The NGA brings together local government representatives from across Australia to share ideas, debate key issues and build stronger ties with the Federal Government on matters that directly affect their communities.
This year’s event drew more than 1100 local government representatives from around the country, united under the theme of ‘Stronger Together: Resilient. Productive. United’.
At their July council meetings, Campaspe Shire, Gannawarra Shire and Murray River council representatives who attended NGA reported back to their fellow councillors about the outcome of the trip.
Campaspe Shire Council was represented by Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Cr Zoe Cook, who spoke to their visit to Canberra at the July council meeting.
Cr Cook reported that all the motions put forward by Campaspe were successfully passed.
Campaspe’s successful motions called for a standardised framework for renewable energy contributions, increased federal funding for disaster mitigation, a dedicated renewal program for public pools, and expanded social housing.
She said the renewal of public swimming infrastructure especially drew debate.
Representing Gannawarra Shire in Canberra were Mayor Garner Smith and council chief executive Geoff Rollinson.
Mr Rollinson said the pair took the opportunity to advocate and make sure the issues facing the region were on the national agenda by using the event’s direct access to federal ministers.
They spoke with Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil to determine how council could access the Federal Government’s $2 billion Housing Support Program, and questioned two Federal regional development ministers regarding the impact of government decisions on irrigation productivity in northern Victoria.
Water emerged as one of the most pressing issues across the weekend, with Cr Smith and Mr Rollinson meeting twice with the water minister’s adviser to put forward proposals aimed at delivering better water management outcomes for the region.
Mayor John Harvie represented Murray River Council at the NGA, and rather than moving separate motions, aligned with similar motions already put forward by MRC.
Those motions included a call to increase investment to councils for construction of local transport and community infrastructure as well as a call to increase Financial Assistant Grants to one per cent of federal taxation.
At the Murray River Council meeting, Cr Harvie responded to a question about the trip regarding conversations about investment into regional roads around the municipality.
In answering, Cr Harvie said he was told money was being invested into the M1 freeway and along the north coast of NSW, but said he told the representatives “they shouldn’t forget the south-west of the state”.
More than 243 motions were put forward across the assembly, with each successful motion to be formally presented to the relevant federal ministers for an official response.
