In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association president. The following is from Councillor Keith Rhoades, President of the Local Government Association of New South Wales.
The recent NSW State Election was a warning to all major political parties that councils and communities’ needs must not be ignored. It has been widely acknowledged that one of the contributing factors to Premier O’Farrell’s landslide win was that many people felt the NSW Labor Government had stopped listening to the people of NSW.
People felt they had lost touch due to a range of reasons, including the removal of planning powers from local influence, the strangling of public interest tests, and transport and infrastructure issues.
Councils are the democratic heartbeat of their communities, they provide the on the ground services to residents and create places where people can thrive.
Too often in the recent past, councils in NSW were shut out of important local decision making. It was not a wise move – because when you neglect councils, you’re neglecting the communities that councils represent.
The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) highlighted this and other major issues of significance in the LGSA’s NSW Election Priorities 2011, as well as our proposed solutions for NSW.
The LGSA’s election priorities included recommendations for improving Local Government financial viability, restoring the balance to land use planning, stronger support for communities, greater natural environment protection, enhanced infrastructure provision and better local governance.
I was pleased that all major political parties responded to our election priorities, indicating what they would support. All parties indicated their support for a referendum seeking the addition of Local Government to the Australian Constitution.
The test of a good Premier and Government is not in their promises, but in their action and the speed of that action. So it is pleasing that within their first two weeks, the O’Farrell Government has taken action to return planning powers to local communities and review the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, starting with the scrapping of the controversial Part 3A.
They have also indicated their support to review cost shifting and the arrangements for funding of emergency services, and to return Local Government elections to councils.
We’re looking forward to a new era of partnership, collaboration and consultation between Local and State Government in NSW. For a copy of the LGSA’s NSW Election Priorities 2011, visit www.lgsa.org.au/election2011
