The reform of Local Government in NSW must be built on the strengths of the industry and acknowledge the vast and diverse services that councils supply on limited budgets, according to the submission made by the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) in the first round of consultations led by the Independent Local Government Review Panel.

 

The Executive’s of the LGSA endorsed this submission in their October Board meetings last week.

 

President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Ray Donald, said more than any other sphere of government, Local Government is by far the closest and most accessible to the community.

 

“Councils across the state are constantly interacting and engaging with their communities via public consultations on services, strategic plans and developments. Residents and ratepayers expect and deserve the opportunity to have a say on the decisions that impact their lives, and our submission reinforces that this consultation must continue to take place,” said Cr Donald.

 

“It’s imperative the independent Panel recognises this reciprocal relationship in its review of Local Government and looks for ways to bolster and encourage community involvement in their councils decision-making processes.”

 

“The Panel also needs to consider the distinct and diverse services and infrastructure projects councils provide, even when hamstrung by revenue constraints like rate-pegging and cost-shifting. Councils maintain 90 per cent, by length, of the entire road network in NSW with limited funding assistance despite the ever-increasing freight task using and impacting local roads, and this must be recognised and managed more effectively in the future. ”

 

President of the Local Government Association of NSW, Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM, said councils are continually doing more with fewer resources. From the stock-standard ‘rates, roads and rubbish’ to child care, weed and pest control, and sport and recreation facilities – NSW councils have evolved in accordance with their communities’ needs and demands.

 

“Our submission states that many of the services and functions councils now provide have become Local Government’s responsibility due to cost-shifting. We have outlined that one way to improve and strengthen NSW Local Government is to improve relations and clearly delineate the responsibilities of the State Government and councils,” said Cr Rhoades.

 

“The LGSA submission also stressed the importance of creating governance and operating models that can be applied to the differing circumstances of rural, regional and metropolitan councils. It’s evident that a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work given the demographic, population and geographical variances from one council to another.”

 

“Given the multiple reviews underway into several pieces of State legislation impacting NSW Local Government, including the Local Government Act 1993, the LGSA look forward to reviewing the Panel’s next discussion paper, A Case for Change, to be released in November 2012.

 

To view the full submission to the independent Local Government Review made by the LGSA visit: http://www.lgsa.org.au/key-initiatives/local-government-review-panel