A new national survey is looking to establish a baseline of emergency preparedness and disaster resilience in multi-unit dwellings across Australia.

The Owners Corporation Network and Facilities Management Australia survey is aimed at anyone who rents or owns an apartment building, including social housing.

Information will be used for free strata-based resources to support resident-led emergency planning.

The survey closes 15 December 2023.

The deadline for Australian councils to provide data on the state of their local roads and community infrastructure has been extended by two weeks, and will now close on 14 December 2023.

ALGA is partnering with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to deliver an update to its National State of the Assets (NSoA) report, which is due to be published in 2024.

The 2021 National State of the Assets report found $9.2 billion of local government buildings and facilities and around $18 billion of local government roads were in poor condition.

Councils who have not submitted their confidential data are urged to provide this as soon as possible so ALGA can fully understand the scope of the issue, and advocate for the funding needed to fix it for local communities.

The NSoA survey only takes a council staff member about one hour to complete, using information found in council’s annual reports, financial statements and asset management plans and systems.

After completing the survey, councils will receive a customised NSoA report about their assets which can be used as an evidence-base for localised advocacy and reporting.

The NSoA 2024 survey is available here

* Please note, all council data will be de-identified and strict confidentiality guidelines are in place for all information provided. The survey closes on 14 December 2023.

Councils are urged to provide their feedback on harnessing the power of sport and physical activity to build healthy, active, connected and thriving communities.

The Office for Sport, in the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care, is undertaking a public consultation to inform the development of a new National Sport Plan.

A consultation paper provides details on the proposed strategy and local governments can provide input on the proposed vision, principles, priorities and measures of success of the Plan.

Submit your feedback from 10 November to 7 December 2023 here: https://consultations.health.gov.au/office-for-sport/national-sport-plan.

Win! Roads to Recovery funding to be doubled to $1 billion per year

Strong advocacy and leadership from ALGA has delivered a landmark $500 million per year increase to Roads to Recovery funding, which will be phased in over the Federal Budget forward estimates.

The increase was announced yesterday by Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, in response to the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program Review. Increasing Roads to Recovery funding has been a core part of ALGA’s advocacy platform, and a key component of our Federal Budget submissions in recent years.

Minister King also announced a $40 million per year increase in Black Spot Program funding, as well as a new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, which will combine the Government’s existing Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity and Bridges Renewal Programs, with funding gradually increased from $150 million to $200 million per year.

We sincerely thank Minister King and the Government for this major funding boost and look forward to working closely with them to ensure this funding is effectively rolled out to our communities.

Win! Grattan Institute recommends extra $1 billion funding to councils

I was also delighted to welcome a new independent report by the Grattan Institute last week calling for Australia’s councils to receive an extra $1 billion in federal funding each year, through increases to Financial Assistance Grants and the Roads to Recovery Program.

This new research – which received national media coverage – clearly demonstrated federal funding to councils has not been keeping pace with the increased costs we are incurring building and maintaining roads.

We are thrilled the Government has agreed to double Roads to Recovery funding over the next couple of years, and we will continue to advocate for Financial Assistance Grants to be restored to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

Win! National packaging reforms endorsed by Environment Ministers

On 10 November, I attended the Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Adelaide and was pleased to see Ministers endorse new national packaging reforms that local governments have advocated for.

Ministers agreed the Federal Government will establish new regulations for packaging, and also mandate how packaging is designed, develop minimum recycled content requirements, and prohibit harmful chemicals being used.

We have consistently pushed for businesses to be responsible for their products to their end-of-life, and these changes will support councils to recycle more effectively.

State and territory conferences

I was delighted to speak at the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory’s Convention on 9 November and I sincerely thank LGANT President Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis and Vice President Cr Peter Clee for their warm hospitality.

I also addressed the Local Government NSW Conference in Sydney last Monday. Thank you to LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley and Cr Karen McKeown for hosting me, and congratulations to Cr Turley on being re-elected as LGNSW President for another two years.

