Far North Queensland is set to be the centre of local government next week when Cairns hosts the 123rd annual conference of the Local Government Association of Queensland.
About 500 delegates and observers, including mayors and councillors from Brisbane to Boulia, will attend the conference to debate the policy direction of local government in Queensland.
They will also discuss the latest developments on hot button issues such as integrity and accountability and the use of data analytics to better serve local communities.
LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said the conference was the sector’s showcase, allowing civic leaders to discuss and debate issues and policy affecting a sphere of government with more than 40,000 staff and managing $155 billion of community assets.
“Local councils are key drivers of regional economies and efficient managers of community interests,” he said.
“This conference is where the level of government closest to the community gets together in big numbers to talk about its future. In that respect it is one of the most important annual gatherings in the Queensland policy calendar.”
Delegates will debate nearly 90 policy motions on topics ranging from the future of waste management to responding to the current and future droughts and improving telecommunications in remote areas.
The conference will run from Monday 14 October to Wednesday 16 October at the Cairns Convention Centre.