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DELIVERING OUTCOMES FOR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES. Via effective leadership and relationships. John McLinden CEO, Loddon Shire. What are we all trying to do?. Provide for the long term renewal of our infrastructure Improve the stewardship of our assets Be efficient
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DELIVERING OUTCOMES FOR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES Via effective leadership and relationships John McLinden CEO, Loddon Shire
What are we all trying to do? • Provide for the long term renewal of our infrastructure • Improve the stewardship of our assets • Be efficient • Continually do more with less
What are we all trying to do? • Ease transport congestion • Assist efficient freight movement • Provide access solutions demanded by our constituents • Create a welcoming, vibrant and connected community
What are they all trying to do? • I don’t know but they are making a mess of it • Not much in my local area – all the money is spent elsewhere • Not sure, there’s a lot of people in the Council office, but when I ring to complain there is no-one to talk to me
The small shire infrastructure problem • Large asset maintenance and renewal demands • Small incomes • Often low community wealth
Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage VICTORIA – Local Government Areas ABS Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia - Data only, 2006
Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage VICTORIA – Local Government Areas ABS Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia - Data only, 2006
Long term average annual asset consumption(from C1 Grants Commission Returns)
Engage with your community “A problem shared is a problem halved”
Engage with your community • It’s exhausting • It’s time consuming • It’s always worth it • IT’S ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE
THE ISSUE PROPOSED SOLUTION bad good THE EFFECTON ME HAPPY ANGRY
THE ISSUE PROPOSED SOLUTION bad good complaints THE EFFECTON ME HAPPY ANGRY
THE ISSUE conversations PROPOSED SOLUTION bad good complaints THE EFFECTON ME HAPPY ANGRY
Why is it so hard to get the right community members interested/involved in local government issues?
“in any two-horse race, always put your money onthe one called self-interest– because at least you know it’s trying.” - Credited to Paul Keating
Create the climate for constructive conversations Identify: • Your community champions • Your community leaders • The opinion formers
Go to the people Hold conversations
Structure the conversations • Lead the debate • Listen • Seek opinions from the audience • Discuss
Engage with government It’s government’s problem too
When dealing with government • Look for opportunities of mutual benefit • Clearly explain the infrastructure problem • Discuss potential solutions • Help government to solve its communities’ problems
Get the message correct • Have the issues well researched • Use accurate data • Be consistent • Be concise (don’t waffle) • Facts not emotion • Deliver a strong, clear message
Conversations on the BIG ISSUES never end Close the loop
Build the communities’ confidence in your organisation Do what you say you will do
So what does our farming community see now? • Four years on Did I sign up for this?
Response performance ROAD DEFECT REPAIRS Loddon Shire 20/4/2008 – 20/4/2012