29 October 2020

Thank you to the Mayors and staff of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Mosman Council and Hornsby Council for taking the time to meet with me recently. It was so lovely to finally be able to catch up with you in person.

Things aren't slowing down anytime soon for LGNSW with November shaping up to be a particularly big month with the final sitting of the NSW Parliament from 10 November, the delivery of the NSW State Budget on 17 November, and the LGNSW online Annual Conference on 23 November. It's a fitting end to what can only be described as an action-packed year for local government, as we continue to contend with the challenges posed by drought, fires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, best illustrated in our latest annual report.

This year's online Annual Conference promises to provide ample opportunity for debate on issues important to you and your community. I am really looking forward to hearing from Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the politicians' panel discussion with Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, Opposition Leader Jodi McKay and Greens MLC David Shoebridge.

Reminder, the online Annual Conference is just three weeks away it's important to register your attendance by Monday 9 November. Given this is the first online conference, we're running two demonstration sessions to show you how to log into the event and how registered voting delegates can use the voting platforms. Please register for one of the demonstrations which will take place 10am Thursday, 12 November and Friday, 13 November.

Advocacy Wins!

• New short-term rental accommodation rules and an NSW Fair Trading Code of Conduct come into effect 18 December. They impose a range of obligations on booking platforms, letting agents, hosts and their guests and will help councils protect neighbourhood amenity. This is a positive step forward and goes someway to fulfilling recommendations by LGNSW and multiple councils over the past five years. However, we're disappointed that the promised public register of short-term rental accommodation premises is not expected to commence until mid-2021 along with new planning rules for short-term rentals. For more information on the new rules, see the NSW Fair Trading website. The full code of conduct can be seen here.
• $250 million bushfire funding. This is welcome news for eligible councils as well as businesses, community groups and Aboriginal land councils, now able to apply for grants between $200,000 and $20 million. These grants are designed for projects such as local infrastructure, tourism campaigns, regional events, workforce adaption and training programs, community wellbeing and mental health programs and neighbourhood safer places. This is the kind of economic stimulus LGNSW has been advocating for since the NSW Black Summer and is a fantastic result. Applications for the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund open 27 October.
• Bushfire planning, preparation and recovery. The Local Government Bushfire Recovery Support Group - made up of LGNSW, the City of Sydney and the Office of Local Government - has reconvened to support councils this bushfire season. For further information, email Elle Brunsdon, LGNSW Policy Officer.

In parliament and regulatory news

• A new class of Land and Environment Court appeals for planning proposals (known as re-zonings) is under consideration. One of several NSW planning reforms announced recently, LGNSW has written to Minister Stokes to express our strong opposition to this proposed new class of appeals and concern this change will undermine councils' strategic plans. We have questioned the rationale for this proposal and will be strongly advocating on your behalf for a community-led planning system and to ensure councils are not encumbered by unwarranted legal costs. The Department of Planning Industry and Environment (DPIE) has sought local government input through a working group of LGNSW and selected councils. For more information or to provide feedback email Jane Partridge LGNSW Strategy Manager.
• The Local Land Services Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2020 was passed by the Legislative Assembly last week and will be debated in the Legislative Council in November. This is extremely disappointing as no councils were consulted about the proposed changes including the interaction of the Koala SEPP and clearing rules, e-zones, or the reduced capacity for councils to identify and protect koala habitat on rural lands. The proposed removal of dual consents for private native forestry, preventing local environmental plans from requiring development consent, further reduces the ability for councils to have a say in how negative impacts can be minimised. LGNSW will be appealing to members of the Legislative Council prior to the Bills debate in November. For more information see news item below or email Susy Cenedese LGNSW Strategy Manager.
• The Liquor Amendment (24-hour Economy) Bill 2020 continues its passage through parliament with reforms including the removal of outdated liquor licence conditions that restrict entertainment and a new approach to managing the density of licensed premises through a Cumulative Impact Assessment framework (to be initially available in the City of Sydney, with further LGAs to be added by Regulation). We're pleased the Government listened to LGNSW calls for councils to retain decision making powers for outdoor dining and performance and made changes to the Bill to avoid cost shifting by ensuring Liquor & Gaming NSW retains a role regulating noise complaints. For more information email Damian Thomas LGNSW Strategy Manager.

Opportunity

Expressions of Interest are now open for the $50,000 Research and Innovation Fund - seed funding for applied research that drives innovation in the transition to net zero emissions. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is Friday 20 November 2020 and successful applicants will be announced mid-December 2020. For more information, visit LGNSW Innovation.