Sunshine Coast Regional Council, NALG winner 2011
The National Awards for Local Government recognise, reward and promote the innovative work of local governments across Australia. The National Awards are an important component of the Government’s partnership with local government, showcasing unique local solutions to common problems. If you are proud of your council’s innovative approach to meeting your community’s needs, you have until 17 February to submit your entry for the 2012 awards.
Collaborative Approach to Liquor Management (CALM)
This award recognises councils who work collaboratively with their community to respond to local alcohol issues.
Sunshine Coast Regional Council funds and co-ordinates CALM liquor accords on the Sunshine Coast, partnering with the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health, Queensland Transport and the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation in supporting the accords across the region.
A liquor accord is an agreement by licensees and other stakeholders to take certain actions in local communities which aim to improve safety in entertainment areas and reduce alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, offences and violence.
The first CALM liquor accord on the Sunshine Coast was established at Mooloolaba in 2007 with 18 members. Due to demand there are now seven accords with a total of 120 licensee, business, government and non-government members.
The goal of the CALM Sunshine Coast liquor accord is to enhance community safety and wellbeing across the region through the development of, and commitment to, strategies and initiatives focused on alcohol harm minimisation and community development.
The project aims to target alcohol related violence by assisting licensees, government agencies and the local community develop strategies to reduce incidences. This includes developing projects aimed at addressing increases in population on the Sunshine Coast by up to 500,000 people four times annually during peak tourist seasons.
CALM is designed to assist government agencies and peak bodies achieve key results in the areas of liquor management and harm reduction and invite licensees, traders and community members to provide initiatives to reduce alcohol related violence, crime and drink driving offences.
The CALM project has contributed towards the reduction of harms and enhanced local amenity through the unprecedented decline in alcohol related violence and complaints received about licensed premises since the commencement of the accords, which has provided a whole of community benefit.
In 2010 Institute of Public Administration Australia Queensland Public Sector Excellence Awards recognised the CALM program as Best Practice in Local Government.
Visit the Council’s website here.
View the video blog post of Mike Lollback from the CALM program, discussing the region, the awards and the project on myregion here
Are you proud of your council’s innovative approach to meeting your community’s needs? The National Awards for Local Government recognise, reward and promote the work of local governments across Australia. Entries for the 2012 Awards are open until 17 February 2012.
If you have any questions, please contact the Awards Team by email or freecall 1800 065 113. More information can be found on the Australian Government Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport National Awards for Local Government Webpage
