The local government sector has congratulated NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on her re-election and pledged to work closely with her new Cabinet to help build the state's economy while making it a better place to live.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Linda Scott said the Premier had heard and responded to the sector's election priorities, with a number of significant policy gains which will help councils deliver better infrastructure and services to communities right across NSW.
"We welcome each and every one of these commitments by the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government, and we look forward to working with the Premier and her new Cabinet to make them a reality," Clr Scott said.
"LGNSW and all our NSW councils will continue to work with all elected local members and the crossbenches to further advance the benefits for communities, in a wide range of areas including recycling and waste management, economic development, cities and regional infrastructure, planning issues, roads, cycling and pedestrian funding, water, libraries and the arts."
Clr Scott said wins for the local government sector based on pledges made by the Coalition during the election campaign included:
- Up to $1b in additional funding for local, rural and regional roads and timber bridges.
- Moves to ease cost-shifting by taking back ownership and responsibility for up to 15,000km of regional roads
- The appointment of a Minister for Public Space, the investment of $50 million in new public parkland, and the prevention of the sale of Crown Land used for recreation
- $400m for new telecommunications towers in regional NSW and three new bus routes connecting 44 regional and rural towns
- An expanded Sydney train network and fast-tracking of Sydney's Metro West train line, expand Sydney's train network
- A 20-year State Plan for a Circular Economy, and a promise to work with local government to deliver waste management infrastructure
- More than $60m in additional funding over four years following the 'Renew Our Libraries' campaign
- The appointment of an independent building commissioner and registration of all builders and building designers
- Greater flexibility for councils to control short term holiday letting
- The expansion of the affordable housing SEPP to all councils, combined with a limit on boarding house size in low-density areas
- A review of T-Corp loans policy that prevents councils from using regional unrated banks
- A pledge to quarantine Local water utilities from privatisation, leaving them in council hands
- Support for a new InterGovernmental Agreement between the two tiers of Government.
Clr Scott also congratulated Ms Berejiklian on being the first woman to be elected Premier in NSW.
"Premier Berejiklian follows in the proud footsteps of other female state political leaders: Carmel Lawrence (WA, ALP), Joan Kirner (WA, ALP), Anna Bligh (Qld, ALP), Lara Giddings (Tas, ALP) and Annastacia Palaszczuk (Qld, ALP)," she said.
