Australian Local Government Association

2006

See also:

• Transcripts of speeches and presentations delivered during the Forum.
• Streaming audio of speeches and presentations delivered during the Forum.
• Media releases

This year's Regional Co-operation and Development Forum will focus on regional innovations designed to assist in addressing the immense fiscal pressures facing Australia's 700 Councils. It will include the launch of the State of the Regions Report 2006–07, the final in a threepart series on Infrastructure that will focus on the drivers of local government revenues and expenditures and will look at the current and future issues for local government financing.

» See also: Media releases

Speaker profiles

Cr Basil Morrison: Keynote addess

Basil has been President of Local Government New Zealand since November 2000. In that time he has seen considerable change in the role of local government and in its interaction with central government. Basil cochairs the Central/Local Government Forum with the Prime Minister, which is a twice-yearly opportunity for Local Government New Zealand's National Council to discuss significant policy issues with the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Basil's role as a board member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum also gives him international exposure to how local and central government relationships operate in other countries. Basil's involvement in local government and community organisations is considerable, which was reflected in his being awarded the Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004. He is a New Zealand Conservation Authority Board member, Controller of the Combined Thames Valley Civil Defence Organisation, Chair of the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Board member Asia Pacific Region of the United Cities Local Government and an Executive member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
Read Mr Morrison's speech

Dr Peter Brain: Launch of the 2006-07 State of the Regions report

Dr Peter Brain is a leading Australian economist and strategic thinker. He is the Executive Director of the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (National Economics), an organisation which he cofounded in 1984.

Dr Brain has spent three decades studying the strategic drivers of the Australian national and regional economies and the implications for forecasting, policy and infrastructure. He is co-author of the State of the Regions Report.
See Dr Brain's screen presentation

Mr Jeff Oughton

Head of Australian Economics and Industry Intelligence National Australia Bank

Jeff Oughton's main duties as Head of Australian Economics and Industry Intelligence for National Australia Bank (NAB) include monitoring and forecasting domestic economic and financial conditions and assessing industry opportunities and risks for the Group and its customers in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He is also an expert on competition and supervision of financial systems.
See Mr Oughton's screen presentation

Facilitator: Ms Anne Dunn

Ms Dunn was a public servant in South Australia and the Northern Territory for 23 years, holding the positions of Commissioner—Public Service Board, Director— Department of Local Government, and Chief Executive Officer of the Departments of Arts and Cultural Heritage and Family and Community Services.

Innovation case studies

The impacts of globalisation and the development of technologies are placing tremendous pressures on both nations and local communities all over the world. At the same time there is a realisation that regional development needs to be sustainable and that the old ways of doing things may need to change.

The two case study presentations will provide an opportunity to learn how respective local governments are dealing with some of these challenges and are introducing innovative ideas and processes. The first case study will provide an international example from Hampyeong Council, in Korea, and the other from one of the oldest and largest regional cities in Australia, Newcastle.

Hampyeong Council: Butterfly Festival

KLAFIR (Korea Local Authorities Foundation for International Relations) Sydney has invited Hampyeong Council to the 2006 National General Assembly of Local Government so as to share its successful story with you at the Regional Cooperation Development Forum.

We believe Hampyeong's Butterfly Festival is a good example of the regional development given the amazing transformation of Hampyeong Council from a typical rural area to a universally recognised success. The Festival was first launched in 1999 amid Hampyeong's green expanse of 8,168 acres dotted with mustard, rape flower, radish flower, and milk vetch. The smooth flying of tens of thousands of butterflies suffused with elegant flower scents has given visitors a gift of the breathtaking vitality of nature.

You might now wonder what is so unique about this butterfly festival. Unlike other local festivals in Korea, Hampyeong has been innovative by combining its natural insect resources with its cutting-edge biotechnology for the eco-friendly agriculture. The bio-products introduced through the festival are now widely recognised across the country and different types of outdoor ecology experiences of the festival also keep attracting visitors from all over the world.

The distinctiveness of the festival helped Hampyeong to win the worldwide reputation for its innovative ideas and accordingly, it has been selected as the nation's best city for the regional festival over the past three years in Korea. By participating in this case study, you will witness how one innovative marketing strategy can affect enormously on the council's financial status, generating new economic values and also creating better community circumstances.

The City of Newcastle

Meeting the challenges through innovation

Mr David Crofts, Group Manager of City Strategy at Newcastle City Council will speak on how Newcastle has charted a course through a period of industrial restructuring, image change and capitalised on new opportunities.

Newcastle has dramatically changed the structure of its workforce to become a modern service-based economy. A change of image from the old 'steel city' days has allowed Newcastle to emerge as a prime tourist and conference destination.

The City has grappled with many of the concepts of the 'creative city' promoted by Richard Florida and others, by nurturing arts and culture, and by providing an environment in which new businesses can grow and tap into venture capital.

Newcastle has not neglected the environmental agenda, and has used energy conservation initiatives to improve the economic viability of existing businesses by reducing waste and by adopting energy efficiency measures. It has also attracted the CSIRO's Energy Research Unit to the City which will act as a catalyst for new industries and employment based around sustainable products and services.

Newcastle City Council has been a key player in this process of change.

It has not been plain sailing and there are no magic bullets, but Newcastle's innovative approach offers a range of experience from which other communities can draw.

Panel session

Promoting regional economic development through innovation

Ms Anne Dunn will facilitate a panel discussion on the topic of innovation in fostering regional economic development and sustainable communities.

Today's presenters have in their own ways discussed the implications of a global economy on a range of issues, be it the future rating and income streams of local governments in Australia and New Zealand, the fundamental importance of telecommunication infrastructure, the potential implications for Australia in the macro-economic sense to how particular places such as Newcastle or Hampyeong, Korea, are successfully dealing with the range of economic, environmental and social challenges.

What are some of the implications of these impacts on your communities and the on-going operation of your local government authority? The Panel will be asked to consider and provide comment of the issues raised in both the 2006–2007 State of the Regions Report, and the presentations of the Forum speakers. The Forum delegates will be encouraged to ask specific questions or make appropriate comments on the challenges they as a local authority, and their communities, face in being innovative and pushing the sustainable regional development envelope.

Panellists are:

• Cr Basil Morrison, President, New Zealand Local Government
• Mr Jeff Oughton, Head of Australian Economics and Industry Intelligence, National Australia Bank
• Mr David Crofts, Group Manager City Strategy, Newcastle City Council
• Dr Peter Brain, Principal, National Economics.

For more information contact: