Tuesday, 9th February 2010
Wide Interest in Cairns Local Govt Conference
More than 250 delegates will meet at Cairns' Shangri-La Hotel tomorrow for the Local Government Association of Queensland's annual three-day Economic and Regional Development Conference.
LGAQ president, Cr Paul Bell, said the conference had attracted interest across Australia with 10 delegates attending from Western Australia.
"Tomorrow, delegates will undertake technical tours of the Cairns area and involve themselves in a variety of workshops, prior to the main business sessions of the conference on Thursday and Friday," Cr Bell said.
"The conference holds special significance this year in the wake of the global financial crisis, which has given councils new economic considerations and complexities, including the establishment of 12 new Regional Development Australia committees now being put into place across Queensland," he said.
"They will also be dealing with a host of new legislative requirements, including the Sustainable Planning Act and the new Local Government Act with its associated community plans, asset management plans, financial forecasts and community engagement plans."
Cr Bell said state ministers Desley Boyle (Local Government), Tim Mulherin (Regional and Rural Development) and Stirling Hinchliffe (Infrastructure and Planning) would address the conference on Thursday.
