Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Facilities Grants Program

Local organisations working to improve community wellbeing and the way our communities function are invited to apply for the Department of Community Service's Area Assistance Scheme Grants from August 6, 2005.

The Area Assistance Scheme Grants are available to local councils, regional organisations of councils and incorporated non-profit community organisations who work to:

• connect communities through partnerships;
• build community leadership and capacity; and
• promote safer communities.

The Scheme encourages active community involvement and the opportunity to create community self-help programs and partnerships between organisations to improve community infrastructure.

Examples of previously funded programs include assistance to the McLeans Ridges Hall Committee to upgrade the hall and to the Ballina Shire Council to purchase office equipment for the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society.

Further information about the Area Assistance Scheme is available from my office or on the internet at www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au

Eligible groups should apply by September 7.

Fair Trading Awards

Nominations are currently being called for the 2005 Fair Trading Awards. These Awards recognise community organisations, business associations, industry associations and outstanding individuals who promote a fairer working place.

There are four categories of awards:

• The Minister's Award for Consumer Advocacy - open to individuals who have advanced consumer advocacy;
• Four Service Awards - open to business and community organisations that promote consumer protection;
• The Einfeld Awards - for organisations that protect vulnerable consumers such as seniors or people with a disability; and
• Two Journalism Awards - for a media outlet that has raised awareness of consumer issues.

Nomination forms are available from my office and must be returned to the Department of Fair Trading by August 26.

JP Public Register

In previous columns, I have written about changes to the Justices of the Peace Act 2002 and the requirement for existing Justices of the Peace to renominate.

As part of the implementation of the Justices of the Peace Act 2002 a Justice of the Peace Register has now been launched. It lists those appointed a Justice of the Peace in NSW since December 8, 2003.

You can search by postcode the area in which you require a Justice of the Peace by accessing the register on www. lawlink.nsw.gov.au. The locations of persons registered as a Justice of the Peace include, but are not limited to, Ballina, East Ballina, Lennox Head, Tintenbar, Pimlico, Wollongbar and Alstonville.

Office contacts

Address: PO Box 1018, Ballina, NSW, 2478
Phone: 6686 7522
Fax: 6686 7470
Email: Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George
Canberra Connection

Support for young farmers

NSW Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Craig Knowles, announced a new FirstFarmer program. This is to support a new generation of sustainable agriculture through a program to help young farmers establish their own properties via concessional finance.

FirstFarmer will help successful applicants buy into their first place and help ensure good resource management of our rural land.

Farmers manage 80 percent of the land mass in NSW and they are a vital part of natural resource management. Support for FirstFarmer will be linked to Natural Resource Management policy to ensure new young farmers are equipped with the best practice knowledge associated with sustainable farm practices. The Government is also seeking Commonwealth support for this innovative scheme, which will be carefully monitored over the next 12 months, to address the exodus of rural youth to the cities.

More information on FirstFarmer will soon be available from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and the NSW Farmers' Association.

Plantation review

The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) is calling for public comment as part of the statutory review of the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 and associated regulations.

A discussion paper has been released providing an opportunity for interested parties to make comments and suggestions to improve the operation of the legislation. Copies of the discussion paper and submission forms are available from www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au or by phoning 1300 305 695. Submissions close August1.

Home Building review

The review of licensing in the NSW Home Building Industry will examine the current licensing regime (including entry requirements and categories of licences) to assess whether it is appropriate and relevant in the modern building industry. Terms of Reference are available from www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. under 'what's new'. Submissions close August26.

Rosebank Recreation Trust

Applications are being sought for appointment as Trust Board members of the above Reserve Trust. Successful applicants will be responsible for the care, control and management of the reserve in a voluntary capacity and the term of appointment is for five years.

Application forms are available from the Department of Lands by contacting 6640 2061. Submissions close August 29.

Tenancy Law Reforms

An options paper that will consider Residential Tenancy Law Reforms has been released to facilitate public discussion about New South Wales Residential Tenancy Laws and to assist individuals and organisations wishing to make a submission.

Unfortunately, the review is not examining the following matters:

• The procedures and practices of the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, irrespective of the fact that 45,000 tenancy related matters came before the Tribunal in the last financial year;
• The rights of boarders and lodgers;
• Public housing policies and procedures;
• Tenant databases;
• Protected Tenancies covered by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1948, and;
• The rights of those living in caravan parks or manufactured homes which are covered by the Residential Parks Act.

There are many options expressed in the paper, spread right across the Residential Tenancy Law area.

Some of the options include:

• Allowing long term leases exceeding 10 years;
• Allowing parties who are now excluded from tenancy laws to have those tenancy laws applied to them;
• Expanding the list of grounds of which a tenancy may be terminated to include reasons such as major repairs, renovations or the need for the landlord or family member to live in the premises; and
• Options to change the method in which interest is paid off rental bonds.

Closing date for submissions is August 31 and those people wanting a copy of the options paper should visit the Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Office contacts

Address: PO Box 52, Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: 6621 3624
Fax: 6622 1403
Email: lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au