ALGA outlines advocacy wins for councils at LGANT Convention

ALGA President Cr Linda Scott was a keynote speaker at the Local Government Association of the NT Convention in Darwin on 17 November. 

(L-R) – NT Minister for Local Government The Hon. Chanston Paech, ALGA President Cr Linda Scott, Alice Springs Town Council Cr Allison Bitar and City of Darwin, Lord Mayor The Hon. Kon Vatskalis (LGANT President).

Cr Scott highlighted several of ALGA’s advocacy wins this year, secured in collaboration with LGANT and other state associations, 

These wins included a $750 million expansion of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI), taking the total value of this program to $3.25 billion. 

With state and territory support, ALGA also secured a $200 million per year disaster mitigation fund to help build the infrastructure need to protect council areas from fires, floods and cyclones. 

Cr Scott said: “It was fantastic to see both the LRCI extension and new Disaster Ready funding included in last month’s Federal Budget. 

“Other Budget wins included an extra $100 million in Financial Assistance Grants, as well as $1 billion in new regional grants programs over the next three years.”