Councillor Mike Montgomery
President of the Shires Association (NSW)
It is great to be here in Toowoomba at the 2002 ALGA Roads Congress. It is always good for us to catch up, review how we have travelled since last we met and look to the challenges ahead. I would also like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land.
Certainly, a few pot holes have appeared in the last twelve months.
It is disappointing, that in remembering our beginnings in Moree, and the fantastic engagement of Transport Minister, John Anderson with the Congress at that time, to note his absence this year.
Particularly, following the shock rephasing of Roads to Recovery monies this financial year. I am sure that we all had some questions we wished to put to him.
However I am sure that we are looking forward to hearing from Senator, the Hon Ron Boswell, Transport Parliamentary Secretary, over dinner this evening.
And in a few moments, Martin Ferguson, Shadow Minister for Transport will present his and Federal Labor's vision for local roads and more broadly Australia's transport system.
Our first gathering in Moree, the inaugural Congress was the beginning of a grand endeavour. An endeavour to get the issue of the local road network onto the national agenda. And I think we as a group and Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) have been successful to date.
Yet we know that the issue is broader than roads -it's about communities. And it doesn't matter if the community is urban or regionally based. The issues of accessibility; safety and affordability are great equalisers.
Roads, and transport systems more generally, are key threads in the social fabric of our communities. Their efficiency or otherwise, impacts on other community threads; such as economic opportunities, educational, healthcare and social services.
Local Government is responsible for 84 percent of the total road length of road in Australia. Sixty percent of the national road system is not sealed; most of which is maintained by Local Government; and without our transport system our communities, cities, towns and regions will not work.
The world is a vastly changed place.
Not that long ago, as individual citizens we looked to the States, the Federal Government and even our international leaders for guidance.
Yet as we now grapple with an uncertain world and future, which is seeking to balance the twin philosophies of "globalisation and localisation", we are all searching for empowerment and control at the local level.
And it is at the local level that we as citizens are able to be both empowered and engaged.
Citizens want to be able to move around and access a diverse range of social and healthcare services, employment and economic development opportunities, efficiently, safely and affordably.
This is the beauty of Roads to Recovery. The Commonwealth funding individual councils to achieve better local transport outcomes in their local community.
Ultimately, through their local council, it is the community who determines how the money should be spent.
We know how vocal our communities are on the issue of road maintenance, road safety and accessibility.
Every newspaper across the country carries at least one story or mention of roads and road funding issues each edition.
And this is why the issue of BlackSpot funding has been so critical to us as Local Government leaders and why ALGA lobbied so hard and successfully for the continuation of the $180 million program.
Recent independent research has shown that BlackSpots funding has significantly contributed to the reduction in the nation's death and casualty road toll.
We know that for every dollar spent on BlackSpots funding, four dollars are saved in the public hospital system.
And, we know that our communities see reducing the road toll as a top priority and responsibility for all levels of government.
For Local Government this means that roads assets have to be maintained and upgraded.
When the High Court of Australia reached its decision in the Brodie case last year, and revoked the highway rule, Local Government realised that inaction was no longer a defence.
Yet, at the same time, insufficient funds have prevented Local Government from such activity and whilst Roads to Recovery is a step along the path towards maintaining and upgrading the network - the task will not be achieved overnight.
Australian Local Government Association has been working on a substantive remedy to the High Court's decision through the Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) and Australian Transport Council (ATC) processes, and I believe that this not far off being achieved.
Yet it bears remembering that ultimately the successes of BlackSpots, any remedy to Highway Immunity Rule and even public liability insurance rely on shared responsibility.
ALGA has been advocating to the Federal and State Governments as well as to the broader community, the concept and philosophy of community responsibility.
As we work towards empowering communities to engage in decision making processes, we must also remind them of their responsibility to behave in a manner that is appropriate and safe, and not run off to the plaintiff lawyers when they get themselves into strife.
