The economy is recovering from the global financial crisis and councils are still working to finalise major projects funded under the Federal Government’s $1 billion stimulus package, but President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Councillor Geoff Lake, said that climate change will be the issue for Local Government in 2010.
He said that councils began 2009 expecting to receive their share of $300 million in grants from the Federal Government, but were pleasantly surprised over the course of the year, with the funding package increasing to over $1 billion in response to the global financial crisis.
“This was a major boon for the sector, delivering a much needed financial injection into local infrastructure,” Councillor Lake said. “It was particularly appreciated by smaller councils, which generally have limited access to resources.
“Although strict timelines for the money to be spent placed pressure on engineering, planning and community building departments, without exception, all councils have done a fantastic job to meet deadlines and convert the funding into long term community assets.”
Councillor Lake said another highlight of 2009 was the progression of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.
“With its establishment announced in November 2008, over the last 12 months we have seen it develop past tender to now be up and running,” he said. “The board has been established and has met twice, and Executive Director Professor Graham Sansom is doing a great job of leading its workplan.
“This facility will not only provide courses for Local Government staff and elected members, but will be a hub for training, policy research, knowledge sharing and the development of tools for the wider Local Government sector.”
Councillor Lake said that while the recent Copenhagen summit may not have been as successful as some people had hoped, it has highlighted climate change on the global scale and focused everybody’s thinking on it.
“Regardless of your viewpoint – whether you think the issue is overblown or the most important issue facing our future – climate change will be the most predominant issue of 2010,” he said. “In addition to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) being reintroduced for the third time in Parliament in February, the Federal election campaign will be in full swing this year and climate change is sure to be a key part of all major political parties’ approaches.”
Councillor Lake said that most people in Local Government accept that climate change is happening and are working to raise awareness and cut emissions within their own communities, but there is potential for councils to do more.
“The year ahead will bring opportunities for us to work more collaboratively with State and Federal Governments through both research and action to ensure we have thorough, robust strategies in place,” he said.“We need to work together to manage legal liabilities, such as the impacts of sea level rise, and we need to deliver local adaptation plans.”
While he is adamant that climate change will be the most topical issue of 2010, Councillor Lake said the need for a secure financial base will continue to be the number one priority for Local Government.
“We must impress upon the other levels of government our critical need for more secure funding sources,” he said. “Councils are under significant pressure to provide for the increasing needs of our communities, and a fairer funding arrangement would help us get on with the job.
“The inclusion of a direct power in the Australian Constitution explicitly empowering the Federal Government to make payments directly to Local Government would be a key step towards securing funding reforms in the future.”
Councillor Lake said that ALGA’s endeavour to achieve recognition will remain prominent, with 2010 being the year to build Local Government’s case further and ensure there is greater consistency
and understanding in councils about the efforts under way.
“We are still three or so years away from getting any kind of proposition onto a ballot paper at a referendum, and there is a lot of hard work and clear hurdles that must be jumped over before we get there,” he said. “We must build on the solid foundations we built in 2009, which includes the continuing support of the Prime Minister and his Government for recognition of Local Government in the Constitution.
“We have made much progress and are almost at Stage 2 of the strategic plan that ALGA launched last June to assist us on our journey towards Constitutional change. Stage 1 has involved initial market research through surveying and focus groups, but Stage 2 has progressed to direct engagement with key political leaders and councils on the results of the research and the preferred approach for going forward.”
With 2010 being the ‘Year of Women in Local Government’, Councillor Lake said councils must play a leadership role.
“While it is difficult and problematic for councils to directly influence the makeup of candidates who stand for election, it is possible for the sector to present itself more positively to prospective women candidates,” he said.
“It is also important for councillors and senior executives to ensure employment processes are up to scratch in modern day terms and that council processes give women every opportunity to figure prominently at senior levels in the 565 councils around the country.”
