Ordinary

Supplementary Agenda

 

An Ordinary Meeting of the Bega Valley Shire Council will be held at Council Chambers, Biamanga Room Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre Bega on Wednesday, 20 April 2022 commencing at 2:00pm to consider and resolve on the matters set out in the attached Agenda.

 

 

 

To:

Cr Russell Fitzpatrick, Mayor

Cr Liz Seckold, Deputy Mayor

Cr Tony Allen

Cr Cathy Griff

Cr Mitchell Nadin

Cr Helen O’Neil

Cr David Porter

Cr Joy Robin

Cr Karen Wright

 

Copy:

Chief Executive Officer, Mr Anthony McMahon

Director, Assets and Operations, Mr Ian Macfarlane

Director,  Community, Environment and Planning, Mrs Emily Harrison

Director, Business and Governance, Mrs Iliada Bolton

Manager Communications and Events, Ms Skye Owen

Minute Secretary, Mrs Jackie Grant

 

 

 

 


Council       20 April 2022

 

Supplementary Agenda

6       Mayoral Minutes

6.1                Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Federal Advocacy Program.................... 4

6.2                Federal Election Advocacy.............................................................................................................. 7

   

 


Council       20 April 2022

 

 

Mayoral Minutes

 

20 April 2022

 

6.1              Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Federal Advocacy Program.... 4

6.2              Federal Election Advocacy.................................................................................... 7


Council 20 April 2022

Item 6.1

 

6.1Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Federal Advocacy Program       

 

Cr Russell Fitzpatrick

Officer’s Recommendation

That Council:

1.    Supports the national funding priorities of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), which would contribute an estimated $6.46 billion per year to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create 43,444 jobs: and

2.    Agrees to support and participate in the Australian Local Government Association’s advocacy for their endorsed national funding priorities by writing to the local Federal Member(s) of Parliament, all known election candidates in local Federal electorates and the President of the Australian Local Government Association to:

a)    Express support for ALGA’s funding priorities

b)    Identify priority local projects and programs that could be progressed with the additional financial assistance from the Federal Government being sought by ALGA; and

c)    Seek funding commitments from the members, candidates and their parties for these identified local projects and programs

 

Background

The next Federal Election is expected to be held in May 2022.

Working in conjunction with its member state and territory associations, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has developed a framework and resources for a national advocacy campaign that will run in the lead up to this election. Based around the tagline of “Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind”, the goal is to secure funding and policy commitments that will support every Australian council and community, and ensure all Australians have an equal opportunity to share in the benefits of Australia’s post-pandemic recovery.

All Australian councils have been asked to participate in this campaign to ensure a coordinated approach that will deliver the best possible outcomes. Discussion The Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind campaign will promote 17 priority asks in the portfolios of economic recovery, transport and community infrastructure, building resilience, circular economy and intergovernmental relations. These priorities are based on motions passed by councils at ALGA’s annual National General Assembly and have been endorsed by ALGA’s Board which is comprised of representatives from all state and territory Local Government Associations.

They have been assessed by independent economists and would add around $6.46 billion per year to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product while creating 43,444 jobs. The Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind campaign will run for five weeks, with each week focussing on one of the five portfolio areas.

The full list of national Federal Election priorities that will be promoted through this campaign is outlined below:

 

Economic recovery

1.    An initial injection of Financial Assistance Grants to local government of $1.3 billion to support communities and jobs and also resolve the current practice of bringing forward two quarterly Financial Assistance Grant payments each year.     

2.    A commitment to return Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue via a phased approach.

Transport and community infrastructure

3.    $500 million per annum for a four-year continuation of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

4.    A strategic local roads investment program of $300 million per annum over four years to address road transport first and last mile issues and congestion on local roads.

5.    An increase in Roads to Recovery to $800 million per annum (an additional $300 million per annum) and the Black Spot Program to $200 million per annum over four years, while addressing the South Australian road funding anomaly by making the additional $20 million per annum to SA in 2021-22 and 2022-23 permanent.

6.    Continuing the Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity Package at $55 million over four years.

7.    $200 million over four years to assist councils to develop and implement innovative housing partnerships.

Building resilience

8.    A targeted disaster mitigation program of $200 million per annum for four years which will reduce the costs of response and recovery and strengthen community resilience.

9.    A commitment to ensuring betterment funding as a core element of disaster recovery funding arrangements.

10. A commitment to include community infrastructure that is publicly accessible and owned, and local government waste, water and wastewater assets under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

11. A Local Government Climate Response Partnership Fund of $200 million over four years to enable planning and preparation to minimise the impacts of climate change in local communities and enable councils to achieve climate neutrality as soon as practicable.

12. $100 million per annum over four years provided directly to local governments to support the capabilities of Indigenous councils and the implementation of the Closing the Gap local/regional voice.

Circular economy

13. Support to provide guidance and advice to councils on how to unlock the circular economy locally, particularly in rural, regional, and remote areas.

14. Support to investigate and, if feasible, implement a national bin harmonisation program that will improve kerbside recycling, reduce contamination, and maximise opportunities for reuse.   

15. $100 million per annum over four years to fund local government circular waste innovation projects.

Intergovernmental relations

16. Reinstating local government representation to the primary intergovernmental forum in Australia, the National Cabinet.

17. Ensuring local government’s ongoing voting membership of other relevant Ministerial forums.

ALGA has developed free campaign resources that can be adapted and used by all councils to ensure a consistent and effective approach. Participating in a national advocacy campaign does not preclude this council from advocating on additional local needs and issues, but it will strengthen the national campaign and support all 537 Australian local governments.

Attachments

Nil

 


Council 20 April 2022

Item 6.2

 

6.2Federal Election Advocacy       

 

Cr Russell Fitzpatrick  

Officer’s Recommendation

That Council:

1.    Endorse the previously endorsed election advocacy brochure with the following changes to be incorporated by staff:

a)    Inclusion of a priority for funding of a feasibility study for major improvements to the Snowy Mountains Highway to improve east-west road connectivity

b)    Incorporation of support for ALGA’s “Don’t leave local communities behind campaign”

2.    Note that the Mayor will write to all Eden-Monaro election candidates providing them a copy of the advocacy brochure and inviting them to meet to discuss Bega Valley priorities ahead of the Federal election.

 

Background

The next Federal Election is to be held 21 May 2022. Council previously considered a report from staff on election advocacy priorities at the 9 February 2022 with a copy of that report and its attachment attached to this report.

In addition to the items include in the brochure, it is considered important to highlight to candidates the need for investment to improve the Snowy Mountains Highway east-west connection as well as the priorities identified by ALGA in their “Don’t leave local communities’ campaign behind” which is the subject of a separate Mayoral minute to the 20 April 2022 Council meeting.

Attachments

Nil