Exploring the emerging trends shaping local government

New approaches to community engagement, the role of public libraries, development contributions, dispute resolution and the political impact of council amalgamations were themes explored at the Emerging Trends in Local Government Forum, held at UTS in March.

Heather Davis speaks at the Emerging Trends in Local Government Forum at UTS. View full photo gallery 

Local government professionals from across Australia gathered together to explore the latest thinking on emerging trends and innovations within the sector at the forum, with presentations by local government researchers from the Centre for Local Government, based at the university’s Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG).

"The forum is a great opportunity to bring together people from across the sector to better understand the challenges facing local government, and explore different approaches that are making a real-world impact on our communities," said Associate Professor Bligh Grant, local government course director at the Institute. 

As part of the forum, participants were also asked to identify the key trends they felt were most likely to impact the sector in the next three years, with the impact of technology and digital transformation topping the list, closely followed by an increased focus on governance, ethics and regulation, and the challenges of supporting environmental sustainability with the challenges of climate change.

Other top trends identified included:

• Increasing demand and expectations in service delivery
• Changing local government workforce
• Fostering social cohesion, in both urban and regional and rural areas
• Community engagement and demands for greater public participation in decision making
• Meeting emerging challenges in development and planning 
• Ensuring financial stability of councils, among pressures associated with amalgamations
• Ensuring infrastructure meets the demands of growing populations
• Providing affordable housing and addressing homelessness

Community Engagement

Trends in community engagement emerged as a key theme of the forum, with the latest research revealing how an increasing focus on community engagement is changing the way local government operates, based on findings from a survey of more than 350 councils across Australia’s eastern states by PhD candidate Helen Christensen.
> View the presentation 
> Related news: 'Citizen sourcing' to improve councils image

IPPG PhD candidate Emauela Savini also explored ways that councils can better manage the opportunities and challenges associated with participatory and deliberative governance.
> View the presentation

Amalgamations & reframing borders

With recent council amalgamations still a hot topic in many areas of Australia, particularly in NSW, the University of Western Australia’s Joshua McDonnell shared his insights on the impact that amalgamations have had on democracy and political participation relative to the municipal size of local government areas in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
> View the presentation
> Related news: NSW Election: Amalgamation anger lingers

IPPG PhD candidate Kane Pham also explored the potential benefits of reframing the relationship between statutory and strategic borders in metropolitan areas, examining a case study of the Greater Parramatta region in Sydney.
> View the presentation

The forum also showcased the latest research from the Institute’s Master of Local Government alumni, including:

• Melissa Ballinger, Strategic Project Officer – Development Contributions Wollongong City Council
  Development contributions in NSW: A review of the Section 7.11 Contributions Cap
  What impact have reforms to developer contributions had in NSW and what alternative approaches could be explored?
  > View presentation
  > View full research paper
• Heather Davis, Manager, Libraries and Learning at City of Sydney 
  Urban resilience, cultural sustainability and libraries: What are the building blocks for library success in a local government setting?
  How are successful public libraries turning over a new leaf in their approach to benefiting their communities?
  > View full research paper
• Nigel Judd, Councillor and former Mayor of Temora Shire Council
  The role of councillors in NSW: Understanding the separation of powers
  What can we learn from the role and perceptions of councillors in NSW and their impact on council operations?
  > View full research paper
• Andrew Simpson, Tree Management Team Leader, Woollahra Council
  Alternate Dispute Resolution for Neighbour Tree Conflicts and the Role of Local Government
  How effective is ADR in extending the olive branch in neighbour disputes?
  > View full research paper