As you may be aware, Local Government Legal has released a Legislative Compliance Database (LCD) for subscription by local councils in NSW.
The purpose of the LCD is to assist councils implement and maintain a system to ensure their legislative and regulatory obligations are met (as required in the DLG’s “Promoting Better Practice” review process).
The LCD identifies the State and Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, and corresponding regulations that result in direct responsibilities and obligations on local councils in NSW. The database provides a hyperlink to an up-to-date electronic copy of the legislation, summarises the relevance of the Legislation to local councils an identifies provisions that are of particular relevance to council operations.
Furthermore the database allows councils to assign a piece of Legislation as being of relevance to a Position Name within council and to enter information regarding how the council addresses the responsibilities of a piece of legislation (for example through an adopted policy).
Subscribing councils receive notifications (by email or the database website) when legislative amendments come into force, including a summary of the amendments and their relevance to council operations. Legislative amendments, which are soon to be commenced, include the following:
- Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014, commencing 1 September 2014;
- Amendments to the Rural Fires Act 1997 in relation to vegetation clearing work; and
- Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 which is anticipated to come into force, at least in part, in 2014.
For further information on the LCD please do not hesitate to contact us.
Note: This information is not to be relied upon as legal advice.