Thank you to Mayor Jamieson

Finally, I want to acknowledge Sunshine Coast Council Mayor and Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Mark Jamieson for his outstanding contributions to our sector.

Mayor Jamieson announced he will be stepping down as Mayor at next year’s elections, and I applaud his long and dedicated service to councils at a local, state and national level.

He has enjoyed a wonderful career, including seven years as LGAQ President and four years on our Board, where Mayor Jamieson made a significant contribution to national local government policy and helped secure a better deal for our communities.

I wish him well in his future endeavours.

Local governments and librarians are encouraged to embrace National Shared Reading Week from Monday 27 November to Sunday 3 December.

National Shared Reading Week is an opportunity for Street Librarians all over the country to connect with their community – young and old – and enjoy the benefits of this shared experience.

Shared Reading is about simply reading with others, and builds language and literacy skills in children and strengthens their ability to connect socially.

Signing up is free and participants will receive a Shared Reading Pack. Street Library Australia will also publish details of Shared Reading Events via on their event map so communities around the country.

More information on National Shared Reading Week is available on the Street Library Australia website.

ALGA continues to work closely with association members, the Federal Government and key stakeholders to help address Australia’s housing and homelessness crisis.

As a signatory to the National Housing Accord, we are actively involved with a range of Government agencies, including from the Treasury and Department of Social Services.

ALGA recently engaged and held online workshops with the Department of Social Services on the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, which outlines a 10-year strategy and shared vision to inform future housing and homelessness policy in Australia.

The Plan is part of the Government’s ambitious reform agenda which also includes a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, to support the delivery of 30,000 social and affordable homes in five years.

Working alongside members, ALGA will soon provide feedback to the Department of Infrastructure for the consultation on new guidelines for the $500 million Housing Support Program.  The program is a competitive fund that will be available for local and state governments to support enabling infrastructure for new housing.

This new program was announced by National Cabinet in August and ALGA will work closely with members to provide feedback to the Government on these guidelines.

ALGA also continues to highlight the benefits of engaging with local governments on this ambitious housing build.  Local decision-making and input will improve the planning outcomes for local communities.

Local governments, working closely with their communities, want to create liveable communities and leave a positive legacy with this housing build.  We also want to ensure regional and rural communities housing challenges and opportunities are also considered in the national policy settings.

Useful Resources:

• Treasury website on housing – Improving housing supply and affordability | Treasury.gov.au
• National Housing and Homelessness Plan – Developing the National Housing and Homelessness Plan | Department of Social Services, Australian Government (dss.gov.au)
• Housing Support Program – Helping more Australians buy a home | Prime Minister of Australia (pm.gov.au)

Local governments are being urged to help their communities engage in sport and access free resources for clubs through Game Plan.

Game Plan is a free online platform for sporting clubs of all sizes to get insights into their current capability in key areas of administration. It supports ongoing club development with a suite of tools, templates and resources.

Currently, more than 3,000 Australian sporting clubs across 78 different sports are already building capability through the program.

Clubs can also prioritise areas for development, such as governance, participation, workforce or finance and develop targeted action plans to improve and track performance.

Local governments can also access reports and data on the maturity of their sporting communities through Game Plan.

Contact gameplan@ausport.gov.au to learn more.

The Federal Government’s current Roads to Recovery (RTR) funding period will end in June next year and a new RTR program will begin on 1 July 2024.

Councils may still have funding available under the current funding period which ends on 30 June 2024.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is encouraging funding recipients to submit projects and draw on any remaining funds available from the program over the next six months.

To make the most of allocated RTR funding, councils need to finalise a works schedule and provide a quarterly report with projected expenditure to 30 June 2024 by no later than the close of the 1 January – 31 March quarter reporting period on 30 April 2024.

