The Local Government Association of South Austalia(LGASA)’s Roads and Works Conference is underway at Murray Bridge.
Topics canvassed at the two-day conference are as varied as the future direction of South Australia’s truck fleet, to sustainable asphalt and the upgrading of Coober Pedy Airstrip.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, is scheduled as a key note speaker on the second day of the conference tomorrow, providing information on the Financial Assistance Grant program for 2015-16; Roads to Recovery distribution & Regional Infrastructure funding.
LGASA President, Mayor Dave Burgess, said the Minister’s attendance emphasised the importance of the Roads and Works conference to Local Government and key stakeholders.
“In June, the Australian Government announced a significant boost to the Roads to Recovery (R2R) program with extra funds coming from the new decision by the Government to index the fuel excise,” Mayor Burgess said.
“However, while the new funding will increase funds to South Australian Councils for the next two years, funding would revert to current levels in 2017 and Councils would then feel the loss of funding through the Government’s decision not to index Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) to CPI.”
Mayor Burgess said the fuel excise indexation boost for SA’s R2R funding and the previously announced doubling of R2R this financial year, will mean an extra $118 million plus over two years.
Noted demographer and social commentator, Bernard Salt, is keynote speaker at the conference today.
In his talk this morning, Professor Salt addressed roads and transport of the past and future and Councils’ ability to adapt to the provision of greater services – particularly for retirees – with the same or reduced income.
Other topics under discussion at the conference include: GPS tracking of fleet vehicles; future challenges for SA’s truck fleet; the impact on Councils and communities of the Sampson Flat bushfire; the movement of agricultural machinery on public roads; the reappearance of zebra crossings; blackspots and road construction standards.
Follow the conference on Twitter via #LGA15RW
