The Queensland Government’s newly released State Infrastructure Plan (SIP) has garnered support from Queensland councils.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) chief executive Greg Hallam said the plan would be implemented in coordination with regional and council infrastructure plans and that it was created in close collaboration with the LGAQ.
“It is this sort of collaborative approach that makes for good policy. It is what our Partners in Government agreement with George St is all about,” Mr Hallam said.
“Local government in Queensland manages $108 billion worth of assets. This is our business and it is delivered and maintained by our people – some 39,000 workers across 245 professions.’’
He said councils particularly welcomed the Government’s commitment to reviewing the system of local government infrastructure grants programs.
“Ad hoc funding arrangements for local government make planning and prioritisation of projects difficult.
“Councils and the Government invest a lot of time and resources into applying for, assessing, delivering and acquitting grant funding and the system needs to work a lot better.’’
Mr Hallam said the plan was relatively modest in its ambitions compared with previous blueprints, but that meant it was achievable.
“We understand now more than ever that we are working in a fiscally constrained environment and that we have to work together and find new innovative ways to fund essential infrastructure.”
Mr Hallam said while the plan identified water, energy, transport, digital and social infrastructure, it also embraced the need for infrastructure damaged by natural disasters to be rebuilt in a way that ensures it will be more resilient to events like cyclones and floods.
“This is an important issue for councils. They know more than any other level of government that stronger, more resilient bridges, roads and other infrastructure make for better, safer communities in the face of natural disasters.”