Payments approved for that quarter will be made by the Department by the end of May 2024, and as per the funding conditions, must be spent within six months of receipt and no later than 31 December 2024. It is also important to note, councils may not be eligible to receive any RTR program payments after 31 October 2024 if they have not provided an annual report to the Department as required by the funding conditions.

Local governments can also use the Department’s Infrastructure Management System to access and update their own project and funding information and are encouraged to contact Roads.toRecovery@infrastructure.gov.au with any specific questions.

A ground-breaking new report, focusing on the unique experiences, expertise and knowledge of local government to address Australia’s housing and homelessness crisis, is now available.

Developed by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) and Local Government Professionals Australia (LG Pro), the Local Government Community of Practice: housing and homelessness report was based on an inaugural national event in Melbourne on 7-8 August this year.

With more than 120 participants from around 40 councils and 15 allied associations including ALGA, the event was the first time Australian local government practitioners, from capital cities, urban, regional and rural locations came together at an event to share knowledge, information and best practice about housing and homelessness responses.

Focusing on the unique experience of local government, the event provided an opportunity for leaders and practitioners working across diverse roles to present, share their experiences and knowledge and plan for future action.

Participants also considered what action and steps local governments councils can take in in their own areas as well as how, as a group, the sector to influence state and national policy and practice.

Importantly, the event took a vital first step towards establishing a national community of practice, focused on the unique role that local government can play to end homelessness in Australia.

The report is available here.

Annual conferences and events

I was delighted to attend the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Conference in Gladstone last week, and thank LGAQ President Mayor Mark Jamieson and my fellow ALGA Board members Mayor Matt Burnett and Mayor Jack Dempsey for hosting me.

Addressing the Conference, I outlined some of our recent advocacy wins, including the $500 million Housing Support Program and a new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund.

It was also fantastic to see unanimous support from councils for restoring FA Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth tax revenue, which also generated some media attention.

This Government has promised “fair increases” to FA Grants and we are 100 percent committed to holding them to account.

It was also an honour to attend and speak at the Municipal Association of Victoria’s State Council in Melbourne on 12 October, and I  thank MAV President Councillor David Clark and Councillor Rohan Leppert, from ALGA’s Board, for their hospitality.

Finally, I will be in Adelaide for the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Conference this week and look forward to catching up with LGASA President Mayor Dean Johnson and Immediate Past President Mayor Angela Evans.

It’s always great to hear from you when I’m travelling so please come and say hello if you are there and let me know about your local challenges and opportunities.

A new bike safety project called BikeSpot 2023 has been launched to help improve cyclist safety in Australia.

The crowd-funded project, that will benefit all councils, is a collaboration between the Amy Gillett Foundation and CrowdSpot, as part of the Federal Government’s Safe Roads for Safe Cycling Program.

The information collected by BikeSpot will be publicly available to local governments, researchers and anyone involved in road design.

The national project will run until January 2024. Learn more:bikespot.org.

 

An innovative web-based toolkit is set to improve road safety outcomes for local governments and help reduce road fatalities across Australia.

Pioneered by the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO), the new Road Safety Intelligence Toolkit (pictured above) can be used by councils to identify crash trends and provide real-time insights for local jurisdictions.

The customised, user-friendly system also provides a better understanding of local road network deficiencies to develop countermeasures for future work programs.

Councils accessing the interactive, subscription-based toolkit, can achieve the following outcomes:

• Identify crash points by location on a map. The information displayed on the map is derived from crash data sourced from multiple state bodies, processed, harmonised and aligned by NTRO
• Access the crash trend for last the five years or a selection
• Identify crash rate by gender, age, crash type, speed and contributing factors
• Prioritise infrastructure and safety based on the crash trend.

To find out more, contact or visit https://www.arrb.com.au/road-safety-intelligence-toolkit

The humble granny flat could help address Australia’s housing supply shortage and rental crisis, according to new research.

Based on analysis from Archistar, Blackfort and CoreLogic, granny flats have the ability to quickly and affordably address some of the current housing crisis.

Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne could potentially have up to 655,000 self-contained two-bedroom granny flats to help ease the problem, the research showed.

The research showed more than a third (36%) of these granny flat sites are within two kilometres of a train or light rail station and 17% have a hospital within the suburb boundary, demonstrating a combination of accessibility and opportunity to fast-track housing options for essential workers in the health care sector.

Read full study here.

Australian councils are reminded to support critical national research by providing data on the state of their local roads and community infrastructure.

ALGA is partnering with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to deliver an update to its National State of the Assets (NSoA) report, which is due to be published in 2024.

The 2021 National State of the Assets report found $9.2 billion of local government buildings and facilities and around $18 billion of local government roads were in poor condition.

All councils are urged to provide updated data on the state of their local roads and community infrastructure so ALGA can fully understand the scope of the issue, and advocate for the funding needed to fix it for local communities.

The NSoA survey is expected to take a council staff member about one hour to complete, using information found in council’s annual reports, financial statements and asset management plans and systems.

After completing the survey, councils will receive a customised NSoA report about their assets which can be used as an evidence-base for localised advocacy and reporting.

The NSoA 2024 online survey is available here

* Please note, all council data will be de-identified and strict confidentiality guidelines are in place for all information provided. The survey closes on 30 November 2023.

State Cabinet meeting with LGSA

I was delighted to join Local Government Association of South Australia President Dean Johnson and present to the South Australian Premier and Cabinet Ministers in Adelaide last week.

We discussed a range of policy issues at the State Cabinet meeting including the economic development challenges and opportunities facing councils, and how local governments can help unlock and boost Australia’s productivity.

I sincerely thank Mayor Johnson and LGASA CEO Clinton Jury (pictured below) for the invitation.

Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook

I have written to the Federal Treasurer to reiterate our national policy and funding priorities ahead of the Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

In the letter, I sincerely thanked the Government for its recent commitment of $100 million to help councils reduce emissions through the Community Energy Upgrades Fund, as well as the $500 million for state/territory and local governments to increase housing supply through the Housing Support Program.

I also highlighted we are keen to receive an update on the 90-Day Infrastructure Pipeline Review, announced in May, which has put a halt to many planned infrastructure projects across the nation.

Roundtable with the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner

I recently hosted a roundtable with elected representatives and senior council staff from communities who are being affected by transmission lines for a discussion with the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer.

There was a consensus that we need more consistent engagement and better forward planning between governments, industry, our sector and landowners during this significant roll-out.

We will be writing to Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen to highlight our concerns and commitment to working with the Government and all involved parties on effective solutions.

National State of the Assets data collection

Finally, I will write to Mayors and Shire Presidents this week to encourage councils to provide their local roads and community infrastructure data for our 2024 National State of the Assets report.

It’s vital we receive this information from all councils, as it will provide a comprehensive evidence base for advocating for better road and infrastructure funding in the future.

The survey takes only around an hour to complete, using existing information in annual reports and other council documents, and can be submitted online.

Local governments looking to stage original live music and festivals can apply for a new round of funding through Live Music Australia.

The $20 million Live Music Australia program aims to bring music to more Australians by supporting organisations to professionally stage original live music, including in regional areas.

Round 7 is open for applications for live music and concerts presenting predominantly home-grown music.  The funding can support a range of activities including sound, lighting, staging costs, accessible facilities, marketing and noise attenuation.

Applications close 17 October 2023.

For more information, email music@arts.gov.au

 

Local governments can access a new publication developed by the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) about effectively dealing with a cyber security incident.

Coinciding with Cyber Security Awareness Month 2023 in October, the publication How the ACSC can help during a cyber security incident is designed for professionals who lead an organisation’s incident response capabilities. It provides the latest advice on:

• how to report a cyber security incident to ASD’s ACSC
• the ACSC’s role in whole-of-government cyber security incident response
• how to become an ASD Cyber Security Partner.

