‘Strengthening Our Foundations’
South Australia’s biennial Local Government Week was launched with the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Conference. Other events during the week, from 15-20 March, included the Institute of Municipal Management Conference, the Local Government Engineering Conference and Local Government Expo ’98.
President of LGASA, Mayor Rosemary Craddock, said that with the theme for the week being ‘Strengthening Our Foundations’ an essential element to achieve this is to ensure that the voice of youth is heard.
“Local Government must be willing to listen and embrace change,” Rosemary Craddock said.
She said that with youth being the key to the future, a number of Best Practice Tours staged during the Conference enabled delegates to visit schools and observe a range of programs first hand. As a challenge to the State Government, Mayor Craddock called for the removal of ratecapping.
“We cannot continue to have major projects put on hold,” she said. “Ratecapping has served its purpose. It is time to let Local Government get on with the job to promote economic development in this State. Local Government will work cooperatively with the State Government, in a partnership role, to revitalise the economy and make South Australia a great State.”
In officially opening the Conference, Premier of South Australia, John Olsen, said that Local Government in this State has been changing fast to fit changing times. He noted that Councils in the main were being proactive, rather than taking a gamble once confronted by difficulties.
“We are all here to do what is collectively best for the State’s future,” the Premier said. “We must agree to disagree on some issues and we cannot seek to be all things, to all people, all of the time.”
On the ratecapping issue, he said that the benefit of the estimated $20 million savings resulting from the recent voluntary Council amalgamations must continue to be passed on to ratepayers. However, the Premier said that the ratecapping policy is to be reviewed by Cabinet in the near future.
In his speech, Minister for Local Government, Mark Brindal said that the time is also right for a redefinition of roles in South Australia.
“It is a time for mutual recognition and respect for each other’s roles,” he said. “To a large extent the success of the reform agenda rests firmly with Local Government. I strongly urge everyone of you to actively, positively and constructively contribute to the process. When we get the Legislation right, it will be the guiding beacon leading us into the 21st century.”
The current review of South Australia’s Local Government Act will see the release of a consultation draft during April. The Minister said, following consultation around the State, all major political parties and the LGASA will sit down to iron out areas of difference later this year. He expects a new Act to be in place by the end of next year.
