Weekly column from Council Courier e-newsletter by CEO Greg Hallam, Friday 29 July 2016.
Travel, travel and more travel. As always, the LGAQ has gone to great lengths to support its members and local government peers across the country.
Last weekend I spoke to the Tasmanian Local Government Association conference in Hobart and, along with the LGAQ Innovation Executive Lou Boyle, ran a half day workshop on what Queensland councils and the LGAQ were doing regarding smart infrastructure and services.
We banana benders are leaders in this area and our shared experiences are hotly sought after around the country. What we didn't plan on was snow.
On the way back to Brisbane, I attended the annual meeting of state local government association CEOs, a chance to compare notes about who is doing what in what's become a really invaluable exchange of ideas and experiences.
Add the ongoing visits to councils and I've been everywhere man.
But more importantly my colleagues Greg Hoffman, Simone Talbot and Lou Boyle trekked north to the North Queensland Local Government Association conference in Cloncurry to fly the LGAQ flag and engage with members for the last few days of the week.
Finally at the close of nominations, Western Downs Cr Ray Brown and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson were the only two nominations for LGAQ President. Delegates at the LGAQ Annual Conference in October will decide the contest by a vote. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill will remain as acting President until that time.