Local Government

Local Government's in Australia, irrespective of their size or location, make a significant contribution to the management and protection of natural resources. It spends about $4.3 billion dollars on Natural Resource Management every year.

Local Government has a range of functions, powers and responsibilities (these vary in each State and Territory) at its disposal to influence natural resource management.

These include 

• strategic planning through land use zoning and statutory controls on all freehold land and locally managed public open space;
  
•  development control of nearly all activities and works on freehold land and crown land (except national parks and state forests) through development consent powers (e.g. setbacks, density restrictions, clearing controls, erosion and sediment management, waste disposal (including pollution control);
  
•  enforcement powers for development consent conditions, waste management and unauthorised land uses e.g. land clearing, drainage, filling, unauthorised construction and some pollutant (including sediment) discharges;
  
•  administrative responsibility for state agency coordination through integrated planning, licensing and development concurrence;
  
• stormwater management and control; sewerage and drainage works and flood control and planning in many jurisdictions;
  
• pest, plant and animal risk control measures;
  
•  influence over land clearance patterns through incentive programs (planning amendments, rate differentials, levies, rural fire management and developer contributions);
  
•  management of local open space to restore remnant vegetation and recreate habitat;
  
•  tourism development; and
  
•  primary advocate for and coordinator of local community groups and interests.

The following is examples of councils that are heavily involved in Natural Resource Management

Campaspe Shire Council (Vic)

The Campaspe Shire Council has been actively involved in a range of activities that have NRM implications.

The range of activities include 

- Funding a landcare coordinator three days a week (two days funded by council , the other by landcare)

- Allocating $20,000 per year from the council budget to fund small environmental projects

- Instituting an environmental rate rebate in 2002 of a 5% rate rebate for rural properties where approved environmental works have been introduced (cost about $10,000 this year)

- Subsidising tree planting (not much action this year owing to the drought)

- The employment of an Environmental Officer to manage a range of programs

- Membership of the  North Central Greenhouse Alliance affiliated with Cities for Climate Protection

-The council two major concerns are lack of integration of planning schemes and environmental programs and the lack of skill (capacity) and knowledge on current funding and how and what environmental issues to concentrate on in the short, medium and longer term.

The Coorong District Council (SA)

The Coorong District Council is the current winner of the National Landcare Award in the Local Government section.

The councils program contains a number of elements outlined below: 

- The landcare equivalent group the Local Action Planning Group (LAP) is a committee of council reporting to council through the councils Environmental Manager.

- The LAP committee comprises mainly land -owners with council representation including the councils CEO and Environmental Manager

- The two full time officers are employed by council with all administration provided by council 

- The LAP and annual program is prepared by the LAP Committee and endorsed by council.

- The program sets targets and provides a subsidy scheme to the over 60% of the areas land-holders who participate.

- All payments in the program are paid after an inspection by independent trained inspector of all completed work.

- All land-holders are contracted to the program with the contract signed by the councils CEO,  these contracts clearly identify the undertakings of all parties including the long term maintenance of any new planting's etc.

- Cost sharing principles are included that apply a cost benefit ratio in relation to private /public benefit.  Details of the current cost sharing arrangements are attached

Holbrook Council (NSW)

The Holbrook Shire provides a rent subsidy from council funds to accommodate the local landcare office with a shop front in the main street of Holbrook.

The landcare group employs a number of officers usually about four (this fluctuates depending of project funding.

The council's Manager of Environmental Services is a member of the landcare management committee.

Councillors regularly participate in landcare activities and are committed to the council's long-term involvement.

Sources: The environment and Australia's future: Local Government's role and capacity to deliver Natural Resource Management (June 2001) How to engage Local Government in National Action Plan and Natural Heritage Trust II (December 2002)