Council motions put critical local funding on national agenda


Two motions by Wyong Shire Council calling on the Federal Government to promote investment and borrowing for local governments have been unanimously adopted in Canberra this week.
 
Mayor Doug Eaton OAM represented Council at the 2015 National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government, a forum for councils to air their views and concerns as well as contribute their own experience and knowledge to debate on a broad set of national issues. 
 
Council submitted two motions at the NGA calling on the Federal Government to put the need for critical local funding on the national agenda.
 
“We are calling on the Federal Government to promote investment in rural and regional Australia by way of incentives that favour regional investment,” said Mayor Eaton.
 
“More investment means more local jobs and a requirement for investment in regional communities such as the Central Coast, could significantly boost our economy.”
 
The second motion called on the Federal Government to work with State and Territories to establish a national financing authority to finance local government borrowing through infrastructure bonds to investment markets.
 
“The ability for local governments to achieve lower interest rates on our borrowing means less interest paid and savings can be put into services our community need like roads and parks.
 
“Programs such as these have worked particularly well in Sweden and New Zealand and there is strong evidence that they could work here too.”
 
Representatives from Wyong Council also met with various Senior Department officials on key infrastructure initiatives such as the Link Road and investments in sports facilities as well as the Central Coast Group Training Skills Centre and the need to increase university places on the Central Coast.
 
“We certainly achieved a lot from this Conference and will be progressing further talks with relevant officials over the coming weeks to deliver real outcomes for our community.” 

For more information visit Wyong Shire Council