The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGASA) is lobbying the Federal Government to continue a supplementary local road funding agreement and to better coordinate regional development plans.The LGA has been lobbying the Government to commit to the existing arrangement, worth $16 million a year, which is due to finish at the end of the year.
LGASA Director Government Relations and Communications Chris Russell said the Association will be stepping up its campaign for a commitment.He said roads are vital infrastructure, particularly for regional communities.
“It’s simply not possible for us to maintain these without Commonwealth assistance,” he said.”The state of roads has an economic impact in terms of trade and business, travel times and health issues, particularly for country people having to travel to health facilities either in the country or in the metropolitan area.”
An earlier Association forum brought together more than 80 key regional Local Government leaders and Regional Development Australia representatives to discuss concerns about State and Commonwealth Government approaches to regional issues.
Then LGA President Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis said considerable confusion remains surrounding policies, plans, State budget cuts and new Commonwealth programs.
“Clearly the absence of a well coordinated plan for each region – equivalent to the 30 year plan for Greater Adelaide is an issue,” she said. “I suspect a key message we will take to the State Government is the need to accelerate the development of regional plans.”
Mayor Lewis said there was a very strong feeling that failures in coordination across State agencies – something the Greater Adelaide Plan was seeking to address – was an even more acute issue in regional areas.
“A clear asset is the level of collaboration between councils and Regional Development Australia bodies and the fact that all three spheres of government are involved in South Australia’s seven country RDA bodies,” she said.
