The information for this article was sourced from an opinion piece by Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager - Tasmania, Engineers Australia, originally published by The Mercury on 6 January, 2016.
As the Hodgman Government is inviting local councils to consider voluntary amalgamation, the debate on local government reform returns to Tasmania.
Currently the state has 29 councils and a population of just over 500,000, which Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager - Tasmania, Engineers Australia, agrees is a large number.
As a Tasmanian resident, Dr Gardiner understands the needs for local representation, especially in the regional communities where there is concern that small councils will be consumed by the denser populated cities.
Engineers Australia does not have a position about local government reform confirmed Dr Gardiner, however, the expertise of the State's engineers is critical to the discussion.
On reflecting on the question 'why should we be talking about local government reform?' Dr Gardiner examined the role of the engineer in all levels of government.
“Engineers put practical solutions above politics in the debate on local government reform,” said Dr Gardiner.
Dr Gardiner said that Engineers Australia advocates for three outcomes from the reform discussion to ensure all levels of government are informed buyers of engineering products and services:
- "Councils should be consistent in the way they audit their infrastructure … so that long term maintenance and replacement plans can be made," said Dr Gardiner. Each of the council’s engineering teams and independent engineers should be involved in these audits.
- There also needs to be a consistent approach to infrastructure investment. All major projects should be coordinated by Infrastructure Tasmania, which is currently developing a state strategy. Dr Gardiner explains this consistent approach will allow local government to have a say in major infrastructure projects and break the state’s boom/bust investment cycle.
- Lastly, Dr Gardiner said Engineers Australia "advocates that any reform should… ensure professionally competent engineering staff are employed in relevant areas [in State and local government], including management, planning and approach, traffic, and infrastructure".
And to ensure the engineering staff are professionally competent, Engineers Australia believes there should be a nation-wide standard for engineering practice and has established the National Engineering Register (NER). The NER is the largest engineering register in the country, and will provide a means of presenting registered engineers and their services to the public. It also provides assurance to consumers that engineers engaged from the NER meet the high standards of professionalism expected in the engineering profession.
Have your say on local government reform
Engineers Australia Tasmania Division wants to know what you think are the key engineering issues that should be part of the current local government reform discussion in Tasmania.
Submit your opinion on local government reform to Engineers Australia.
If you would like to learn more about local government reform in Tasmania, join Engineers Australia for a breakfast forum:
Engineering a Better Tasmania: To reform or not to reform - what deliver the best outcomes?
Date & Time: Tuesday 1 March, 2016 | 7:15am - 9:00am
Venue: Best Western, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart
Panel:
- Mr Allan Garcia, CEO, Infrastructure Tasmania
- Dr Katrena Stephenson, CEO, Local Government Association Tasmania
- Speaker from the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government