Some highlights of our year serving local government in Queensland.

1. LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896
INDIGENOUS LEADERS UNITE
LGAQ Forum
breaks new ground
77 delegates from Queensland’s 17
Indigenous councils attended this year’s
LGAQ Indigenous Leaders’ Forum (ILF)
over two days in March.
Held on Thursday Island, the Forum
provided opportunity for Indigenous
councils to discuss current and emerging
issues such as financial management,
government relationships, housing
management, planning schemes and
freehold title changes.
Next year’s ILF will be held on Palm
Island in May.

2. TRAINING RECORD PEAKS AT 250
LGAQ
Training
Services hit a
new high
Over 250 days of training were
delivered to Queensland
councils and staff this year by
the LGAQ Training Services
team and their consultants.
An established RTO with a
reputation for quality
development and delivery of
local government specific
content, LGAQ Training
Services now offers over 500
units including nationally
accredited, professional
development, workplace
development, desktop
applications and online courses
across all of these areas as well.
Special attention has been
given to providing regional
training opportunities in 2014
and into the future – 2015 will
be sure to see a new record
created as staff and elected
members take advantage of the
improved, flexible delivery
options now offered by LGAQ
Training Solutions.
Find out more at
www.lgaqtotalsolutions.com.au
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

3. LG COUP: PREMIER’S LAUNCHPAD
Regions on the
rise spotlight
The LGAQ’s Regional and
Economic Development
Conference this year played
host to the State’s premier, the
Hon. Campbell Newman.
The high level Conference was
attended by local government
leaders and associated industry
representatives keen to debate
the future economic direction
of Queensland’s regions.
It also became the launch pad
for the Government’s
Queensland Plan.
The Plan is a 30 year strategy
developed by the State
Government following an
extensive citizen engagement
campaign – it is aimed at
giving voice to the
community's aspirations for the
State.
The LGAQ was proud to host
the State party in recognition of
the value and importance that
local government plays - and
will continue to play - in the
delivery of services and
improvements to the lifestyles
of all Queenslanders.
The Plan can be downloaded at
www.queensland plan.com.au
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

4. LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896
COUNCIL STORIES FLY FURTHER
More than 3000
followers listen up
2014 has seen our Twitter account gain
another 900 followers!
This now means that we are sharing local
government news, views, issues and
highlights with over 3000 followers on a
daily basis.
We are telling LGAQ stories, sharing
council stories and starting weekly
conversations on important local
government topics…you too can get active
on Twitter.
Call our media team if you would like to
know more 1300 542 700.

5. GOOD vs. BETTER: 66 ON BOARD
Better
Councils,
Better
Communities
launched
The Better Councils, Better
Communities project was
launched at this year’s Annual
Conference in Mackay with
early pledges of support from
66 Qld councils.
A council driven productivity
improvement program, it will
enable Queensland
communities to enjoy improved
value for money from their
councils through a state-wide
productivity and efficiency
strategy - without the need for
more debt or rate rises.
The next big milestone for the
project is to conduct a
benchmarking exercise so that
councils can be supported to
deliver services more
competitively, with greater
innovation and continuous
improvement…demonstrating
better value for money.
Members can find out more at
www.lgaq.asn.au/group/better-councils/
home.
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

6. VIP TREATMENT: INNOVATION WINS
Members only
- just for you!
While we encourage innovation
by our members, we are always
looking to lead the way with
our own fresh and inspiring
ideas.
In 2014 we delivered two
exciting and very different new
services for our members…
We built you your very own
VIP Members’ Lounge here at
LG House in Newstead – home
to the LGAQ family.
We also created the
groundbreaking LG Apps – a
mobile application catalogue
just for councils – just for you.
Currently providing 80 apps in
a broad range of sub-categories
including finance, disaster
management, health and safety,
field services and regional
development LG Apps is a
curated collection especially
suited to Qld councils.
We pride ourselves on finding
and creating innovative
solutions, just for you!
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

7. LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896
TRAVEL TALES: CROCS ALIVE!
LGAQ staff clock
up the miles and the
smiles
And they often come back to the office at
LG House with plenty of tales…tall and
true… following their many council visits.
2014’s top travel story could possibly be the
toothy tale of a particularly agile general
manager dodging and weaving his way out
of the ‘glen’ whilst carrying his ‘buckett’ of
workshop papers to safety.
Needless to say, that post workshop stroll
was just not meant to take place in the
crocodile farm at Pormpuraaw!

8. COUNCILS MUSCLE UP ON FUNDING
Delegates vote
in strength
At this year’s Annual
Conference in Mackay over
200 delegates voted
overwhelmingly against any
proposed cuts to federal
disaster funding.
Queensland councils also
muscled up on the issue of
State support for resource
impacted regions, rejecting the
watered down version of the
Royalties for the Regions
funding program.
Held annually in October, our
Annual Conference provides an
important opportunity for
councils to not only network
and learn but also to debate and
vote on new policy. The event
doubles as the Association's
AGM.
This is our signature and
largest yearly event - bringing
together Federal, State and
local government, external
stakeholders and media.
Find out more at
www.lgaq.asn.au/web/guest/an
nual-conference
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

9. ACT CHANGED = BILLIONS SAVED
Differential
rating
amendments
successful
Earlier in the year we sought
urgent regulatory amendments
to enable councils to continue
differential residential rating
categories on the basis of
whether residential land is used
for occupation by the owner or
for other purposes.
Following the Supreme Court
Paton decision of 30 April 2014
we provided assessment to the
State Government regarding
the financial implications such
a decision would have upon the
affected councils…somewhere
to the tune of $2.37 billion.
With serious concerns around
financial sustainability and
retrospective financial
obligations this was a matter of
real urgency – and one that the
LGAQ can proudly say we had
a win on!
LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896

10. LGAQ HERALD
QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEAR IN REVIEW - Since 1896
COUNCILS CONNECT: NEW TOOLS
Benchmarking data to
drive improved
communications with
community
Following the launch of the Better Councils,
Better Communities project at the LGAQ Annual
Conference in October, Queensland councils will
next year be offered a new set of tools to better
connect with their communities.
Utilising a range of data to benchmark their
performance against other councils and the local
government sector as a whole, councils will be
better placed to ensure their communities
understand and appreciate their progress towards
better outcomes – and better communities.