Tag: Local councils
-
-
South Australians love their libraries – and it’s easy to see why
A new LGA South Australia initiative, How Good Are Libraries, is shining a light on the impact of our state’s public libraries. And with nearly half a million library members across the state, borrowing over 11.5 million items a year, it’s easy to see the value libraries provide. More than just books A good book…
-
Council rates explained: Where your money goes and why it matters
What are council rates? Council rates are a type of property tax. Unlike income tax, which goes to state and federal governments, council rates stay in your local area and are managed by your elected council. These rates help fund the essential services and facilities your community relies on – including rubbish collection, road and…
-
City council raises rates, sets minimum charges
The Adelaide City Council will raise rates by 5.6 per cent on last year, meaning an increase of about $118 for the average residential property compared to 2024-25 rates. Based on the council’s draft budget, an average residential rateable property in the City of Adelaide will be charged about $2260 in council rates for the…
-
Financial warnings sound for six more councils
Alexandrina, Tumby Bay, Renmark Paringa, Flinders Rangers and Wudinna councils have been advised their current financial performance and future projections are potentially unsustainable. Jump to the list of councils The Adelaide City Council and District Council of Loxton Waikerie were ranked potentially unsustainable in the future. Gawler council was also flagged as being potentially unsustainable…
-
Council bosses feel talent gap at the top as they emerge from pandemic
The survey found that many local government leaders have had to juggle the impacts of the pandemic with the job of ensuring their communities overcame the devastation of natural disasters. Conducted by recruitment firm Davidson, the survey of 111 council chief executives – including 22 in Queensland – found their priorities were digital transformation, community…
-
Can do better: Auditor shines light on books of local councils
Worrall’s office found that while the performance of local councils had improved, there were still 45 local governments – or 60 per cent of the sector – that were at moderate or high risk of failing to maintain their financial sustainability. The sector, made up of 77 local councils with about $136.4 billion in assets,…
-
Crunch time looms for SEQ housing supply, say developers
The Urban Development Institute of Australia has called for the establishment of a “Queensland Growth Areas Authority” to centralise urban planning and streamline development approvals. The proposal – certain to anger local councils – is aimed at giving the development industry certainty on land supply and infrastructure priorities, particularly in the fast growing south-east Queensland…
-
Mayors call for govt to act on spiralling insurance costs
Premiums have shot up by 178 per cent in northern Australia in the past decade, compared to 52 per cent in the rest of country, according to an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report released in December. Local Government Association of Queensland president Mark Jamieson said 62,000 properties in the state’s north were uninsured,…
-
Best of intentions, but must our government persist in making bad laws for local councils?
It might be tempting to blame the fiasco being played out in the central Queensland city of Rockhampton – which has just lost its long-time popular mayor over an integrity breach that wasn’t – on an unusual legislative glitch. But that would be far too kind to those in the Palaszczuk Government who were warned…