At the same time, ALGA has been strenuously arguing for legislated standard of care provisions. These would provide a defence for local government against those community members who choose to not take responsibility for their own lives and actions.
As we look to future challenges it becomes crystal clear; regardless of which political party is in power federally, Local Government will need to be providing efficient and effective transport solutions in their communities.
It is important for us all to remember that these challenges apply equally to urban and regional councils.
The issues are as important, even though the solutions may be slightly different.
As urban councils grapple with the need to become internationally competitive for population, investment and economic growth, they will have to address critical issues such as planning and design if their city is to meet community expectations of sustainability, accessibility and safety.
Providing the appropriate infrastructure to support integrated public transport networks will increasingly be important, as citizens seek 'green cities' as their future homes.
Increased public transport usage also raises the issue of safety.
Urban design will play an enormous role in ensuring a public transport system, which is not only effective and efficient but also safe.
Then we note the evolution of land usage in regional Australia, shifting from grazing to cropping and increased food and fibre, wood and wine production has impacted on the use of local roads.
The effectiveness of regional and rural roads directly influences Australia's international trade competitiveness. Failure in the regional road network means that agricultural, mining and timber products don't get to the railway, or airport on time, or at all. The flow-on effect of this is the increased cost of inputs to primary producers, consequently affecting their incomes and the wealth of the regions and the nation.
Similarly, whilst the technological revolution has significantly overcome Geoffrey Blainey's tyranny of distance, regional and rural communities heavily rely on roads for services, employment and social interaction.
In 1999 ALGA conducted a survey which suggested that due to the inadequacy of rural roads a third of councils across Australia were experiencing disrupted school bus services. On average, 100 children were being affected in each council area with poor access, resulting in 240 child-days being lost each year. Do the maths yourself !
As ALGA embarks on an evaluation of the Roads to Recovery program thus far, some meaningful observations about improved safety, levels of service and asset management will be possible.
Roads to Recovery is a critically important first step in addressing many of these issues.
ALGA will be strenuously putting the case for a continuation of the program following the end of this current funding cycle.
The direct relationship between Local Government and the Commonwealth through the Roads to Recovery program is an excellent example of two things.
Of course, this current financial year will see some councils placed in very difficult circumstances as they have to juggle funding commitments to cover the Federal Government's decision to rephase this year's grants.
That said, I think it is fair to say that the Minister has shown a tremendous commitment to local roads through the Roads to Recovery program and we recognise his commitment to ensure every dollar of the funding commitment is met.
As we look to the future, it is clear that if we don't get the settings right now, in twenty years time our infrastructure will be of third world standard and almost impossible to upgrade or maintain.
John Anderson's recent announcement of Auslink provides some indication of future approaches by any Federal Government, particularly in light of the similarities between it and Federal Labor's integrated transport policy.
Partnerships between the three spheres of government and the private sector are the way of the future.
The magnitude of the coming transport challenges need to be addressed through a co-ordinated and integrated approach across all transport modes.
It is critical that we get the financial balance right and that strategic and transparent decisions are made.
However we must recognise that Auslink poses a number of challenges to and for Local Government.
There is no guarantee that Roads to Recovery and BlackSpots will continue in the current form at the end of this funding cycle. It is possible that the Commonwealth will seek to roll them into Auslink.
This may mean that future funding would target strategic transport outcomes as opposed to the current formula-based approach of Roads to Recovery.
Councils may have to justify and compete for their funding.
What this means is that we must have planning processes, asset management strategies and a clear definition of our community's needs and expectations, in order to quarantine local road funding for local councils.
We have a challenging year before us as we engage in the Auslink Green Paper process, finalise a remedy to the Highway Rule and manage funding issues.
I said that at the beginning of my address, we embarked on a great endeavour three years ago. Like any intrepid adventurer we must imagine how we wish our journey to end and plot a path to achieve that aim.
I look forward to deliberating and discussing these and other issues with you over the coming days.
Thank you.
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