News

LGIS wins international 'green' IT award

2013-03-12T04:43:14Z

LGIS and Brisbane software developer Integral Technology Solutions have jointly won an international ‘eco-IT’ award for their ground-breaking work on the systems behind the ClimateSmart Home Service.

The partners won an Asia Pacific ICT Award – the region’s premier technology honour – in the Sustainability and Green IT category.

This category recognises innovative ICT solutions that address sustainability issues and offer value-for-money economic, environmental and social outcomes.

The Asia Pacific ICT Award acknowledged LGIS and Integral’s collaboration in custom building and applying the technology and support system for ClimateSmart to achieve a positive environmental outcome.

The win is a further endorsement of the innovation of the ClimateSmart program, which was conceived, developed and, since 2008, managed by the LGIS team.

Having won the State then national iAwards earlier in the year, LGIS and Integral automatically qualified to represent Australia at the international level.

Nominations underwent a comprehensive assessment by a panel of independent judges against five criteria – uniqueness, market potential, functionality and features, quality, and the application of the technology – including a 30-minute live presentation.

Director, LGIS Operations, Anthony Coates, said the award reflected the ingenuity and effectiveness of the program’s custom-made IT platform and business rules.

“ClimateSmart was unique in that it combined energy saving technology with behaviour change,” Anthony said.

“Like most of ClimateSmart’s components, there were no off-the-shelf IT solutions that would meet our needs, so we made one!

“We worked with Integral to develop a platform to support the entire customer experience, from booking right through to post-service communications.

“It enabled customers to monitor their energy-saving behaviours and compare their usage to others.

“The program touched almost 350,000 – or approximately one in five – Queensland households, equivalent to the population of Canberra."

Focus on Waste Management Expertise

2013-03-04T03:47:43Z

Change is rapidly occurring in Queensland with the mining boom, coming and going waste levy and the carbon tax legislation putting new and varied pressures on councils. LGIS is made up of a team of experts who are committed to supporting local government and assisting councils with innovative solutions to address challenges such as water and waste infrastructure demand due to the mining boom.

Umur Natus-Yildiz is a great example of the professionalism and diverse experience that makes up the LGIS team. Umur joined LGIS in 2011 to provide project management and infrastructure procurement advisory solutions. Given his extensive background across all levels of government and his international experience, Umur is a great asset to LGIS. But it is his track record and expertise in waste management which has proven extremely valuable for LGIS clients.

Umur has identified the key issues surrounding waste management that will impact on councils in Queensland in the coming years.

“The changing waste landscape will encourage councils to develop local and regional waste strategies that enhance waste recycling and utilisation,” Umur said.

Umur believes that LGIS plays an important role in assisting councils to effectively deal with these changing environments.

“Our initial role is to assist in the development of waste management strategy options, including waste reduction and reuse, recycling, waste treatment and landfill gas capture and treatment.

“LGIS is ideally placed to assist local government, with the ability to project manage the overall assessment, evaluation and implementation process of waste management strategies across Queensland.”

Umur has identified immediate project management actions that councils can take to kick start a more effective waste management strategy including:

Monitoring & measurement program including CO2-e emission for landfill
Developing a coordinated waste strategy to identify, quantify and develop responses to the imminent changes in the waste landscape
Considering viable funding options (including cost recovery)
Investing in an integrated sustainable waste management system.

To complement his waste management experienced gained in Europe and Asia, Umur has visited waste management plants in Australia to identifying best practice examples that Queensland councils can learn from. He believes that effective waste management is essential to improving the environmental and financial outcomes for councils in Queensland and the key to this success is strong and effective project and procurement management.

New LGAQ President: Margaret de Wit

2013-03-04T03:49:08Z

Brisbane City Councillor Margaret de Wit has become the first woman elected as President of the Local Government Association of Queensland in its 116 year history, defeating Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’Connell in a secret ballot.

Cr de Wit will assume the role at the conclusion of the LGAQ Annual Conference on Thursday and will serve a 4 year term.

“I am passionate about fighting for the needs of local government,” said Cr de Wit.

“Councils do it tough - they don’t get a lot of recognition for the work that they do and there are many issues that need to be addressed, like funding cuts and the loss of grants and subsidies.

“We do realise that the state government has a big job to do in cutting debt but it’s my job now to fight for the needs of councils and taking it to the Premier when he is looking at budgets.

Cr de Wit says she has no qualms about political allegiances, in terms of dealing with either the State or Federal Governments.

“I have very good working relationships with the Premier, Treasurer and the Minister for Local Government, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be knocking on their door if I’m not happy with what we are getting from George Street.

“I believe I can also work just as effectively with the federal minister and anyone else at that level.”

Cr de Wit is already one of four LGAQ directors. She was first appointed when LGAQ Ltd was constituted in August 2010, and has been the junior vice-president since 2008.

Cr de Wit is also Brisbane City Council’s (BCC) chairman of council. She has been the Brisbane City councillor for the Ward of Pullenvale since 1997, and has held senior portfolios in BCC ranging from leader of the opposition (prior to the election of Campbell Newman in 2004) to chairman of infrastructure when Cr Graham Quirk became Lord Mayor.

She is also the first LGAQ President to come from Brisbane in 91 years, Cr de Wit steps into the shoes of Central Highlands Councillor Paul Bell.

“One of the first things I want to do is sit down and work out a travel schedule so that I can get out and visit as many councils in the regions as soon as possible.

“It will be a busy travel schedule however I did give this undertaking a lot of consideration and I am well aware of the workload.”

Outgoing LGAQ President Cr Paul Bell said he certainly supports Cr de Wit in her new role.

“Margaret has been a valued part of the leadership team for a number of years, and has played a substantial role in helping shape the work LGAQ does for our council members.”

Cr Paul Bell announced yesterday that he is running for a two year term as President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), where he will focus on the push for a referendum on the Constitutional Recognition of local government.

Cr de Wit is equally passionate about that cause.

“Constitutional recognition is vital for local government right across Australia,” she said.

“We need to maintain the status quo and ensure that councils can still receive funding directly from Canberra.”