Modernising Local Government
Since June 2009, the Associations have been gently raising questions within the NSW Local Government sector about how we might organise Local Government to deal with the challenges of the coming 20 years.
There have been questions at the 2009 Shires Conference, an open-mic session at the 2009 Local Government Association Conference, discussions at Shires Division meetings and debates at metro ROC meetings.
Basically the question is: Are there better models for councils as we move into the second and third decades of the 21st Century?
In April 2010 the Associations released the 
Modernising Local Government: Discussion Paper (1.48MB) to push the dialogue along further. It posed a series of questions that we wanted serious and considered feedback on.
These questions ranged across a wide field - simply because the challenges facing NSW Local Government, and the barriers to meeting those challenges, are many.
We asked what reforms would help NSW Local Government to remain democratic? What reforms are needed for NSW Local Government to maintain local long-term environmental sustainability, social justice and economic viability? What reforms are needed to help with financial viability.
We tackled the question of whether the three spheres of government can agree about mutually agreed functions for the coming two decades. We also asked what reforms are needed for there to be mature intergovernmental relations amongst the three spheres of government in Australia.
We revisited the question about how to form functioning cohesive geographic units.
Finally we asked what reforms are needed to maintain flexible and just industrial system.
We encouraged councils to attend focus groups to discuss the questions in the paper; and make submissions in response to the paper.
We ran a program of Modernising Local Government focus groups from August to November 2010.
Groups were held in Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill, Blacktown, Lake Macquarie, Dubbo, Inverell, Queanbeyan, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Nowra. There were 17 groups involving 175 representatives from 62 councils, 2 ROCs, 5 peak bodies and DLG.
Written submissions were received from 10 Local Government Association member councils; 8 Shires Association member councils; 2 metropolitan ROCS, 1 rural Strategic Alliance; and 1 insurance pool.
After analysing the feedback from the focus groups and the submissions, the Associations have prepared and released the Modernising Local Government: Consultation Report (2.65MB).
The Associations Executives will consider this report and determine our next steps by July 2011.
Contact
Noel Baum, Director Policy
Local Government and Shires Associations
28 Margaret St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Noel.baum@lgsa.org.au
