Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper LGFocus.com.au
DECEMBER 2024
Lighting the way to Noel The City of Parramatta officially kicked off the festive season by inviting residents to the official lighting of the Christmas tree at Parramatta Square complete with the city’s new nativity display and the return of the Christmas markets and festivities.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter and friends at the lighting of the tree for this year’s Christmas celebrations.
Locals were able to roam the more than 50 maket stall at the City’s Christmas markets while enjoying roving festive entertainment, live music, activities and decorations. Santa made a stop at Parramatta Square, followed by the lighting of the 16-metre Christmas tree. Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the festivities were about bringing the community together to spread joy and happiness at this special time of year.
Results welcomed New South Wale’s peak body for local government and the Country Mayor’s Association have both welcomed the release of a State Government Parliamentary Inquiry report into the ability of councils to fund infrastructure and services. The Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on state development has been holding an inquiry into the financial sustainability of councils, receiving over 130 submissions and holding 10 public hearings - half of which were in rural locations. Local Government NSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM said she was delighted to see that the recommendations of the inquiry closely aligned with the submission from LGNSW and with submissions from local councils right across the state. “This is a wonderful outcome for councils and their communities. LGNSW has long advocated for more support from both the state and federal governments to ensure the financial sustainability of local councils is secured,” Cr Turley said. “The recommendations contained in the report demonstrate that the inquiry heard our call,” she said. “They reflect recognition that the financial sustainability of councils is being persistently eroded and that, without improvements, all communities will suffer,” she said. “We’re hopeful that this recognition will pave the way for much-needed improvements,” she said. “We thank the NSW Government for holding
this inquiry and now call on them to act on these recommendations, in close partnership with councils, to achieve better sustainability, resilience and productivity outcomes for all NSW communities,” Cr Turley said. The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Executive Board and members warmly welcomed the release of the report Cairman and Temora Shire Mayor Cr. Rick Firman OAM said. “Financial sustainability is consistently a top priority concern of rural and regional Councils in NSW. Our submission to this inquiry comprehensively covered the broad range of barriers to financial sustainability in rural and regional councils in NSW,” he said. “From our initial reading of the report and recommendations, the CMA is certainly encouraged. “It appears that the Standing Committee Chair the Hon. Emily Suvaal and her fellow members have obviously listened to, read and absorbed the testimonies presented to them. “The 17 recommendations that the Standing Committee have determined, on the surface, reflect what the CMA and countless others have advocated for consistently. “It is particularly encouraging for the CMA to see a proposed redesigning of our local government rating system is being referred to the NSW
Government,” said Mayor Firman. “Above all, it was also pleasing to see the Committee’s recommendation that the NSW Government advocate to our Commonwealth Government to increase its Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government (known as FAGs) from .5 per cent to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue (which it was originally). “It is particularly pleasing to see the Committee’s recommendation that the NSW Government seek to amend the Rural Fire Service Act 1997, that RFS assets are rested in the RFS. This is particularly what our CMA Board and members have been consistently and strongly advocating for.” Successive NSW Governments have made RFS assets the on-paper responsibility of Local Government. The collection of assets Councils do not actually own but negatively impact their financials has been known as ‘the Red Fleet’. “The CMA will also be formally writing to our Premier the Hon. Chris Minns, to support the Standing Committee’s recommendations in full. Key recommendations include: Reviewing rate exemptions and concessions to achieve a better balance between local council financial sustainability, community benefits and principles of equity.
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the rating system to provide · Redesigning councils with greater flexibility in setting rates,
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while keeping rates affordable for the community. Streamlining the special variation process. Advocating to the Australian Government to increase Financial Assistance Grants to councils from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue. Grant models that are more secure, sustainable and predictable. Changes to the developer contributions framework to better support councils to fund the ongoing costs of new infrastructure, and support development including of community facilities. More timely disaster recovery assistance to councils. Dedicated and ongoing funding streams for disaster mitigation and preparedness. Incorporation of betterment into disaster recovery funding programs. Appropriately recognising that Rural Fire Service assets are vested in the NSW Government, and not councils. Reducing cost shifting onto councils and consideration of how the Waste Levy can better support infrastructure and services that support the transition to the circular economy.