Roads to Recovery

ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake wrote to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, this week about arrangements for the new Roads to Recovery (R2R) Program to commence in July.

In the letter Cr Lake asks the Minister to consider relaxing the tight restriction that limit the use of the R2R Program funds to roads.

The letter welcomed the Federal Government's decision to extend the Program to 2014 at an increased rate of $350 million per year and to continue the same administrative arrangement that recognises that local government has the best knowledge of transport needs at the local level.

In line with this general approach that councils know their transport needs better than anyone else, Cr Lake asked the Minister in developing the administrative arrangements for the next Roads to Recovery Program to give consideration to relaxing the definitions to give councils the option of funding "other transport infrastructure" besides roads.

Cr Lake said that this would give councils the freedom to fund such things as bus shelters, interchanges and parking facilities at rail stations and bike racks at interchanges or shopping centres.

"I envisage that this would appeal to councils in urban and major regional centres and is consistent with broader Government policies of encouraging alternatives to cars and can be achieved at no cost to the Budget," Cr Lake stated.

High Court challenge threat

The President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Cr Geoff Lake, has warned that a legal challenge to payments under the Federal Government's Stimulus Package could have a huge impact on councils across the nation and bankrupt local communities.

Cr Lake said the High Court challenge by states' rights champion and barrister Mr Bryan Pape which comes before the full bench of the High Court on 30 March has the potential to invalidate years of commonwealth funding to local government.

"The challenge to the Federal Government's $900 bonus payments to taxpayers has serious implications for more that $6 billion in direct payments from the Federal Government to councils in recent years," Cr Lake said.

If the High Court upholds the challenge, councils may have to repay billions of dollars of funding received from the Federal Government.

"This would cripple communities across Australia and potentially lead to a crisis in the delivery of hundreds of services at the local level."

Since the 1970s, the Federal Government has taken the primary lead in providing funding to local government to supplement the rates and charges levied by councils. For the past nine years through the Roads to Recovery Program and more recently through the Regional and Community Infrastructure Program, the Federal Government has made payments directly to local government rather than via the states and territories. The High Court challenge is based on the assertion that the Federal Government does not have the power to make these payments directly.

Cr Lake said until local government was included in the Australian Constitution uncertainty would surround the ability of local communities to be properly funded.

In December last year, 600 elected councillors from across Australia voted unanimously to support the Rudd Government's push to amend the Australian Constitution to recognise local government. A key outcome of the Summit was the identification of the need for the Constitution to be changed to include a direct power for the Federal Government to fund local government directly.

Community infrastructure funding flows for NSW, Vic and SA projects

Around $17 million in infrastructure projects for New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were announced this week by the Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, as part of the $800 million Community Infrastructure Program.

Minister Albanese announced more than $1.1 million for ready-to-go local infrastructure projects in Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast. The funding will be delivered to the local council for 13 infrastructure projects in communities such as Port Macquarie, Wauchope Long Flat, Lake Cathie, Comboyne, Beachwood and Kendall.

The Federal Government has also announced nearly $5 million for 146 ready-to-go local infrastructure projects across regional South Australia. Local councils and shires will receive this funding for infrastructure projects in communities from the Adelaide Hills to Millicent, from Streaky Bay to Murray Bridge, from Roxby Downs to Victor Harbour. The projects being funded include building and upgrading town halls, community centres, swimming pools, sports grounds, main streets and foreshores, water and energy conservation measures, and improving disabled access.

Nearly $2 million is also available for 30 ready-to-go community infrastructure projects in Port Stephens, Forster and neighbouring communities. Infrastructure such as ocean baths, main street and foreshore improvements, community centres, playgrounds and parks will be built and upgraded up and down the coast from Raymond Terrace to Nelson Bay to Bulahdelah and up to Forster.

Albury-Wodonga was also a winner, with the announcement of $1.95 million for seven ready-to-go local infrastructure projects. They include a $400,000 upgrade of the Albury Entertainment Centre, $260,000 to build infrastructure in Thurgoona, and $878,000 towards the construction of the new Sumsion Gardens Playground in Wodonga.

The Federal Government also announced more than $6.2 million to build community infrastructure in Gippsland. The funding will contribute to 50 community projects across Gippsland from Warragul to Sale, from Moe to Briagolong, and from Traralgon to Maffra.

Projects that will receive funding range from $700,000 to upgrade the Lucknow Indoor Sports Centre and $500,000 for the Newborough Leisure Centre upgrade to $440,000 to create the Yarram Wetlands and $158,000 to refurbish the Warragul Drill Hall.

Finally Minister Albanese announced $875,000 for nine ready-to-go local infrastructure projects in the central-west New South Wales city of Orange.

