The cost of maintaining and improving Local Government infrastructure and the review of the Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government were among matters discussed at a Local Government Ministers Conference held in Perth on 11 July.
At the Conference, Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, agreed to examine a request for the development of planning and engineering guidelines for hillside management and development.
Acknowledging the issue as important for many local governments across Australia, Senator Macdonald said the Commonwealth would contribute to the cost of developing guidelines if the States and Territories would also contribute.
There was also wide ranging discussion by Ministers on Local Government reform across all jurisdictions with each Minister providing an overview of the issues facing Local Government in their State or Territory.
Ministers were informed that tenders were currently being assessed for the preparation of an infrastructure financing manual, known as the ‘infrastructure cookbook’. An initiative of the Local Government Ministers Council, the manual is intended to give councils advice on a variety of funding mechanisms for long term management of their infrastructure.
As well as Senator Ian Macdonald, the conference included Local Government Ministers Paul Omodei (WA-Chair), Harry Woods (NSW), Bob Cameron (Vic), Terry Mackenroth (Qld) and Loraine Braham (NT).
Departmental officers represented other States, and the Australian Local Government Association had observe status.
