Donna Galvin has been awarded the 10-day study tour by the Local Government Managers Association (NSW) as part of its international exchange program.

Mrs Galvin will research alliances, collaborations and shared service arrangements between a number of New Zealand councils.

She will attend the Society of Local Government Managers’ annual conference in Queenstown from September 5-7 before visiting three consortia of councils in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and the Manawatu-Wanganui group who are operating shared services and business unit models.

“While New Zealand Local Government provides the same core services we do in Australia, it went through a significant reform

period in the early 2000s and there are now some innovative ways that councils are working collectively and still maintaining their autonomy,” Mrs Galvin said.

“I particularly want to study the sustainability of their arrangements.”

Following her visit, Mrs Galvin will provide reports on her findings to the LGMA State Conference, the NSW Department of Local Government and WBC board.

She will also host a New Zealand Local Government manager who will be undertaking a study tour of Australia.

“It will be a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the innovations and efficiencies achieved by the WBC Alliance which incorporates Wellington, Blayney and Cabonne Councils and Central Tablelands Water,” Mrs Galvin said.

WBC Chairman Kevin Duffy congratulated Mrs Galvin and said her research into Local Government in New Zealand would be invaluable.

“The Strategic Alliance has been at the forefront of Local Government reform in NSW and Mrs Galvin’s findings will help guide its future direction,” Cr Duffy said.