Six step strategy: Councils the key to secure sustainable cities
4 June 2004
A six point strategy focused on building local government capacity was needed to secure a sustainable future for the nation's cities and towns, the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Mike Montgomery, said today. The call came at the National Summit on the Future of Australia's Cities and Towns, being held in Canberra.
The summit is an initiative of state local government and planning ministers and ALGA and is being hosted by ACT Planning Minister Simon Corbell.
"Councils are at the heart of our urban communities, providing a diverse range of services and facilities for those who live, work and play in our cities and towns," Cr Montgomery said.
"Councils are already driving the agenda for a sustainable future, actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease water use, promote public health, enhance the urban environment, engage and educate communities in sustainable practices, ease traffic congestion, cut waste, increase recycling and increase the use of public transport.
"Local government is a major player in the drive towards a more sustainable future for our cities and towns. If we are to enhance the capacity of local government as a driver of change, we need to ensure it is properly resourced to get the job done.
"Achieving sustainable towns and cities will also require a truly national effort that brings the three spheres of government closer together, developing stronger partnerships and shared goals. ALGA advocates a six point strategy to:
- Enhance the capacity of local government to respond to the challenges of sustainability by addressing the low level of funding provided to local government by its state and federal counterparts. Local government needs access to a fair share of national taxation revenue. The practice of cost shifting by state and federal governments to local government also needs to be addressed. These issues are now being examined by state and federal governments following the release of the Fair Share report in Federal Parliament in November last year.
- Assist local government address a major infrastructure funding crisis. Local government owns and maintains infrastructure valued at around $110 billion, including roads, airports, entertainment centres, waste management facilities, water supply and storm water infrastructure, libraries, pools, sport stadiums and other community facilities.
Much local government infrastructure dates from the post-war era and is in dire need of replacement. A substantial boost to local government's capacity to refurbish and replace ageing infrastructure is essential to improve our ability to deliver higher levels of sustainability.
- Greatly expand the Australian Government's fledgling partnership with local government on environmental issues. Local government is a major player in the environment, spending $2.5 billion a year on environmental protection and $1.8 billion on natural resource management. The Federal Environment Minister, David Kemp, has worked closely with local government to promote a range of important programs, including the Cities for Climate Protection and Water Watch initiatives. Closer cooperation could substantially build on this good start.
- Develop a cohesive population policy to ease pressure on major cities, boost regional development and better address the challenges of demographic change and an ageing population. This is best done through the Council of Australian Governments with the three spheres of government working in partnership.
- Invest in the integrated local area planning concept to enhance local government led regional planning outcomes by linking related physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural issues rather than treating them separately. By working in partnership with other spheres of government and the community, this concept can reduce duplication, achieve better use of available resources and better integrate service delivery by federal, state and local government.
- Promote sustainable urban transport. Next week, the Australian Government will release details of an integrated national land transport plan, or AusLink. While AusLink focuses largely on freight corridors around Australia, the nation also needs to develop a stronger sustainable urban transport agenda that examines issues such as pollution, congestion, urban sprawl, greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth and social amenity. Australia is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world on a per capita basis. The transport sector accounts for 77.2 million tonnes of Australia's total net greenhouse gas emissions, representing 14.2 per cent of Australia's total emissions.
Cr Montgomery also said there was a need to break down misconceptions about the city-bush divide. "They are not unrelated entities needing completely separate approaches. Australia should be viewed as a set of distinct regions, whether inner city, outer metropolitan, regional, rural or remote. All are complex entities with strong links to each other. Policy development needs to reflect this reality."
"ALGA congratulates ACT Planning Minister Simon Corbell and the ACT Government for hosting this important summit," Cr Montgomery said.