The ACSC can also provide technical advice and assistance and help minimise further harm. Reporting also helps authorities to develop and update cyber security advice.

You can report a cybercrime, cyber security incident, or vulnerability via ReportCyber at www.cyber.gov.au/report, or by calling the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371).

Local governments can provide feedback to the Multicultural Framework Review by the Federal Government.

The review will advise the Government on what institutional, legislative and policy settings can best build Australia’s multiculturalism over the next decade. It will also aim to identify how to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse society.

The Australian Government has appointed a panel of three eminent Australians to conduct the Review, who will conduct nationwide public consultations on the issues outlined in the Terms of Reference.

For the first time, the Department of Home Affairs is also accepting submissions in languages other than English, and via audio or video recording. Submissions are open until 13 October 2023.

Details about making a submission are available here: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/multicultural-framework-review/multicultural-framework-review.

 

Road Safety Ministers’ Meeting

I was delighted to attend the Road Safety Ministers’ Meeting in Cairns last Wednesday.

Australian councils manage around 75 percent of our local road network, and we’re continuing to advocate for the funding we need to deliver and maintain safer local roads for our communities and upgrade them to be more resilient to natural disasters.

With road construction costs soaring, we’re asking the Government to increase the Roads to Recovery program from $500 million to $800 million per year, and index this funding annually.

We’re also advocating for Financial Assistance Grants to be restored at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.

Road safety careers for women

Road safety has been a male-dominated profession, but ALGA recently partnered with the Australasian College of Road Safety and Monash University Accident Research Centre to investigate how we can better support women to progress their careers in this area.

This partnership resulted in a new Road Safety 2023: A Career Pathway for Women report, and I would urge anyone with an interest in building a more diverse and inclusive sector to have a read.

WALGA Convention

Congratulations to the team at the Western Australian Local Government Association on a sold-out 2023 State Convention last week.

It was an honour to speak at this event, and hear from mayors, shire presidents and councillors about their local issues, and how they are supporting their communities.

Reminder: National State of the Assets report

Finally, all councils have been invited to provide data to help us better understand the multi-billion-dollar impact of natural disasters on Australia’s roads, libraries, aerodromes, bridges and community and recreation centres over the past two years.

This data will feed into our 2024 National State of the Assets Report, providing a solid evidence base for better road and infrastructure funding partnerships.

The survey only takes around an hour for a council officer to complete, based on information in annual reports and other council documents, and can be submitted online.

 

Local governments are invited to provide feedback and ideas for the Federal Government’s National Autism Strategy, being developed to help autistic people across Australia.

The Government has committed to delivering the National Autism Strategy and a range of ideas are based on information gathered through evidence and reviews and the outcomes of a Senate Select Committee Inquiry into services, support and life outcomes for Autistic Australians in 2022.

A stakeholder toolkit is available on the Department of Social Services website as well as a Discussion Paper.

The consultation is open until 30 October 2023 and you can make a submission here.

Lively discussions were held around a range of local government infrastructure issues at ALGA’s 2023 National Local Roads, Transport & Infrastructure Congress at the ANU in Canberra from 6-7 September.

Some of the highlights included Rohit Srivastava from the Berrigan Shire Council and Dr Jeremy Smith from the Australian National University discussing how local government can better manage infrastructure in the face of increasing natural disasters.  Delegates were interested in Dr Smith’s work in nature-based solutions to mitigate severe flooding risks.

Ben Rippingale from VivaCity Labs also highlighted advances in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve local road safety when paired with CCTV and other sensors.  Combining the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI, companies like VivaCity Labs are working with local governments to use big data to shape safer and more productive urban environments.

Delegates also heard about innovations in active transport from Associate Professor Ben Beck from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University.  Other experts on this panel included Stuart Outhred from the Amy Gillett Foundation, and Michael Jollon from the City of Parramatta who highlighted the opportunities for local governments and their communities by investing in active transport infrastructure solutions.

