Local Government is calling on greater Federal Government assistance to ease mounting pressure on water infrastructure. Across the country, issues concerning water are coming to the fore and the clear message is that we must find better ways to preserve water supplies. The problem is being exacerbated with the deterioration of much of the existing water infrastructure built in the postwar period.
It is interesting to note that business groups are now lobbying the Federal Government to increase borrowing to start rebuilding our infrastructure and FOCUS supports this call. We also support the request by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) for the Australian Government to help Australia’s 675 Councils with their infrastructure needs – with water infrastructure being a clear priority.
All Councils are facing an increasing challenge to renew, upgrade and replace ageing infrastructure. In one clear example, coastal Councils are grappling with significant population growth and increasing visitor numbers placing massive demands on water infrastructure.
ALGA is calling for a three pronged solution to address the growing infrastructure crisis. It wants fair Federal funding arrangements for Local Government, moving from the present system of financial assistance grants to a fair share, that is one per cent of national taxation revenue. It is looking for new partnerships with the Federal Government, similar to the Roads to Recovery program, to help Councils with non road infrastructure, including water infrastructure.
Finally, it is calling for the development of a funding model for regional infrastructure that combines finance from all three spheres of Government to support Local Government infrastructure projects, with $200 million to be provided by the Federal Government over the next four years.
This is not say that the Federal Government has been inert on this issue. Its $2 billion water conservation master plan provides direct assistance including the Australian Water Fund, a $1.6 billion for projects to accelerate the uptake of smart technologies and practices. A further $200 million has been allocated to raise national water standards to lift national capacity in measuring, monitoring and managing water resources. And finally there are community water grants of $200 million. These will fund projects up to $50,000 to increase water use efficiency, and improve the health of rivers and aquifers as well as provide community education. Under this program, the Cooma-Monaro Council recently received $45,000 to save water in the small town of Nimmitabel where residents sometimes have to rely on a water truck for domestic supply (refer page 19).
However, as ALGA President, Councillor Paul Bell, told the National Water Summit in Sydney last month, that Local Government will be able to access small community water grants and is eligible to compete for major project funding. However, it may be hard to secure funding for medium sized water infrastructure projects developed by Councils.
The efforts of the Government are commendable, but given the severity of the issue facing Australia, the ideas and proposals of the ALGA need to be taken up with vigour.
