One of the greatest challenges faced by Local Government in my experience is the capacity constraint we face in delivering and expanding the services sought by the community, and nowhere is this challenge harder to manage than in our infrastructure provision role.
During my time as ALGA President and Mayor of Joondalup, and my previous role as President of WALGA, I have championed the value of collaboration to achieve outcomes, and I believe a collaborative approach towards infrastructure is important in dealing with the infrastructure challenge that we face.
I have recently been exploring a joint approach to infrastructure advocacy between ALGA and other peak bodies including the Australian Logistics Council, the Australian Trucking Association, the Australian Rail Association, the Property Council of Australia, and the Planning Institute of Australia among others.
Such a partnership could provide a concise and succinct call regarding infrastructure in the lead up to the next Federal election. It could leverage our shared interests for better infrastructure and provide a powerful voice in our calls for greater Commonwealth investment in public infrastructure.
Local Government is no stranger to collaboration. We utilise this approach through Regional Organisations of Councils. My own City of Joondalup and the neighbouring cities of Waneroo and Stirling have joined together in a TriCities Alliance to strengthen our advocacy. This collaborative approach underpins the operations of ALGA, which is a federation of State and Territory Local Government Associations coming together and presenting a united voice to the Commonwealth. We must use this approach to highlight the importance of the maintenance and funding of infrastructure.
Infrastructure will be the focus of the 2015 National Local Roads and Transport Congress, which is now less than four weeks away. The Congress will be an important opportunity to interact with political representatives as the Government and Opposition develop their policies in advance of the next Federal election, and I encourage you to register for the Congress if you have not already done so.
More information about registration and the Congress program is available on the ALGA website.
Mayor Troy Pickard
ALGA President