South Australian Councils could share management of regional airports, community waste water management systems and waste landfills, under proposals being considered by the Local Government Association’s Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC).
The AMAC is seeking advice from SA’s 68 Councils about possibilities of sharing or outsourcing key infrastructure assets.
“These might seem radical changes to current Council operations and asset management,” LGA President, Mayor Dave Burgess said.
“However, recommendations from the LGA commissioned ‘Council of the Future’ report, from December 2013, include proposals that key asset management could be shared or outsourced, for cost savings and shared risk management.”
The Council of the Future’ report recommended cross-Council and regional development plans, regional development assessment panels and collaborative and cooperative waste management, among other initiatives.
“The AMAC is particularly interested in the possibility of more collaboration between Councils in areas like, ownership of plant and heavy equipment, regional airports, waste landfills and community wastewater management systems,” Mayor Burgess said.
“The Committee is asking Councils to consider where they could consider some form of shared management of assets, or whether Councils would consider partial or complete outsourcing of some asset management.
“Councils will also look at whether an asset provides the desired service to the community, the continued cost of the service provision and the community’s capacity or willingness to pay.
“We have to consider, over the long term, that Councils’ income from State and Federal government grants and rates may make sole retention of some assets unviable and that sharing key infrastructure assets, or contracting out the management of a particular asset might be the way to go.”
AMAC spokesman, John Comrie, said Councils need to work smarter.
“Rather than increase rates or reduce services we have to find ways to be more efficient.
“Asset management is more critical for Local Government than any other sphere of government because we have many more assets relative to our income level.”
