It is estimated that the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) has saved its 12 member Councils about $5 million in the course of its ten year history.
Some savings were gained through group purchasing of electricity, bitumen emulsion, photocopy paper supplies and other materials.
REROC comprises 12 Local Governments located in the eastern Riverina in New South Wales. Including Bland, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Greater Hume, Gundagai, Junee, Lockhart, Temora, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Urana and Wagga Wagga, they cover an area of 41,000 square kilometres and serve a population of 120,000 people. Goldenfields and Riverina Water County Councils are also members of REROC.
Executive Officer, Julie Briggs, said the aim of REROC is far more than cost savings.
“It has three main aims – to advocate, solve problems and share resources,” she said. “We want to improve the collective status of Local Government within the eastern Riverina and to provide an additional avenue to secure and implement externally sourced funding for programs.
“REROC also promotes cooperation and helps realise opportunities for greater efficiency in service. It also provides a mechanism to share expertise and ideas, and to promote the region.”
Some of the work has been highly innovative.
In 1998, REROC won a National Award for Innovation in Local Government and in 1999 it received a $100,000 grant through the Local Government Development Program for a centralised mapping project, as well as taking out a State award for innovation in Environmental Management. It recently won the NSW Keep Australia Beautiful contest for its waste management work.
The group also has a major role in lobbying. In recent years, it has made high level submissions on gas regimes, cost shifting, public education, and amalgamations to Federal and State Governments. Julie Briggs said the group is focused on finding regional solutions for local problems.
“REROC has looked at a number of local problems that lend themselves to a regional solution.” For more information about REROC contact Julie Briggs on (02) 6931 9050.
