ALGA READY TO WORK WITH GOVT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE
May 13, 2008
The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Paul Bell, has applauded the Federal Government's announcement in tonight's Budget that a Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program will be established from 2009-10.
"The Government's announcement is a response to the extensive grass-roots campaign waged by ALGA, State and Territory Associations and councils over the past 18 months which drew attention to the community infrastructure crisis facing Australia," Cr Bell said. "I congratulate councils for their energy and enthusiasm and for submitting well over 1,000 examples of ailing infrastructure onto ALGA's on-line Community Infrastructure Ideas Register which sparked a national debate directly leading to this initiative."
Cr Bell said local government was responsible for more than $12 billion of local community infrastructure, including recreational facilities such as ovals, swimming pools, walking paths and community facilities such as halls, community and senior citizen centres, libraries and kitchens used by organisations such as Meals on Wheels.
"These are critical parts of the social fabric of local communities which are at risk right across the nation," he said. "ALGA looks forward to working closely with the Federal Government on making a community infrastructure program a reality."
ALGA identified a major gap in local community infrastructure funding through its report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in December 2006. One of the major findings of the report on local government financial sustainability was that there was an investment backlog for community infrastructure in the order of $14.5 billion with an annual funding gap of $12 billion. The PwC report recommended the creation of a Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Program funded at $250m per annum for 4 years to help close the investment gap.
There is a considerable body of evidence that demonstrate the multiple benefits of quality and well maintained community infrastructure. Benefits include: attraction and retention of key workers; health benefits from facilities such as recreational facilities, walking tracks and multi-purpose pathways that promote physical activity; and educational benefits through the provision of libraries, museums and galleries.
- Contact
- Cr Paul Bell, ALGA President – 0418 791596
- Amanda Lynch, Director, Government Relations/Public Affairs - 0419 123 862 / 02 6122 9434
