Council seeks national solutions at major forum

Council seeks national solutions at major forum

Published on 11 June 2019

Council representatives will head to the national capital next week to push for federal government action regarding the emerging waste crisis and telecommunications blackspots.

Mayor, Cr Janet Pearce and Chief Executive Officer, Margot Stork will attend the Australian Local Government Association National Assembly 2019 in Canberra from 16-19 June.

Both of Council’s proposed motions have been accepted by the association and will be considered by the assembly. The outcomes form the basis of the ALGA’s advocacy work on behalf of local government to the federal government in the next year.

Council’s 2019 motion on waste follows on from its successful motion on the same topic which was adopted at the 2018 Assembly. It asks the ALGA to seek an Australian Government commitment to a tripartite approach to the management of the emerging waste crisis with the full engagement of both state and local tiers of government.

The motion also asks for an urgent round table meeting with appropriate federal and state government representation to discuss the establishment of a joint taskforce to explore innovative mid-term and long-term solutions to Australia’s current and emerging waste crisis. It also seeks for a commitment from roundtable participants to an equitable financial commitment to the management of current waste crisis issues and research and development of mid to long-term solutions.

Regarding the National Broadband Network (NBN), Council asks that the ALGA advocates for the Australian Government to work with rural and regional councils to:

Develop innovative solutions for the placement of telecommunication infrastructure that takes account of both the challenges of black spot locations and the protection of unique and distinctive natural landscapes and environs Research and trial viable alternatives to tower infrastructure that address black spot challenges whilst protecting unique and distinctive natural landscapes and environs.

Convened annually by the Australian Local Government Association, the National General Assembly of Local Government is the peak annual event for local government.

Mayor, Cr Janet Pearce said the event attracted more than 800 Councillors each year and allowed local government to engage directly with the federal government on issues of national importance.

“The conference is a chance for local governments to influence the future directions of our councils and our communities, by taking our concerns directly to the federal arena,” Cr Pearce said. “Our motions to the assembly concern important issues which require a whole-of-government response and we call on our fellow councils across the country to join with us to seek national solutions to these problems.”