Declaring that he is “the NSW Minister for Local Government and not a Minister against local government”, Don Page today told the NSW Local Government Association’s annual conference that changes in the sector are necessary and he wants to work with them to achieve it.

Mr Page opened the conference in Nowra by praising the local government sector for understanding that modernisation, reform and innovation were required in councils to help them meet future challenges and ensure they can continue to deliver efficient, essential services to communities.

Mr Page then outlined the key actions the NSW Government has made in its first six months to help the local government sector achieve that reform.

“Communities and their elected leaders have a greater say on the outcomes of development projects, we are assessing the infrastructure backlog of local councils and have set up a scheme to help cover councils’ costs on borrowings for infrastructure projects, democracy has been restored in the Illawarra, we are supporting resource sharing and collaborative arrangements between councils, and we have given councils the option of running their own elections,” Mr Page said.

“And, I think very importantly, we have recognised the important role of local government in our new State Plan, which was released with the recent State Budget. In the former government’s State Plan, there was no mention of local government.”

Mr Page said the support of the local government sector for the key messages of the Destination 2036 conference in Dubbo in August showed that councils are ready to embrace ideas and improvements that will lead to greater sustainability in the sector moving forward.

“After a busy first six months, we now look to the future – and I would like to think that next year will be the year of action for local government,” Mr Page said.

“Destination 2036 is the key to that. Attended by representatives of every NSW council and other stakeholders, it was our opportunity to begin to shape the future direction of local government in NSW together.

“As Minister, I want to see a strong local government sector in terms of its financial sustainability, its capacity, and in its decision-making role.

“A draft action plan to that end, using ideas heard at Destination 2036, is being developed and should be released for public comment next month, so I look forward to input from you and the general public on that draft action plan.”

Mr Page announced that the NSW Government’s promised review into the Model Code of Conduct for NSW Councils was closer to completion and a draft of it is on public display.

“The Division of Local Government, after discussion with sector stakeholders including the Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) and the Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA), and with input from the public, identified a range of issues pertaining to the Code which it wants addressed and its recommendations are in its Position Paper which is now available,” Mr Page said.

“The Division will hold workshops in locations around the State in November to explain the proposals and hear the views of stakeholders involved in administration of the Code.”
Mr Page touched on aspects of the Local Government Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament this month.

“The amendments include reinstating councils’ status as corporations so they can seek Federal funding for training programs and tender for construction work on Commonwealth-funded projects, introducing a caretaker period in the leadup to council elections during which major decisions are prohibited, and increasing the period of time community land can be leased from a maximum 21 years to 30 years,” Mr Page said.

Mr Page concluded by saying it was an exciting time for local government in NSW.

“We know reform of the local government sector is required and, as Minister, I want you to have a say in that reform and I look forward to constructive dialogue with you,” Mr Page said.