They provide everything from roads infrastructure to assisting the elderly to remain in their own homes.

Local government is at the coalface of local communities and can often act to voice the needs and aspirations of real people that higher levels of government are removed from.

“The role of local government is constantly changing, and we are listening to the people and changing as fluidly as possible to best meet the needs of our local communities,” Great Lakes Council general manager Keith O’Leary said.

“Of course, that’s a complex business and with limited funding, resources and time, we implement high level planning across all sectors of council to decide how best to achieve the many demands made of council by our communities.”

The theme for this year’s Local Government Week is Over the Fence, Cultivating our own Backyard and relates to many facets of our local community.

One interpretation is to emphasise the development of our relationships with our neighbours in a multicultural society and embracing the differences.

Great Lakes Council will hold two citizenship ceremonies over the week, one at Hawks Nest on Tuesday, July 29, and one at Forster on Thursday, July 31.

Another way of looking at the theme might be to look at the character of our local region; what sets it apart, extending the notion of the individual backyard to the street, neighbourhood, beaches, lakes and hinterland.

The theme also relates to council and residents working together to enhance the community life of our region, cultivating our own backyard with the myriad activities, leisure parks, cultural activities, special projects and events and community education in the area.

At the citizenship ceremonies, council will also be providing grants to 33 local community groups to further their activities in our region, under the community grants program.