The tenth National Local Roads and Transport Congress is being held in Mackay from 8 to 10 November.
Held in Moree in 2000, the first Congress led to the introduction of the Roads to Recovery (R2R) Program due to the strong and clear message it provided on the needs of Local Government.
Instrumental to the creation of R2R was former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson (pictured), who is this year’s keynote speaker and who will provide a retrospective on what has been achieved. He will also provide some insights into ‘The Road to the Future’ – the theme of this Congress.
This year’s Congress has attracted high level political interest, with political speakers such as the Leader of the National Party and Opposition Transport spokesperson, Warren Truss, and Local Government and public transport spokesman for the Greens, Senator Ludlum, expressing their interest in participating.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, has also been invited.
Over the years, the Congress has evolved from having purely a roads focus to a recognition of the need for a more general transport approach both for rural and regional Australia, as well as our cities.
In Mackay there will be two concurrent sessions, during which three options will be available to delegates:
- Option 1: Rural and Regional Transport
- Option 2: Urban Transport
- Option 3: Public Relations Workshop
This approach recognises the differing perspectives of rural, regional and urban councils on transport.
Since the last Congress in Shepparton in June 2008, the world’s and the nation’s economic circumstances have dramatically changed. Against this backdrop it is appropriate that current strategies are reviewed.
A key outcome of the Congress will be the development of a framework for a new Roads and Transport Strategy to take forward to the Government in the context of a likely 2010 election.
Registration for the Congress is now open, with an early bird registration special of $845 available until 1 September.
Registration details can be found on the ALGA website at www.alga.asn.au/roadscongress
