LGIS is excited to launch the new online 2025 Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) on the iRIS platform. This is a vital initiative for local governments dedicated to strengthening risk management around critical infrastructure.

This year, the focus is on trees, tree roots, and footpaths - areas where the number of claims has been on an upward trajectory and can heavily fluctuate in incurred costs. Over the past decade, there have been 4,235 tree-related and 3,509 footpath-related claims. Notably, the severity of claims can range from minor losses to more significant multi-million-dollar property and personal injury losses, underscoring the critical need for proactive risk management in these areas.

By actively participating in this self-assessment, your local government will gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your current systems, in pursuit of preventing future incidents. The anonymised data will be collected and compiled into a benchmarking report, enabling you to compare your performance against your peers.

Investing time in completing this assessment not only enhances your risk management practices but also helps reduce claims, improve community safety, and build a more resilient local government sector. Your participation is a vital step toward continuous improvement and sector-wide success.

Why participate?

The CIP self-assessment offers a clear, structured framework to help your local government review and strengthen risk management systems across five key areas:

• Strategy
• Policy/management plan
• Resourcing
• Systems
• Documentation.

By engaging in this process, your organisation will gain valuable insights into its strengths and identify areas for improvement. LGIS will then support you with guidance and resources to ensure that your risk mitigation strategy is effective, up to date and aligned with the current best practices – making your job easier and more efficient.

It's an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to responsible asset management and continuous improvement - key factors that support community safety, operational efficiency, and strengthens defence in the case of legal proceedings thereby ensuring the sustainability of protections offered to members.

How does it work?

When completing the self-assessment, approach each section as if it were a formal audit. Refer to your local government's existing policies and procedures to ensure your responses are accurate and comprehensive. The questionnaire prompts you to provide evidence of current practices, relevant documentation, and future actions needed. Participation also aligns with broader organisational objectives, such as meeting governance KPIs, educating staff, and providing transparency to councillors and stakeholders.

The Tree and Footpath CIP questionnaires are scheduled to launch in the coming weeks, and we encourage all members to participate actively. Your insights will not only help LGIS tailor its services but also foster a culture of continuous improvement across the WA local government sector.

Together, we can build safer, more resilient communities. Your collaboration is key to the success of this program and our LGIS member services team are here to support you every step of the way. For more information, contact your account manager or your regional risk coordinator. Please also refer to our CIP info sheet.