Transport is a critically important issue for local communities - and therefore for local councils.
Local roads comprise 85% by length of Australia's road network. They are the essential means of accessing homes, businesses, health, education and community services and recreational opportunities, and are thus a vital component of the infrastructure of our local communities.
However, provision of transport services in Australia is facing substantial challenges. It is estimated that by 2020, Australia's total freight task is expected to almost double; urban passenger trips will increase by about a third; and non-urban passenger travel could rise by about 70%. This growth will place much greater demands on local transport infrastructure and the safety margins of our road system.
In meeting these needs, local government is a crucial partner in the efficient and effective planning, funding and delivery of road services. Roads and transport has thus always been a very high priority for local government and ALGA.
This 'Transport' section of the ALGA website outlines the main areas of ALGA's activity in transport policy and programs, and contacts and links to other relevant transport groups or information sources.
- Local Roads and Transport Strategy
- The Local Roads and Transport Strategy was launched in November 2006. It can be found at: http://www.alga.asn.au/policy/transport/transportstrategy/.
- AusLink
- AusLink is the Australian Government's Land Transport Plan. Its genesis was the forecast massive increase in Australia's transport task in the next decade and envisaged AusLink as "a national Land Transport Plan to develop and fund an integrated national land transport network".
- Roads to Recovery
- The Australian Governments Roads to Recovery (R2R) program has become an essential element in local government's ability to maintain and upgrade the local roads network. It is an outstanding example of a partnership between the national and local government to provide direct funding to local communities.
- Data and asset management
- Roads are by far local government's biggest asset. Local roads comprise 85% by length of Australia' total road network and have an estimated value of about $75bn. It is thus vital that local government maintain, and where appropriate upgrade, the local road system to the best extent possible given its very scarce resources.
- Austroads
- Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. ALGA is a member of Austroads and has a formal partnership agreement and associated action plan with Austroads and the Institute of Public Works Engineers.
- Sustainable transport
- Making transport sustainable involves managing the pressures of a range of economic, social and environmental factors which can be both complementary and conflicting. In regional and rural areas, 'distance' is the key sustainability issue. In contrast, in cities, 'density' causes problems of congestion, noise and pollution.
- Road saftey
- The pressure on our roads - and on safety - is dramatically accelerating. To manage this challenge, local government is a key partner in the efficient and effective planning, funding and delivery of road safety services, such as council-based Road Safety Officer programs.
- Heavy vehicles
- Australia is facing massive growth in demand for freight transport services, with the total freight task estimated to almost double by 2020. About 75% of all freight is carried by road - with over 90% in urban areas. It is thus no surprise that heavy vehicles are attracting increasing attention in local communities and causing mixed reactions.
- Transport security
- Transport security in Australia is co-ordinated through the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on Surface Transport Security and associated aviation and maritime security initiatives. Primary engagement will be through state and NT local government associations and with any directly affected councils keeping ALGA informed at the strategic level.
- Aviation
- The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services released its Making ends meet report in December 2003. The report provides powerful arguments for better resourcing and federal assistance for local government owned regional airports and acknowledges many of the points made in ALGA's submission to the inquiry. Further, while local government does not own or operate rail services, they can have a significant effect on some local communities.
- Rail
- While local government does not own or operate rail services, they can have a significant effect on some local communities.
- Contacts/RTAC
- Details of the main contacts for roads and transport matters, including a copy of the terms of reference for the ALGA Roads and Transport Advisory Committee (RTAC).
- National Local Roads and Transport Congress
- Since its inception in 2000, the Congress has played a central role in bringing local government together to help shape and define the case for better funding for and management of the 680,000km of road that constitutes the nation's local road network - this amounts to a local infrastructure asset currently worth billions.
