NSW’s council lobby has welcomed the new State Budget. 

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) says around $1.5 billion in support for local government will empower councils to drive a locally-led economic recovery and help them create new jobs. 

“The announcement of $550 million funding granted directly to councils and organisations to fund infrastructure and foster economic growth in 2021-22 through the Restart NSW [scheme] is set to create around 8,000 jobs,” LGNSW president Linda Scott said.

“The Budget commits more than $2 billion to almost 3000 regional infrastructure projects, which will inject cash and create jobs in local communities, including an estimated 5000 new jobs through the Regional Jobs Creation Job Fund.

“In terms of job-creating infrastructure, funding for local roads, cycleways and footpaths is set to create an estimated 12,000 jobs.

“There’s $240 million set aside to improve road and connectivity conditions and help support jobs through the Fixing Local Roads and Bridges program, a significant win for councils.

“The Budget includes a welcome new $250 million fund to support upgrades to regional roads as part of the Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review.

“This funding shows the Government listening to our calls to act on its previous promise to take back 15,000 kilometres of roads from councils.

“There is almost $332 million budgeted in 2021-22 for road safety investment such as audio tactile markings, wide centre lines crash barriers. This is a big win for regional road safety.”

There is also $490 million over four years to increase the uptake of electric vehicles purchases by cutting taxes and reducing barriers for their use, such as increased charging stations.

“With the transport sector contributing around 18 per cent of New South Wales’s total greenhouse gases, the push towards EVs is a major breakthrough,” Cr Scott said.

“I am passionate about protecting our environment and proud of the leadership role local government has provided in actively doing something about it. Today’s announcement reflects LGNSW advocacy and motions at our 2019 annual conference from Mosman, Shoalhaven City and City of Liverpool councils.”

The pressing issue of affordable housing was also addressed in the Budget following councils and LGNSW concerns over the impacts on vulnerable members of local communities and the threat it presented to economic recovery.

“I welcome the commitment of $852 million in capital expenditure in 2021-22 to support the delivery of social and affordable housing and capital upgrades across the State, which will support an estimated 8000 new jobs,” Cr Scott said.

“LGNSW has been advocating for more social and affordable housing very hard over the past 12 months. It is foundational to supporting critical jobs growth in our communities. This funding will help, but with housing stress set to increase by around 24 per cent across Australia this year, more needs to be done.”

The Budget includes around $149 million in 2021-22 for waste and recycling as part of the State Government’s long-awaited 20-year waste strategy, something councils have been pushing for.

“The funding for the Government’s waste strategy is a long-awaited step forward, but we will continue to urge for even greater investment in areas such as effective recycling education,” Cr Scott said.

“If the State invested the $800 million it collects annually into waste and recovery, it could help to divert more than 10 million tonnes of waste from landfill and create a staggering 10,000 jobs Australia-wide and 6500 in NSW alone.”