Dear LG Focus
Greater Bendigo City Council has written to the Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews seeking to clarify their positions on Constitutional recognition of local government.
Council is keen for both major political parties to spell out their views and to explain why they might be opposed to recognising local government in the Federal Constitution.
In a practical sense, we believe such recognition will overcome any legal doubts about the Commonwealth’s ability to directly fund local government through programs such as Roads to Recovery and the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
Funding arrangements have been under a cloud since a High Court case in 2009 led to questions being asked about the Constitutional legality of direct Commonwealth grants to local government.
If these grants are proven to be illegal, then important future projects in Greater Bendigo and beyond could be put at risk.
Council looks forward to receiving responses from Dr Napthine and Mr Andrews and in the meantime we will continue to advocate for a ‘yes’ vote on September 14th.
Yours sincerely,
Cr Lisa Ruffell
Mayor – City of Greater Bendigo
Dear LG Focus
The recommendations of the Independent Local Government Review Panel to put both Sydney Airport and Port Botany into the proposed Sydney group of councils contradicts any claims that reform of local government in NSW is based on financial sustainability.
Both facilities and their expansion over the years have visited upon the residents of Botany Bay and St George noise, traffic congestion and beach erosion.
Surely any income payable to local government from these businesses should go to those residents most affected, not as is the potential here to the people of Dover Heights and Vaucluse.
The proposed St George council will be almost entirely dependent on the rates of residents and family businesses, whilst the richest council in Australia will have two new sources of income.
The proposed St George Group of Councils will have business rates of around only $12 Million without the airport. Total income per head around $708 per person – only 45 percent of the income per head of the proposed Sydney Group of Councils.
The Independent Local Government Review Panel on Future Directions for NSW Local Government should explain why it believes City of Sydney – known to be the richest council in Australia should now get the financial benefits of Sydney Airport and Port Botany.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Shane O’Brien
Mayor – Rockdale City Council
