Local Government Case Study: Community Engagement and Planning

This case study analyzes the roles and influences of local governments in South Australia and Tasmania, focusing on their relationships with their respective communities. The report examines budget allocations, staffing structures, and the types of services provided, including infrastructure development, community facilities, and community services. A comparative analysis highlights the different approaches to community engagement and strategic planning between the two local governments. South Australia emphasizes community involvement through engagement plans, while Tasmania's relationship is still developing. The study also outlines the strategic planning processes, including data collection, objective setting, implementation techniques, and feedback mechanisms. The South Australian local government's planning is more detailed, while Tasmania's is more concise. The study concludes with a comparison of the community involvement levels and environmental factors affecting citizen participation.

Case study analysis

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Analytical study of role and influence of both local government on their respective
communities has been discussed in the following report.......................................................1
A brief description of the local community............................................................................4
The nature of the relationship between the community and local government......................5
Approach of LGA for integrated planning and reporting and how does it set out the
‘community strategic plan’.....................................................................................................6
An outline of how the companies structure their staffing ans staff participation...................7
Role played by the company board of directors.....................................................................7
BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................9

MAIN BODY
Local government:
One further level of the government have been set up by six states and Northern territory
which is named as Local government (also referred as local council). The local government
handles needs and requirement of community like waste collection, town planning, public
recreational facilities etc. Each state has many local government within it and are controlled and
run by state or territory government above them and defined their power and geographical areas
of their responsibility.
For this report two local governments which chosen are:
1. Local Government in Tasmania
2. Local government Association of South Australia
Analytical study of role and influence of both local government on their respective communities
has been discussed in the following report
Size of the budget the local government commits to work with the community and grants
received
Local Government in Tasmania Local government Association of South
Australia:
In the budget of 2018-19 government of
Tasmania have invested major amount for
development of communities.
For art, sports and leisure grant up to $5000 is
received for programs and equipment and for
facilities contribution of $25000 is raised.
$11.6 billion have been assigned for
community and election commitments.
Local government of south Australia spends
over $11 million each year.
A sum of $2.6 billion is invested in vital
community infrastructural projects.
For land and infrastructure development $136
billion are spent.
Community hospital budgets have been
From past 12 months funding have increased
by 32.8%.
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increased up to $7.8 million.
Staff
Local Government in Tasmania Local government Association of South
Australia:
For carrying out all community work over
4550 people are employed with a vivid skill.
More than 5000 people are employed every
year by various councils of local government
in SA.
Staff includes clerical, technical, computer
operators and accountants
1.8 % of the staff is engaged in coordination
and management at each center.
In come councils specialist staff such as traffic
engineers, horticulturalists and builders are
also employed to assist in designing and
management of public areas such as streets,
gardens and buildings.
There are 38 volunteers at each center of local
governments.
Other employment in local government
included youth and social workers to provide
specific services that are required in
community.
More than 4000 persons are working as
volunteers in LGA and 72% center wants to
increase volunteer workforce.
Work Local government do with community
Local government is the closest authorities the communities and deals directly with citizens.
Local Government in Tasmania Local government Association of South
Australia:
Road and construction and maintenance, street
lighting, garbage collection and waste
management. Rain waster harvesting and
Local government Association is the main
representative body for council and voice of
communities.
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reticulated potable water.
Public health such as inspecting cafes, shops
and manufacturing premises to check for
hygienic conditions.
Planning and environmental policy support to
the community is provided to help in building
better communities to ensure quality life for
people.
Development of community halls, art facilities,
economy and tourism, Sporting ovals, parks
and public reserves.
Over $20 billion worth of community
infrastructure is managed and maintained by
LGA.
Community services such as child care,
immunization services, services for young
people and seniors and health promotion are
also conducted by LG of Tasmania.
Support for various project is provided along
with resources to council for giving better
services in local communities.
Some work done by Local-government are:
 Art and culture- playgrounds are made
along with oval and facilities.
 Libraries are established to enhance
knowledge of people of the community.
 Waste and resource management
programs are lunched for better
sanitation and recycling of waste and
residues from household consumption.
Comparative analysis: 200
The above tables represent the facts and figure related with funds raised and investment
done by Local government in community development programs that helps in enhancement of
community facilities and lifestyle of their citizens. It can be seen form above table 1 that funds
that for island of Tasmania $11.6 billion has been assigned in budget of 2018-19 for
development of community facilities and $2.6 billion has been assigned for development of
infrastructure and roads. A sum of $7.6 million is given to community hospital for there overall
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development. On the other hand funds raised by local government of South Australia have
increased by 32.6% and it spent about $136 million on infrastructure development and $11
billion on overall community development facilities. A sum of $25000 has been assigned for
sports ans art facilities.
The staff of the local-government of Tasmania includes almost 4550 employees which
includes clerical staff and computer technicians and some of them possess key skills related with
hospitality and other sectors whereas South Australia over 5000 people are appointed each year.
The staff consist of volunteer youth and special workers who provides special services to
community and in south Australia 1.8% of employees are engaged in management and
coordination work.
For the work done by both local government it can be seen that Tasmania LG is more
engaged in development of community facilities such as garbage collection, waste management,
development of community halls, ovals and sports grounds. Rather than Local government of
South Australia focuses on planning the environmental policies for community development.
Libraries are also developed for giving an edge of extra knowledge to citizens while in Tasmania
child care services along with care to young and elderly people are also provided in
communities.
