Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley Council has voted to support lobbying the Federal Government to establish a billion-dollar Regional Infrastructure Recovery Program to better protect regional infrastructure assets against disasters.
Mayor Ian Tiley put forward a Mayoral Minute at the April 18 Clarence Valley Council CVC meeting about the Australian Local Government Association’s ALGA’s calls for the Federal Government to provide $250 million a year for four years to protect regional infrastructure.
The background to the Mayoral Minute on the April 18 CVC meeting agenda highlights the impact of natural disasters on regional areas.
“Last year, 46 disasters were declared, with 524 disaster support declarations over 316 local government areas in Australia, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) data,” the background states.
“There is compelling evidence that the unprecedented natural disasters throughout 2022 and 2023 have devastated regional communities and infrastructure.
“While local government appreciates the significant investment both federal and state governments have made in disaster funding in recent times, many disaster-declared regional councils have small ratepayer bases and cannot afford to build roads and infrastructure that will be more resilient to future disaster events.
“Up-front investment is needed to assist, in particular, regional, and rural councils to build back better, and thereby saving all governments money in the long-term.
“It is evident that smarter, targeted investments through the proposed fund that capitalises on local government strengths and assets, will grow our cities, towns and regions to bolster long-term national prosperity and economic growth.”
In the summary of his Mayoral Minute on the April 18 meeting agenda, Cr Tiley said it was important for the community that council strongly supports ALGA.
“A major additional injection of Commonwealth funding is required to assist Councils to implement repair, renewal, resilience and betterment asset programs,” the summary says.
When introducing the motion at the April 18 CVC meeting, Cr Tiley said the Australian Local Government Association was working with councils to try to establish the program.
“It’s a matter where the 528 councils across the nation are lobbying to get a billion dollars over four years to address and better our infrastructure that’s been so devastated in recent years,” he said.
Cr Tiley put forward the motion “That Council support the Australian Local Government Association in its bid for a billion-dollar disaster fund by making representations to the Prime Minister Hon Anthony Albanese and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and including the Member for Page, Hon Kevin Hogan.”
The motion was unanimously supported by councillors.