The Congress also featured an engaging discussion on housing and planning by Robyn Briese from the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, Matthew Deeth, Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance, and Maree Wauchope, Chief Executive Officer of Barunga West Council in South Australia.  The presenters discussed structural barriers and opportunities for housing development, and the need for better planning in the delivery of supporting infrastructure.

Finally, Warren Sharpe, OAM and former Director of Infrastructure Services at Eurobodalla Shire Council, Christina Cawkell from Telstra and Jennifer Medway from the Regional Tech Hub gave presentations and answered questions about how local governments can ensure communities remain digitally connected.

Technical tour

A small group of delegates also attended a guided tour on 5 September of two projects in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) local government area.  Guided by the QPRC Director of Infrastructure Services, Phil Hansen, attendees visited the Googong Water Recycling Plant, and the near complete Regional Sports Complex.  QPRC staff outlined the council’s success with funding models, and innovative new technologies that are delivering cost effective and sustainable facilities for the community.

Thanks to sponsors and exhibitors

ALGA sincerely thanks all Congress partners, sponsors and exhibitors.  Please see some photo highlights of the exhibitors.

A new State of the Profession Report by the Planning Institute of Australia has confirmed one of the key findings of ALGA’s 2022 Jobs and Skills Survey: that Australia’s 537 councils urgently need more qualified planners.

This is expected to become a bigger issue, especially for local government following the recent passing of the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund legislation, which includes ambitious housing targets for the nation.

The PIA report found 232 local government areas in Australia had no planners on staff – which equates to 43 per cent of all local government areas.

ALGA’s recent local government workforce survey also showed more than nine out of 10 councils are facing jobs and skills shortages, with the biggest shortages for planners and engineers. This is a major issue when councils are looking to plan and support more affordable housing in local communities and facilitate supporting infrastructure.

At the National Cabinet meeting in August 2023, which focused on housing affordability, there was agreement by Federal and State/Territory Governments to adequately resource built environmental professionals, including planners, in local government.

It’s vital that communities continue to have a say in development in their local areas, especially as better housing and planning outcomes are achieved when decisions are made locally.

ALGA has consistently called on the Federal Government for more untied funding – through Financial Assistance Grants – that would support councils to plan and upskill their workforce. There also needs to be more support for training, recruitment and retention as well as funding for apprenticeships, cadetships and traineeships.

Local government has historically been a skills incubator for the nation, and many skilled workers in a diverse range of industries commenced their employment journey and career within a local council.

ALGA continues to highlight to the Government that investing in councils is good for improving national productivity and is a smart decision for the future. Having more affordable housing will improve local productivity, for example by enabling key workers to live close to employment.

Useful Resources:

• AGLA’s 2022 workforce report – 2022 Local Government Workforce Skills and Capability Survey – Australian Local Government Association (alga.com.au)
• Housing Australia Future Fund Bill – Delivering on the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund | Treasury Minister
• Planning Institute of Australia’s State of the Profession Report 2023

Win! Minister Bowen attends local government climate change breakfast

We were delighted to host Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen at a climate change breakfast at our 2023 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress last week.

Minister Bowen highlighted the Government’s plans for transitioning to net zero, while acknowledging the important role councils will play in supporting this work.

In a win for local government, the Minister also announced that the guidelines for the Government’s new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund for local government will be released in December, with applications expected to open in January.

New Grattan Institute research on road funding

A major highlight of day one of our 2023 Congress was a presentation from the Grattan Institute outlining that federal funding to local government is not keeping up with soaring construction costs.

The preliminary research findings showed over the past 20 years, federal Financial Assistance Grants have failed to keep pace with the rising costs of constructing and maintaining roads. Additionally, the buying power of Roads to Recovery funding – which is not indexed– is diminishing each year.

We look forward to the release of the final findings later this year, and will continue to advocate for the funding we need to deliver and maintain safer local roads for our communities.

