Elected Representatives and senior staff from more than 70 councils across NSW gathered in Sydney yesterday for the third annual Rural and Regional Summit, hosted by Local Government NSW (LGNSW).
Delegates were joined by State Government leaders to focus on the unique challenges faced by councils and their communities outside the metropolitan areas.
This year's summit provided a platform for discussing the financial sustainability of the local government sector, recovery from natural disasters, managing water utilities, and dealing with emerging invasive species threats, and building reforms for rural and regional areas.
Speakers at the summit included the Hon Ron Hoenig, Minister for Local Government; the Hon Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Water, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Mental Health, and Minister for Youth; Wendy Tuckerman MP, Shadow Minister for Local Government; Brett Whitworth, Deputy Secretary, Office of Local Government; James Sherrard, NSW Building Commissioner; and Dr Marion Healy PSM, NSW Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, Department Primary Industries and Regional Development NSW.
The event included a moving panel discussion with council leaders whose communities were significantly affected by natural disasters over the past five years. This was followed by a discussion with Mal Lanyon APM, Acting Chief Executive Officer, NSW Reconstruction Authority, and Brendan Moon AM, Coordinator General, National Emergency Management Agency.
LGNSW Rural and Regional Vice-President Mayor Claire Pontin said the summit was a tremendous success and emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling the challenges unique to rural and regional councils.
"Our Rural and Regional Summit brings together the key voices and decision-makers best positioned to drive solutions to secure a strong future for regional communities," Mayor Pontin said.
"Rural and regional councils are pillars of resilience and innovation, but they face distinctive hurdles, from workforce attraction and retention to infrastructure management covering vast areas, to the mounting costs of climate-driven natural disasters.
"LGNSW has always championed the voices of councils, and this Summit is a wonderful forum to support these councils in their work to provide the services and infrastructure their communities need and deserve."