Orange City Council will receive this funding for nine community infrastructure projects which include a $250,000 upgrade of the Orange Aquatic Centre, $180,000 to expand the Yarrawong Children's Centre, and $100,000 towards the Orange Regional Conservatorium.

Councils will receive a contract from the federal Department of Local Government to enable release of funding.

From the President

Local government has an important role in balancing heritage and aesthetic considerations with functionality and development. Good design does not need to be thrown out the window when spending money quickly is the priority.

The recent stimulus package delivered by the Federal Government has provided local government with an opportunity to reinvigorate local built environments while revving up the economy.

Last month I wrote to the Mayors and Shire Presidents of every council in Australia seeking support to expedite the implementation of the Nation Building and Jobs Plan - Fiscal Stimulus Package which was passed by the Senate on 13 February. Since then, I have received a strong message from councils that projects are ready to roll out and several have taken advantage of the offer by the Australian Institute of Architects for some pro bono architectural assistance prior to the March 6 deadline.

I have also raised this matter with the Presidents of every State and the Northern Territory Local Government Association at a recent Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Board meeting in Hobart. There was strong support for the package and State and Territory Presidents said they would do everything in their power to support the timely implementation of the initiatives under the package.

ALGA acknowledges the possible need for state and territory leaders to implement temporary measures to expedite planning and development applications within jurisdictions in certain areas. However, as I stressed at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in February, timely approvals for planning and development and council involvement in good planning and development are not mutually exclusive.

To this end, I have written to state premiers and chief ministers, urging them to ensure that any measures taken to speed up planning approvals at this time of economic uncertainty should not distort good planning and development processes and outcomes in the longer term.

I have asked state and territory leaders to contact me if there is anything that I or State and Territory Association Presidents can do to assist in relation to the implementation of the Nation Building and Jobs Plan.

ALGA is committed to micro economic and regulation reform including the reform of planning and development and I am keen to see progress on this front through the Local Government and Planning Ministerial Council under the auspice of the COAG Business Regulation and Competition Working Group.

On another note, it is pleasing to see that announcements by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, under the first round of the $800m Community Infrastructure Program are beginning to flow and local communities around Australia are benefiting from community infrastructure such as sporting facilities, bike paths, upgrading town halls, community centres, swimming pools, sports grounds, main streets and foreshores and water and energy conservation measures. It is important we remind ourselves and state and territory governments that this is an opportunity to get the right balance and build facilities that will last us at least into the middle of this century and meet the community needs both in terms of quality of design and amenity. This will ensure we leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Quote of the week

"The ultimate measure of people is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy."
Dr Martin Luther King Jr

International news  

In a solemn ceremony recently in the European Parliament, more that 350 cities across Europe have committed, by signing the Covenant of Mayors, to go beyond the EU's energy objective of reducing 20% CO2 emissions by 2020. With this initiative of the European Commission in partnership with the Committee of Regions, the representatives of over 60 million citizens will work together to achieve the common goal of changing our environment and using energy more wisely. 'Most of the energy produced in Europe is consumed in urban areas. The battle against climate change will have to fought and won in the cities. This is why, the commitment shown by Mayors across Europe by signing the Covenant of Mayors send us a strong message of hope, particularly in the difficult times that we are facing', said Commissioner Piebalgs.

More than 100 mayors across Europe participated in launching ceremony which was chaired by the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, the President of the Committee of the Regions, Luc Van den Brande, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal Quadras, and the Mayors of Budapest, Gabor Demszky, Hamburg, Ole von Beust and Madrid Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, of Riga, Janis Birks, and Vaxjo (Sweden), Bo Frank.

To coincide with the ceremony, the new Covenant of Mayors website has been launched today to act as a network portal and support structure for participating cities and citizens alike. The new website, offers news and pictures of the Covenant in action, as well as information on the cities involved.

Forthcoming events

For a full listing of forthcoming events, see ALGA's Events calendar.

• 15 - 16 February 2011 Behaviour Change Workshop with Doug McKenzie-Mohr
• 16 - 17 February 2011 Enabling meaningful change through community engagement
• 23 - 24 February 2001 Evolving Models of Governance and Accountability
• 25 February 2011 Future housing for older Australians
• 02 - 04 March 2011 Census | beyond the count
• 06 - 09 March 2011 PIA National Congress
• 09 - 11 March 2011 LGSA Tourism Conference 2011
• 21 - 23 March 2011 Industrial & commercial Waste Recycling 2011
• 28 - 29 March 2011 Traffic Theory workshop
• 30 - 31 March 2011 3rd Annual Water Leaders Congress