This means restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue, as well as increasing the Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $800 million per year, with future funding indexed annually.

National State of the Assets report

Finally, I am happy to announce that ALGA will again partner with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to deliver an update to our National State of the Assets (NSoA) report.

We need all councils to provide their data so we have an accurate picture of the impact of two years of natural disasters, and to more effectively advocate on behalf of our communities for sustainable road and infrastructure funding.

We will be writing to you in the coming weeks with further details on how to provide your council data and I would urge you to be involved.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has urged local governments to collaborate and partner with the Federal Government to reduce emissions and embrace clean energy solutions to address Australia’s climate change challenge.

Speaking at a roundtable at ALGA’s 2023 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress on 7 September, Mr Bowen encouraged all councils to work closely with other levels of government.

“This is an all-of-nation effort – as we won’t get this done alone,” Mr Bowen told the breakfast, involving local mayors, shire presidents and council leaders.

“We want to bring communities with us – we are committed to doing that and we are here to help,” Mr Bowen said.

“We want to do it together – federal, state and local [governments] – rowing in the same direction.  That’s certainly something we’re trying to achieve.

“We welcome partnerships right across the board, including from local government in particular.”

Minister Bowen also announced the guidelines for the Government’s new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund are expected to be released in December, with councils able to apply for funding from January 2024.

ALGA President Cr Linda Scott co-hosted the breakfast and highlighted the excellent work councils are doing on emissions reduction and mitigation.

“For decades, local governments have been at the forefront of climate change adaptation and reducing their carbon footprints,” Cr Scott said.

“By investing in local clean energy solutions, we can create new jobs, deliver cheaper energy and better housing, while increasing our resilience to climate change.”

ALGA News sat down with Shadow Minister for Local Government the Hon. Darren Chester to discuss his views and priorities for local government in Australia.  The Federal Member for Gippsland also reflects on his experiences as a former Minister for Local Government and outlines his passion for improving the liveability of regional communities.

ALGA: Mr Chester, as the Federal Shadow Minister for Local Government, what do you see as the top three issues affecting councils across Australia?

Darren Chester (DC): There’s an obvious need to ensure the financial arrangements between the Federal Government and Local Government provide long-term viability, and also deliver the funding certainty that respects the capacity for local decision-making. We need to ensure that other levels of government don’t get away with cost-shifting or adding responsibilities to local councils, without properly funding the services and infrastructure required.

I also believe we need to invest in the capacity of councils to secure and retain a skilled workforce to deal with the increasingly complex tasks and we could be doing more to promote local government as a great career choice. Finally, helping councils improve the safety of the road network to reduce road trauma is a critical issue given the massive social and economic impacts of crashes on local roads.

ALGA: How do you see the current level of federal funding and support for local government and what could be improved?

DC: I’m very concerned by the current government’s rhetoric surrounding programs like the highly successful Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP). Various Ministers have claimed they support LRCIP but there is no commitment to future funding. I’m a huge believer in localism and decentralised decision-making, which means the Federal Government needs to allocate funds and trust councils to make good judgment calls on the priorities in each region.

We need to move away from only offering competitive grants programs for community infrastructure and commit to a long-term allocative model which guarantees a revenue stream and provides certainty for councils, in much the same way as existing sub-programs like Roads to Recovery have worked for more than 20 years.

ALGA: As a former Minister for Local Government in the Turnbull Ministry, what did you learn about the sector during your time in Government?  What has changed?

DC: As a Minister and local MP, I’ve worked closely with local councils in Gippsland and across Australia which has shaped my personal view that it offers the best mechanism for delivering funding for local community improvements in a timely and cost-effective manner. Having lived through several natural disasters, I am acutely aware of the role local government plays in emergency situations and I’m concerned that not enough resources are directed at preventative measures and increasing the resilience of existing infrastructure to deal with changed climatic conditions.