A brief description of the local community
South Australia:
There are more than 4 million people around different communities in south Australia but
the fact has been found that almost more than half of these people are involved with either
community centres or initiative taken by local government. Over past few years this
involvement have seen a rapid growth as people are completely supporting the community
service programs as they are started for their benefits along with betterment of society.
Tasmania:
This is the only state in Australia which is not situated in on Australian mainland as it is
an island in Australia. This has most mountains and at presents is volcanically inactive and
climate is relativity cool as compared to other states of Australia. This leads to fact of lesser
involvement of people in voluntary participation in community services and development
programs. At present population of Tasmania is 5.15 lakh. As compared to South Australia
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community involvement is there in Tasmania but to a certain extant rather government and local
council enjoys a strong relation.
Comparative analysis:
As described above it can be seen the community of south Australia is more involved in
community development programmes launched by local government compared to Tasmania.
Here, more involvement of local council and government can be seen and community
involvements is lesser in Tasmania. In can be stated that from past few years involvement of
community and people of South Australia have been increased with a faster pace as compared to
involvement of citizens of Tasmania. The environmental factor also effects the involvement of
people as Tasmania is the coldest past of Australia also going out and providing volunteer
services becomes a tough task for citizens living their so voluntary participation is increasing
but with a slow rate.
The nature of the relationship between the community and local government.
South Australia:
People of the community take voluntary participation in programmes of community
developments by local government. For this government have also initiated 5 step community
engagement plans along with community engagement technique. Training and development
programmes have also been launched for voluntary participating citizens. The relationship
between local government authorities and citizens have been refined time to time. This is done
by community aware about role of local government. The most important fact develop a strong
relation between them is significant involvement of community in decision making process of
local government. Along with development of acceptable policies for government as well as
private sector.
Tasmania:
Community engagement is the process of communicating, cooperating and working with
communities to gather information, build relationships and inform government decision making.
The local government is taking initiative to improve community evolvement in programs and
initiatives. It is responsibility of government to empower communities to make these things
happen. At present both government and communities are engaged in for many purposes, the
individuals in communities are consumers, customers, organisations and businesses.
Comparative analysis:
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From the above detail it can be seen that local government of South Australia and people
of community share a good and healthy relation as citizens takes active participation in
community development programs and on the other hand LG establishes community engagement
plans. When compared with relation of local government of Tasmania and community is can
be observed that the relation is at developing stage as interest of people are being developed to
participate in communality development plans and programs.
Approach of LGA for integrated planning and reporting and how does it set out the ‘community
strategic plan’
Community strategic planning:
This represents the maximum level of strategic planning which is undertaken by local
councils. All other plans fall under category of developed plans and reporting frame work which
supports implementing community strategic plan. There are mainly 4 questions which must be
addressed for communities:
1. Where are we now?
2. Where we want to be in next 10 years?
3. How we will get there?
4. When we will know that we have arrived?
South Australia:
The local government of SA develops a strategic plan as
Development of a plan\project
 gathering and recording the background data and information relevant with project to be
under taken.
 Define the aims and objective of the project.
 Establishment of parameters of project development.
 Identification of key issues that might be faced while development and implementation
of the project.
 Selection of an appropriate technique for project execution.
Implementation of projects:
 development of an action plan
 completion of a task breakdown
Providing feedbacks
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 collection and analysis of information
 providing feedbacks to community and governments
 respiration of a report to council
 implementation of final decision.
Tasmania:
the community strategic planning is developed as under:
development of policy position
 collection of information resources on specific communities and projects.
 Development of impartation and template.
 Identification of implementation techniques and methods.
 Levels are decided as- developments. Analysis, involvements, implementation and
rectification.
Comparative analysis:
This can be seen from the above community strategic planning of the Local government
South Austral have a better planning and implementation technique. SA local government has
more precise and deliberated plan for implementation of strategic community plans. The local
government of Tasmania has liberal and short plan that do no involve in depth planning and
plans are developed and just implemented and the there are not more corrective plant in case
plan is not executed as per the plan.
An outline of how the companies structure their staffing ans staff participation
In South Australia the employment is done by following strict rules and regulations as
compared to Tasmania which have liberal employment regulation as it is an island and most of
its revenues are form tourism. As far as local community participation is concerned both of
local government enjoys is but when companion is done south Australia have more involvement
is more.
Role played by the company board of directors
For role of directors it can be said that companies of South Australia have more
inclination towards wealth maximization and profit generation while companies, staff and
directors of companies in Tasmania are more concerned in involvement of community
programmes. The companies do have involvement on communities in recruitment processes as
they appoint volunteers to assist them in employee appointments. The staff of the companies
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are free to involve in any initiative and programmes that are undertaken by local government
for community development. Companies provide balanced, objective information to assist
communities understand the issue, alternative opportunities and/or solutions. Targeted mail out,
community feedback, online surveys, submissions, community meetings.
With this it can be concluded that Planing and implantation of Comparative strategic plan is
more precise in South Australasian local government, both of them have community
participation but SA community have more involvement in community development
preprograms and initiative taken by local government.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.australia.gov.au/about-government/how-government-works/local-government
https://www.lgat.tas.gov.au/page.aspx
https://alga.asn.au/
https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/integrated-planning-and-reporting/framework/community-
strategic-plan
https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=2439
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