Regional Partnerships
This page contains information on Council's partnerships with the following groups;
-Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
-Parramatta River Catchment Group
-Eastern Region Local Government Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Forum
Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC)
Leichhardt Council has now joined the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC www.ssroc.nsw.gov.au ) as a full member and nominated two (2) Councillors - one being the Mayor and the other the Deputy Mayor as Council's delegates.
Leichhardt Council is a long standing member of the Inner Metropolitan Organisation of Councils (IMROC) which unfortunately hasn't operated as an effective ROC for some time now. In 2006 we therefore joined SSROC as an associate member along with other former IMROC Councils Canada Bay, Burwood and Ashfield. Of more recent time, Bankstown has also joined SSROC as an associate member.
SSROC is a well established regional organisation of 11 full Council members comprising Botany Bay, Canterbury, City of Sydney, Hurstville, Kogarah, Marrickville, Randwick, Rockdale, Sutherland, Waverley and Woollahra.
SSROC unanimously resolved to offer full membership to Leichhardt (along with Ashfield, Burwood and Canada Bay) - meaning that Leichhardt Council delegates can attend, actively participate in discussions and vote on all matters at SSROC general and annual meetings. As an associate member, our representation has been limited to General Manager and officer attendance at regular working group meetings (which in itself has been beneficial).
Being a full member of SSROC is a positive step. The benefits at a staff level of working on a regional basis with other SSROC officers have to date proved more than worthwhile, not only in terms of regular networking and knowledge sharing but also reaping the financial and other benefits from projects such as joint procurement and the street lighting improvement program. As a full member, we will also be able to interact regionally at a political level and actively participate in our region's/sub region's strategic development.
SSROC meets 4 times per year (usually Thursday evenings) with each Council nominating two (2) delegates - one usually the Mayor. It also operates 2 standing committees which usually meet the month before each SSROC ordinary meeting.
One (1) delegate from each Council sits on each committee to enable detailed delegate input into the agenda.
Associate membership costs $30,000 per annum and full membership $50,000 per annum - as at 1 Jan 2008.
SSROC restructured its operations and business plan last year with a renewed emphasis on strategic direction and a properly resourced secretariat to achieve outcomes.
Key Focus Area for SSROC are:
- Long term sustainability
- Policy development and advocacy
- Environmental/planning/transport
- Shared services/procurement
Some elements of the current Work Plan include:
- Climate change - a regional approach to adaptation issues plus options for carbon neutrality
- Planning Reforms - advocacy and process improvement opportunities
- Transport and parking including integrated transport policies
- Strategic Alliance Network - resource sharing models for shared services including business and process redesign for sustainable efficiencies
- Regional Bike Plan - building on the work undertaken by individual Councils
- Shared Sporting Fields - opportuunities for future collaboration
- Investment Expressions of Interest - opportunities for greater returns through a regional approach to investment whilst still meeting the Minister's Order
- Waste programs - waste auditing through a regional tender to reduce individual costs
- A refocused and energised Street Lighting Improvement Program - $4.2mil grant for 29 Councils to install energy efficient street lighting, with SSROC managing the project on behalf of the participants
- Joint purchasing/procurements - collective purchasing saving Councils considerable funds for items such as road resheeting, concrete, industrial footwear, stationery, tyres, telecommunications, software licences, turf and many others
- East Timor Partnership - coordinating with SSROC's current 2 sub district partnerships (Iliomar and Uato-Carbau)
- Officer Working groups - general managers, environmental, HR, planners, public works, supply, waste, regulatory
Parramatta River Catchment Group
Leichhardt Council has joined the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) as a member and has appointed the Mayor and an alternate of the Deputy Mayor to attend the Group's meetings.
The PRCG was formed to lead efforts to improve the condition and ecological function of the Parramatta River, its tributaries and catchment lands by improving and coordinating effort in natural resource management(NRM). Many NRM issues exist across the catchment or region and working only within local government boundaries will limit achievements. Better outcomes can be attained, for example, for biodiversity corridors, weed and pest management, and water quality by working at a regional level.
Other practical outcomes for Councils and agencies working collectively within the PRCG with the support of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (SMCMA) include:
- Assistance with identifying, setting and implementing Council NRM priorities.
- Stronger basis for and assistance with grant applications.
- Access to a regional perspective and technical advice.
- Access to baseline information and Best Practice Guidelines.
- Development of the technical capacities of Council staff.
- Opportunities for additional funding.
- Assistance with generating community support.
- Opportunities for collective research.
- Contributing towards the achievement of state-wide NRM targets (State Plan) and assistance with Council responsibilities, for example State of the Environment reporting and Stormwater Management Plan implementation.
The PRCG presents many opportunities to undertake a number of environmental initiatives on a regional basis.
The Eastern Region Local Government Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Forum
The Eastern Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Forum (ERLGATSIF) incorporates 6 Councils. The key objective of the Forum is to address any issues relating to Indigenous affairs, events and celebrations that impact our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Eastern Region Local Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Forum was established in early 1998 as a partnership between 5 Councils, City of Botany Bay, Randwick City Council, South Sydney City Council (City of Sydney), Waverley Council and Woollahra Council. The aim of the Forum is to improve the ATSI community's way of life by providing a Forum for Local Government (Councils) to address matters affecting the ATSI community at a regional level.
Having moved on from 1998, the Forum has expanded to include the Leichhardt local government area and commit a more planned procedure to break down cultural barriers and improve the quality of life for the ATSI community. The Forum currently consists of the following six Councils;
City of Botany Bay, City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Randwick City, Waverley and Woollahra Councils.