Happy New Year and welcome to 2024.
I’m expecting this to be another big year for local government, especially with council elections in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Win! Community energy upgrade funding available
In a major advocacy win for councils last year, ALGA secured a new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund to help us deliver energy upgrades and bill savings at our local pools, sporting clubs and community centres.
I’m delighted to announce the first funding round is now open, with $50 million available exclusively to councils.
I encourage you to review the grant guidelines and consider the opportunities in your communities to tap into this new funding stream.
Win! DRF round two funding now open
ALGA’s leadership and advocacy also secured the $200 million Disaster Ready Fund (DRF), and I’m happy to let you know guidelines for the second round are now available.
I urge councils to identify and nominate projects they have ready to go, including sea walls, flood levies and bushfire mitigation works.
Councils can review the round two guidelines and submit applications through their states and territories from 22 January.
2024 National General Assembly and call for motions
Finally, I wrote to all councils last month seeking motions for our 2024 National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra from 2-4 July.
Our 2024 NGA 2024 theme is “Building Community Trust”, and we will explore the importance of trust in and between governments, institutions and citizens, and how we can continue to build on our reputation as a trusted local delivery partner.
A discussion paper outlining essential information and the criteria motions must meet can be downloaded here.
We will open registrations soon, and I look forward to sharing more with you then!