LGA conference served its purpose

By Lilia Guan
 
Local Government Association (LGA) of NSW president, Keith Rhoades, said the association's annual conference, held in Albury this week, helped shape the future of local government.
 
Cr Rhoades told Government News the conference provided a platform for councils to identify and discuss issues faced by their communities.
 
However, not all those who attended the conference were pleased with the behaviour of some delegates.
 
New South Wales Minister for Roads and Western Sydney, David Borger, told Government News he had plenty of respect for the role of local government, having spent thirteen years on Parramatta City Council.
 
“The turnout for these conferences seems to have declined in recent years and this year the poor behaviour by a few councillors has reflected unfairly on the whole group,” he said.
 
During the conference Minister Borger spoke about a number of topics such as roads funding and public housing and fielded many questions from the floor including issues such as population growth.
 
Cr Rhoades said the Conference also served a number of other purposes – including voting for leadership and future advocacy, as well as setting the association’s policy for the next 12 months.
 
“As it’s an election year, many of the delegates were required outside the main room at various times to place their votes for their new representatives – the LGA President, Vice President and Executive,” he said.
 
Cr Rhoades said the voting process, conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission, took place in a separate building over a two-day period. Delegates then had to transfer from one building to another.
 
“Delegates were also given the task of focusing on a complex modernising agenda based around three critical themes – finance, community wellbeing and the natural and built environment,” he said.
 
“There were a considerable number of motions debated and passed that will have positive outcomes for councils and their communities.
 
“This includes support for a review of the NSW strategic and statutory land use planning system, improving financing to and from local government and motions relating to sustainable population, and collaboration on community services and social justice.”
 
The Minister for Primary Industries, Emergency Services, Rural Affairs, Steve Whan believed the event was a great opportunity for dialogue between the State Government and local governments, which councillors are always keen for.
 
“The conference is certainly useful for the local government councillors who turn up to hear State Government ministers,” he said.
 
“Personally I found the overall mood to be very enthusiastic, with robust discussions and people really engaged with the issues.”
 
Cr Rhoades said the LGA reviewed and updated the conference each year based on feedback and relevance to delegates.

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