Rural residents are crying out for reliable roads, the state's peak farming body has told an Inquiry into Local Government Funding.
NSW Farmers Business, Economics and Trade Committee chair John Lowe appeared before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport as part of its Inquiry into Local Government Funding and Fiscal Sustainability urging urgent reform to secure reliable funding for rural councils and critical local infrastructure.
"Councils in rural, regional and remote areas have an enormous network of roads and they need greater certainty to maintain them, which supports farm businesses and community safety," Mr Lowe said.
"Roads are the sole connection for many rural communities and farms, but too many councils are being forced to 'patch and pray' with unreliable, project-based funding."
NSW Farmers called on the Australian Government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to a minimum of 1 per cent of total Commonwealth tax revenue, providing a stable funding base for local government and a stronger foundation for local road maintenance. At the same time, Mr Lowe said, there needed to be a pause on special variation rates (SVR) and greater scrutiny on these applications.
"Farm businesses cannot keep absorbing sudden, steep and cumulative rate rises as councils scramble to fill funding gaps due to cost shifting from state and federal governments," Mr Lowe said.
"They need a fairer, more sustainable model that enables councils to have funding sustainability and effectively deliver for communities in the regions, especially roads.
"It's also critical that all landholders contribute equitably and fairly - increasing property acquisitions and land use changes from National Parks, State Forestry, biodiversity offsets by mining companies and electricity generation companies are reducing rateable land which can leave the burden to fall on others, including farmers."
