21 August 2020

I’m so proud that our advocacy on issues prioritised by you, on behalf of your communities, has resulted in an unprecedented amount of Federal and State government funding and support on the back of COVID-19, bushfires, floods and prolonged drought. However, there is still much work to be done if we are to succeed in our campaign for a locally led recovery.

The LGNSW Board has now considered the key advocacy asks we will put to the State government in the LGNSW pre-budget submission, on your behalf. As a partner in the economic stewardship of NSW, we have called for local government to be constructively engaged in the fiscal conversation that will inform budgetary decisions and tax reform. For further information, email Shaun McBride, Chief Economist or call 02 9242 4072.

Many of you have also expressed concerns about the prospect of a universal postal voting system being mandated for the 2021 local government elections. By way of response, I am making representations to Premier Berejiklian, on your behalf, to secure continued voter choice (including attendance voting, pre-poll and postal voting) in the interests of protecting our local democracy.

I will also be seeking assurances that any increase in costs (beyond the rate cap imposed on councils) would be funded by the NSW Government. For further information, email Damian Thomas, Strategy Manager - Social and Community.

Advocacy Wins! This week:

• Following LGNSW’s representations, the Department of Planning Industry and Environment has updated the Public Spaces Legacy Program guidelines to clarify assessment timeframe ambiguities. This adjustment will mean councils are no longer disadvantaged in situations they have no control over, such as when they are waiting on an applicant or state agency to respond to aspects of a development application. We thank the department for listening and responding. For councils ineligible for this program, we will continue to advocate for future funding rounds on your behalf. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Partridge.

• Congratulations to the 41 councils recently awarded grant funding under the Streets as Shared Spaces Program. Projects under the $15 million program include new paths, connections and cycleways, re-imagining lanes and car parks as public space, calming traffic and creating semi-permanent art including murals and lighting. For more information, email Jane Partridge Strategy Manager, Planning and Transport.

• We welcomed the government’s report on the statutory review of the Boarding Houses Act 2012 and the proposal to replace it with a new Shared Accommodation Act. The report's recommendations align with what LGNSW sought in our submission to the review, to ease the regulatory burden on councils, simplify enforcement, enable data sharing and protect the rights and safety of those living in boarding houses. For more information, email Damian Thomas, LGNSW Strategy Manager.

• We congratulate the NSW Government for extending the COVID-19 relief funding to the end of Term 4 for community preschool services which are Start Strong funded and for mobile preschools on contracts. Those council-run preschools eligible to opt-in to relief funding will be contacted directly by the Department of Education. For more information, email Elizabeth Robertson, Senior Policy Officer.

Help amplify our advocacy work
Well done Forbes, Narromine, Singleton and Willoughby City who resolved the motion in support of the campaign calling on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to ensure local government is represented on National Cabinet. Refer to the Advocacy Kit to help ensure our message is heard. Please email Kelly Kwan, Executive Manager, Advocacy to let us know when your council has moved this motion!

Professional opportunity
LGNSW is seeking Councillor nominations for the Transport for NSW Road Freight Industry Council (refer news Item). I encourage Councillors with knowledge and experience in the area of roads and road freight to send nominations to Sanjiv Sathiah, Senior Policy Officer Roads and Transport or call 02 9242 4073.

Congratulations!
Kudos to the councillors who recently completed the LGNSW/UTS Executive Certificate for Elected Members program: Councillor Bruce Reynolds, Blayney Shire Council; Councillor Dai Le, Councillor Sera Yilmaz, and Councillor Adrian Wong of Fairfield City Council; Councillor Mick Marr, Hornsby Shire Council; Councillor Peter Kelly, Ku-ring-gai Council; Councillor Andrew Zbik, Lane Cove Municipal Council; Councillor Vanessa Keenan, Wagga Wagga City Council and Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz of Inner West Council. Members can contact [email protected] or Vanessa Bourke, Manager of LGNSW Learning on (02) 9242 4004 for further information about enrolling in this accredited four-day course. 

Reminder
Applications are now open for the LGNSW & StateCover Workplace Culture Award and close 5pm, Monday 12 October 2020.

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