Funding local government reform in the Northern Territory

Funding local government reform in the Northern Territory

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport,

Regional Development and Local Government

Leader of the House

Member for Grayndler

February 28 2010

The Rudd Labor Government will provide up to $1.35 million to support local government reform in the Northern Territory.

We will provide this funding to support an infrastructure asset management and financial planning framework in the Territory’s shires and municipal councils

This will increase local governments’ capacity to plan their finances and better manage important assets such as roads, bridges and community buildings.

Both the Northern Territory Government and the Local Government Association of Northern Territory will work with the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australia to deliver this project.

They will deliver training for elected councillors and staff and provide the tools and resources necessary to plan for infrastructure provision, set levels of service to communities and measure and monitor performance in councils.

We will deliver funding for these projects through our $25 million Local Government Reform Fund.

This Fund, which is part of the Government’s new partnership with local government, is aimed at fast-tracking improvements to local government infrastructure asset and financial management and encourages cooperation between councils.

We are also delivering record funding to local governments through the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The Rudd Labor Government is working with local and state governments to improve infrastructure and services in local communities across the nation.

States and Territories have submitted proposals in partnership with local government associations.