The Rudd Labor Government will provide $2.3 million to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of local governments in Western Australia.

The funding will be provided through our $25 million Local Government Reform Fund and will support the regional and collaborative transition groups established by the Western Australian Government, to better plan and serve local communities.

This will fund two projects to support collaboration on a regional basis and to improve the planning, management and delivery of infrastructure, assets and services to local communities across Western Australia.

Of this funding, $1.6 million will be used to implement asset and financial management systems within local government and to improve the knowledge and skills of council staff in managing the communities’ infrastructure and finances.

This funding will help councils to meet nationally agreed principles for asset and financial management.

The remaining $670,000 will go towards developing long-term strategic planning in up to 50 councils so that they are able to assess and implement community needs.

The Western Australian Government is providing more than $2.4 million towards these projects, bringing the total value to $4.8 million.

Already, the Rudd Labor Government is delivering record funding to local governments for infrastructure projects through the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The Local Government Reform Fund is part of our partnership with local government and is aimed at fast tracking improvements to local government infrastructure asset and financial management and encourages collaboration between councils.

Funding will be provided to all states and territories under a National Partnership Agreement which is currently being negotiated.