By Staff Writer

The Federal Government has released the guidelines and operating arrangements for the $25 million Local Government Reform Fund.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, announced the plans at the Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council in Darwin last Friday.

Albanese said it was the first time in more than a decade that the federal government was working with local, state and territory government to improve infrastructure asset management and capacity building in local government service delivery.

States and territories have until November 30, 2009 to submit initial project proposals, which will need to be developed in partnership with local government associations.

Albanese said projects likely to receive funding are in the areas of asset and financial management, workforce planning, adapting to demographic change, climate change adaptation and increasing capacity and resilience of the sector.

The newly established Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) will support reform projects with technical assistance and resources.

The Local Government Reform Fund was announced at the second meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government in June.

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