49108 Local Government Powers and Practice

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Handbook description

Note: This subject is not suitable for international and/or exchange students unless they plan to practise in NSW.

This subject aims to provide the local government engineer with the necessary skills to operate within the legal framework of legislative requirements and procedures governing local government in NSW; provide appropriate knowledge of the law, to operate effectively within environmental, economic, social and physical constraints; and provide the knowledge and expertise to manage the environment in a practical and effective manner. It covers the history of local government in NSW, the local government engineer as a senior officer, the Local Government Act 1993 and companion legislation, Local Government Regulations and the Roads Act 1993.

Subject objectives/outcomes

This subject aims to provide the local government engineer with:

1. Necessary knowledge and skills to operate within the administrative framework set by the NSW State Government, in the provision and management of works and services
2. Detailed knowledge of the responsibilities of multi-purpose councils as provided for in the Charter (Section 8) of the Local Government Act 1993
3. Detailed knowedge of the various constraints a local government engineer must have due regard to in the delivery of works and services to the community, namely economic, social, physical and environmental
4. Detailed knowledge of the Local Government Act 1993, Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, Roads Act 1993, Roads (General) Regulation 2000 and other associated Legislation.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

This subject together with other subjects in the Local Government Engineering Major, enhance the knowledge base of the practising local government engineer.  It likewise ensures that the necessary skills to perform at a higher level of engineering and engineering management in the local government industry are afforded the students. 

The flexible structure of the Master of Engineering Studies course allows recently graduated engineers and experienced technical and engineering specialists to deepen knowledge and skills gained in their first degree and/or at their workplace. 

Participants will increase their skills bank in local government law through a rigorous learning process, whereby the student gains experience in local government engineering workplace scenarios.  In this regard the student will be armed with the necessary skills to operate effectively within the local government engineering industry.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students are expected to undertake study outside the classroom, which must be at least the equivalent in hours to those spent in the classroom.

Content

1. History of Local Government in N.S.W.;
2. The Local Government Engineer: The changing role of the local government engineer, The engineer as a manager, Code of Conduct for local government;
3. Local Government Act 1993 and Companion Legislation: Implications for the local government engineer;
4. Local Government Act 1993: Purposes of the Act, Philosophy of the Act, The Charter. Structure of the Act, Service Functions of Councils, Private Works by Councils, Classification of Public Lands, Regulatory Functions of Councils, Special features of the Act, Senior Staff and Delegations;
5. Local Government (General) Regulation 2005: General, Approvals, Orders, Tendering and Water Services;
6. Operation of ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption): Corruption Issues and the local government engineer;
7. Roads Act 1993: A comprehensive study of the Roads Act will be undertaken which embraces the processes involved with the Opening of Roads, Road Levels, Closing of Public Roads, Roadwork, Regulation of Traffic (‘Temporary’ and ‘Permanent’) by Roads Authorities, Entry onto Land and Financial Assistance to Roads Authorities; and
8. Roads (General) Regulation 2000: Regulatory powers of a ‘Road Authority’.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Project

Assessment Item 2: Final Examination

Minimum requirements

In order to gain a “Pass” in the subject, you must gain a mark of no less than 30/60 in the Final Examination and 50/100 overall in the Subject.

Accordingly students must enter into a learning contract in this regard.

References

Local Government Engineering in Australia, Malcolm J. Jones & Robert French, The Federation Press 1999. ISBN 1 86287 309 7

Bluett’s Local Government Handbook New South Wales, Clark, David.16th Edition, 2008. ISBN 9780 4552 2546 3

Co-op Bookshop at 3 Broadway, City Campus

Students should be aware that the Co-op Bookshop is located at No. 3 Broadway adjacent to Harris Street. The bookshop is open 7 days a week: Monday to Thursday 9am to 6pm, Friday 9.30am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 3pm.

The Co-op website is: www.coop-bookshop.com.au, phone (02) 9514 2163 or fax (02) 9212 6303.

Other resources

All students must access the UTSOnline site regularly for information on the following matters:

1. Instructions relating to special sessions which will be held if required by students;
2. Supplementary lecture material;
3. Selected “Power-point” presentations; and
4. Project (Assessment Task)