At the Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) meeting last week, Cr Todd Wilson and Cr Rebecca Sluggett spoke about their recent attendance in Canberra for the 31st National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA), where they joined HRCC CEO Gail Gatt and over 1,300 local government leaders from across Australia.
The event held in the last week of June provided a platform to discuss key issues facing communities, with local leaders advocating for practical solutions to regional challenges.
"The National General Assembly is a vital opportunity for us to raise awareness of the unique challenges we face in our region," said Cr Wilson.
"We focused on issues like childcare shortages, the need for increased funding for road repairs, and finding a balance between the protection of farmland and the implementation of renewable projects and mining, with regard to the needs of our community."
Throughout the event, both Councillor's attended sessions on vital infrastructure and community development. Cr Wilson participated in the Safer Roads session, where discussions focused on the increasing road toll and the deterioration of National and State roads.
"It was an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the poor condition of roads in our region," said Cr Wilson. "We are hopeful that the upcoming map of State and National roads will highlight the urgent need for improvement in our area."
Cr Sluggett attended the Housing and Community Infrastructure session, where delegates expressed frustration with the lack of funding for essential infrastructure upgrades to support housing developments.
"The discussions with the Minister for Housing and Treasurer, Dr. Jim Chalmers, were a great chance to raise concerns about the infrastructure gaps that affect our community," Cr Sluggett noted. "We need a balanced approach to housing that takes into account the challenges faced by rural and regional communities."
The Council also supported several motions raised during the Assembly, including:
- Establishing a National Royalties for Regions framework for mining affected communities.
- Review of Building codes and standards to address wheelchair accessibility, technology and increased dimensions.
- Requesting prioritised funding for school pick-up/drop off zones and crossings.
- Increasing untied funding so councils can target the areas of most need in their LGA
- The need to address childcare accessibility, affordability and staffing, particularly in rural and remote areas.
- Facilitating a national conversation around using available LGA infrastructure for strategic satellite university campuses or tertiary learning hubs.
- Various further motions which addressed staffing issues in regional and rural LGAs
One significant debate centred around a motion calling for the Australian Government to collaborate with local governments on road user agreements for industries responsible for increased freight loads that damage local roads. Cr Sluggett voiced her concerns against the motion, explaining that heavy vehicles already contribute significantly through higher registration fees and road excise taxes.
"Councils should be seeking a more even distribution on road funding for both local and state roads from other levels of Government," said Cr Sluggett.
Cr Wilson, Cr Sluggett, and Ms. Gatt also attended two other key sessions, including Adapting Together: Local Government Leadership in a Changing Climate, which highlighted the projected $2 billion in spending by Australian councils over the next five years to future-proof communities against climate change. In response, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has called for a $400 million climate adaptation fund to assist councils with local climate solutions.
"The National General Assembly has provided us with invaluable insights and the chance to bring local issues to the national stage. Our work continues as we advocate for solutions that benefit all our communities," said Cr Sluggett.
For a detailed report of the Councillors summary of their trip to the Local Government National Assembly, please visit Council's website.
