National Local Roads and Transport Congress
Communiqué
See also: National Local Roads and Transport Congress 2006
More than 400 local government leaders from across Australia met at the 7th National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Alice Springs on July 9-11, 2006.
Local government is responsible for 680,000km - or almost 85 per cent - of the entire Australian road network. Maintaining this $80bn asset is a significant task requiring additional assistance from state and federal governments. The current maintenance backlog is in excess of $400 million a year.
Local government has a critical interest in economic, social and environmental sustainability. A central plank is the need for sustainable, accessible transport in urban, regional and remote areas. Local government has resolved to address concerns such as safety, congestion, pollution, residential amenity and affordability.
Local government remains committed to openness, transparency, accountability and discipline in its implementation of local road and transport grants.
Delegates considered and endorsed a national roads and transport strategy to guide local government's policy development and lobbying work over the coming decade. It will also assist ALGA to lobby major parties on road funding and transport issues in advance of the 2007 federal election.
Delegates agreed that the major areas of concern to local government included the need for long-term funding certainty for local roads, lack of access to transport services in regional areas, the impact of congestion, noise and pollution on urban amenity and the need to better manage the rapidly increasing freight loads carried through our cities and towns.
Delegates agreed that the roads and transport agenda covers a core part - albeit only one part - of local government's agenda. For it be successfully implemented, the broader financial sustainability issues confronting local government must be addressed. This includes improved funding arrangements with state and federal government across the board. Federal financial assistance grants needs to be replaced with a system that provides councils with a fair share - at least one per cent - of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
Delegates endorsed the strategy's five point plan to address issues of major concern for Australia's 700 councils:
- Local road funding and management
- Urban transport solutions
- Mobility for regional Australians
- Freight management
- Long term financial sustainability for local government
The five point plan has the following objectives.
Delegates noted that the strategy will be considered by the ALGA Board in August and would be formally launched at the National General Assembly of Local Government in November.
Delegates noted the fact that the strategy will be incorporated as a key element of ALGA's 'Triple F' campaign for fair federal funding, fair treatment and formal recognition of local government.
The need to ensure full compliance with all provisions and administrative requirements of the Roads to Recovery program was noted.
Delegates acknowledged by acclamation the work and commitment of the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd MP, to local roads, noting the additional $300m provided to the Roads to Recovery program in the 2006-07 Federal Budget and the additional $100m provided to the AusLink strategic regional program in November 2005.
Delegates resolved to meet again at the 8th National Local Roads and Transport Congress to be held in New South Wales in July 2007.
- Contact
- Cr Paul Bell AM, ALGA President - 0418 791 596
- Rohan Greenland, ALGA Public Affairs - 0412 85 9434 / 02 6122 9434
