched a campaign to encourage more respectful public debate. Join us: Sign the pledge and help create a strong and united community! https://lnkd.in/gzWqKRth 📸 LGAT Vice President Paula Wriedt, MBA, Minister for Local Government Kerry Vincent and Dr Emma Richardson from Well Minds Work.