On 17 April 2007, the Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport announced significant changes to the structure and composition of local government in Queensland (see MacDonnells Law Local Government Update "Landmark Local Government Reforms").  Central to the review is a seven person Local Government Reform Commission which is to examine existing arrangements and developing proposals for new local government boundaries.  The Commission commenced operations on 30 April 2007.

Statewide advertising commenced on Saturday 28 April 2007 calling for "suggestions" to be lodged with the Commission by 5pm on Friday 25 May 2007.  The Commission's own

web page (at www.lgrc.qld.gov.au) should be up and running by Friday 4 May 2007.

The review is established in part through the Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2007.  The legislation can be viewed at www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/ACTS/2007/07AC021.pdf.

The Commission's Terms of Reference (ToR) are:-

• The reform commission must consider the grouping of like communities of interest to maintain the social fabric and character of communities and areas of the State, and in particular, must consider—
• review areas established under SSS review processes; and
• boundaries of areas covered by the regions for which regional planning advisory committees have been established under the Integrated Planning Act 1997.
  
• The reform commission’s recommendations must be directed at —
• consolidating, to the extent practicable, regional natural resource management areas, including for example water catchment areas, and environmental areas, such as coastal wetlands; and
• creating local governments with improved financial sustainability.
  
• In making a recommendation for creating a new local government area from 2 or more existing local government areas, the reform commission must give preference, to the extent practicable, to including all of the existing local government areas in the new area rather than parts of the existing areas.
  
• The reform commission must identify options for community representation that reflect the diversity of the State’s regions and that promote representation of discrete communities.

• In making its recommendations for new arrangements, the reform commission must identify any issues requiring further consideration for successfully establishing the new arrangements.

Interested Councils will need to act quickly in order to formulate and deliver "suggestions" to the Commission by the closing time of 5pm on 25 May 2007.

MacDonnells Law has served Queensland local governments for over 120 years and is by far the longest established specialist local government law firm in Queensland.

We work closely with our local government clients to establish compliance systems, solve legal problems, provide commercial, dispute resolution and infrastructure projects services and improve the governance process.  In addition to legal advice, we provide a wide range of valued-added legal, training and skills transfer services, tailor made for local government.  The following topics are covered through these services:

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