From a regional perspective, the big change in work-from-home and improved connectivity is driving a renewed interest in families moving away from the city which offers some huge opportunities. The Federal Government needs to trust local councils with a guaranteed funding stream that improves the liveability of regional communities to help attract and retain a skilled workforce.

ALGA: As the Federal Member for Gippsland, what local issues are affecting your communities and how can these be addressed?  How much involvement do you have with your local councils?

DC: Gippsland is dealing with the combined impacts of energy transition in the Latrobe Valley and the appalling State Government decision to ban the native hardwood timber industry. These threats to traditional jobs are creating a level of uncertainty and I work closely with my three local councils to advocate for funding and deliver new opportunities in our region.

The broader issue of connectivity in all its forms – road, rail, air, sea and telecommunication links – is the biggest concern in terms of meeting modern expectations for businesses and families, and competing with other regions which may offer better services. I’m a huge supporter of investing in the infrastructure which helps to build the visitor economy because it inevitably provides opportunities for locals to enjoy the region they call home.

ALGA: What do you see as the main priorities for improving community infrastructure?

DC: Apart from the massive shortfall in road maintenance funding, we need to see a model for investing in community infrastructure which isn’t dependent on the electoral cycles of state and federal governments. The beauty of LRCIP was its allocative approach which allowed councils to set local priorities and deliver community infrastructure beyond their usual capacity.

Investing in community infrastructure such as sporting facilities, boardwalks, tracks, trails and skate parks is a great way to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle for all ages. The long-term dividend will be seen in the health budget!

ALGA: How do you like to relax and unwind after a busy sitting week of Parliament?

DC: Away from the office, I’m a keen runner and dog enthusiast so I get to indulge both passions by exercising with my five-year-old Labrador-cross called ‘Marlo’. If I can find the time, I enjoy fishing and golf or escaping in our caravan for a camping trip with my wife Julie. Our four children are all adults now but whenever they are in town, it normally involves me taking over the kitchen for a family feast of some description!

I’m a keen traveller and have a lifetime ambition to become a ‘grey nomad’ so I declare my conflict of interest in wanting to see better roads, rest areas and visitor facilities for local councils throughout Australia.

Councils are being made aware of the Food and Grocery Sector Group (FGSG) which covers food safety and security during times of crisis or disaster.

The FGSG consists of Australia’s food, grocery and beverage industry associations involved in the nation’s food supply chain – from paddock to plate.  It also includes key state and federal government representatives.

Importantly, the forum can work closely with local governments during a crisis to ensure the continuity of food supply and safeguard local communities’ ability to access food, beverages and groceries.

Having a strong and effective industry-government partnership is central to achieving food security and supply chain resilience in Australia.

Read more about this forum here.

To access further details, please email foodsecretariat@aff.gov.au

The Department of Social Services is offering up to one-third of the cost to build Changing Places facilities in Local Government Areas that currently do not have these facilities.

Changing Places are accessible toilets with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with disability and their carers.  These facilities include:

• a height-adjustable adult-sized change table
• a constant-charging ceiling track hoist system
• a centrally-located peninsula toilet
• more circulation space than standard accessible toilets
• an automatic door with a clear opening of 950mm at minimum
• a privacy screen.

This funding can supplement other sources of funding, including the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Growing Regions Program.  Local government applicants are also encouraged to consider including a Changing Places facility in their upcoming community infrastructure plans.

Further information can be found here: Changing Places | Department of Social Services.

Local governments are being urged to apply for funding under the Federal Government’s new and upgraded Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas (HVRA) initiative.

Through the HVRA, the Government has committed $140 million over 10 years for the construction of new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas across the nation.

The Government recently incorporated a dedicated criteria for heavy vehicle rest area funding into updated guidelines for the existing Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Bridges Renewal Program.

The updated programs and resources can be accessed using the following links:

• Bridges Renewal Program, Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas initiative and Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program
• Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
• Bridges Renewal Program