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Mayors told: spend $300m now
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Phillip Hudson
November 18, 2008 - 1:26PM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mayors-told-spend-300m-now/2008/11/18/1226770421633.html?page=2
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Councils and Shires will receive a minimum of $100,000 each to repair swimming pools or community centres or upgrade libraries, bus shelters and tourism facilities under the next phase of the Federal Government's spending spree to prevent a recession.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, today said he hoped the $300 million plan would create thousands of jobs for tradespeople and engineers as he urged councils to spend the money "immediately".
In a speech to the first meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government in Canberra, Mr Rudd said Australia's 565 councils would all get a share of the cash as he promised "a new partnership" between Canberra and the councils.
A fund of $250 million is to be split between the councils and the money must be spent by September 30 next year.
Councils with fewer than 5000 people would get $100,000 to spend while those with more than 30,000 residents in areas of high growth would get an extra $300,000. Some councils could receive as much as $2.9 million.
"We expect this funding to be allocated to new initiatives to repair and build community facilities - initiatives that are over and above those that are already planned for and budgeted for. These initiatives might include upgrades to local sporting grounds, refurbishing a local community centre, or a local swimming pool, upgrading a streetscape, building a tourism information centre or building or repairing an indoor sports centre," Mr Rudd said.
Councils have been asked to submit proposals that "are ready to go", he said.
The Local Government Minister, Anthony Albanese, said projects that would be eligible for federal money could include social and cultural infrastructure such as town halls, community centres, libraries, parks, public squares; sport and recreation facilities such as sporting grounds, stadiums, pools, walking tracks and playgrounds; tourism infrastructure such as walkways and tourist information centres; and other facilities such as footbridges, bus shelters, jetties and boat ramps.
A second fund worth $50 million would allow councils to bid for up to $2 million in federal money for larger-scale community projects such as building a new sports stadium, entertainment precinct or cultural centre.
"We'll be asking local government to implement a speedy roll-out of infrastructure investment to deliver both immediate economic benefits and long term community benefits," Mr Rudd said.
"This funding is the next phase of the economic stimulus strategy for the nation, but it is only the beginning. The purpose of this action is to build local infrastructure and to help support local economies and jobs during the global financial crisis."
Mr Rudd said he expected the $300 million spending plan would "create thousands of jobs for tradespeople, for engineers, for administrators who are in charge of rolling out new infrastructure or repairing existing infrastructure".
He urged councils to lodge their applications and said there would be no delay from Canberra.
"By immediate, I mean immediate. Immediate means now. It's ready to go now," he said.
Mr Rudd, who has just returned to Australia from Washington where he attended the G20 meeting, said stimulating local economies was just as important as boosting the global economy.
"Just as the G-20 meeting was critical to the future of the global economy, today's meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government is also important to our national economy. You cannot have a strong Australian economy without a healthy global economy. Equally, you can't have a strong national economy if you don't have strong local economies."
Mr Rudd also announced the Government would spend $8 million to fund a new centre for excellence for local government at a university. He said this would "showcase innovation and best practice across local government and encourage the wider adoption of innovative practices and solutions" for all 565 local authorities.
"This funding will also contribute to the development of specialist local government leadership programs that will enhance the profile of the sector and contribute to its capability through its workforce," he said.
Mr Rudd also said he hoped today's meeting of local government representatives would help the Federal Government find the right wording for its promise to include local government in the constitution.
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Whilst not directly Manly related i can see that this financial crisis might make it easier to obtain a Government grant or an even larger amount from council if the government is so ready a willing to prop up the ecconomy especially considering the emphasis on infnastructure.
Heres hoping the local councill gets a few extra to spend & that Rudd puts a few into Brookie. But only one thing stand in its way, were only the other side of the bridge and that means were a liberal dominated area. F***ING politics!! read this for an interesting read to what chances we have http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-split-bridge-that-divides-sydney/2008/11/14/1226318927525.html
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Phillip Hudson
November 18, 2008 - 1:26PM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mayors-told-spend-300m-now/2008/11/18/1226770421633.html?page=2
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Advertisement
Councils and Shires will receive a minimum of $100,000 each to repair swimming pools or community centres or upgrade libraries, bus shelters and tourism facilities under the next phase of the Federal Government's spending spree to prevent a recession.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, today said he hoped the $300 million plan would create thousands of jobs for tradespeople and engineers as he urged councils to spend the money "immediately".
In a speech to the first meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government in Canberra, Mr Rudd said Australia's 565 councils would all get a share of the cash as he promised "a new partnership" between Canberra and the councils.
A fund of $250 million is to be split between the councils and the money must be spent by September 30 next year.
Councils with fewer than 5000 people would get $100,000 to spend while those with more than 30,000 residents in areas of high growth would get an extra $300,000. Some councils could receive as much as $2.9 million.
"We expect this funding to be allocated to new initiatives to repair and build community facilities - initiatives that are over and above those that are already planned for and budgeted for. These initiatives might include upgrades to local sporting grounds, refurbishing a local community centre, or a local swimming pool, upgrading a streetscape, building a tourism information centre or building or repairing an indoor sports centre," Mr Rudd said.
Councils have been asked to submit proposals that "are ready to go", he said.
The Local Government Minister, Anthony Albanese, said projects that would be eligible for federal money could include social and cultural infrastructure such as town halls, community centres, libraries, parks, public squares; sport and recreation facilities such as sporting grounds, stadiums, pools, walking tracks and playgrounds; tourism infrastructure such as walkways and tourist information centres; and other facilities such as footbridges, bus shelters, jetties and boat ramps.
A second fund worth $50 million would allow councils to bid for up to $2 million in federal money for larger-scale community projects such as building a new sports stadium, entertainment precinct or cultural centre.
"We'll be asking local government to implement a speedy roll-out of infrastructure investment to deliver both immediate economic benefits and long term community benefits," Mr Rudd said.
"This funding is the next phase of the economic stimulus strategy for the nation, but it is only the beginning. The purpose of this action is to build local infrastructure and to help support local economies and jobs during the global financial crisis."
Mr Rudd said he expected the $300 million spending plan would "create thousands of jobs for tradespeople, for engineers, for administrators who are in charge of rolling out new infrastructure or repairing existing infrastructure".
He urged councils to lodge their applications and said there would be no delay from Canberra.
"By immediate, I mean immediate. Immediate means now. It's ready to go now," he said.
Mr Rudd, who has just returned to Australia from Washington where he attended the G20 meeting, said stimulating local economies was just as important as boosting the global economy.
"Just as the G-20 meeting was critical to the future of the global economy, today's meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government is also important to our national economy. You cannot have a strong Australian economy without a healthy global economy. Equally, you can't have a strong national economy if you don't have strong local economies."
Mr Rudd also announced the Government would spend $8 million to fund a new centre for excellence for local government at a university. He said this would "showcase innovation and best practice across local government and encourage the wider adoption of innovative practices and solutions" for all 565 local authorities.
"This funding will also contribute to the development of specialist local government leadership programs that will enhance the profile of the sector and contribute to its capability through its workforce," he said.
Mr Rudd also said he hoped today's meeting of local government representatives would help the Federal Government find the right wording for its promise to include local government in the constitution.
******************************************************************************
Whilst not directly Manly related i can see that this financial crisis might make it easier to obtain a Government grant or an even larger amount from council if the government is so ready a willing to prop up the ecconomy especially considering the emphasis on infnastructure.
Heres hoping the local councill gets a few extra to spend & that Rudd puts a few into Brookie. But only one thing stand in its way, were only the other side of the bridge and that means were a liberal dominated area. F***ING politics!! read this for an interesting read to what chances we have http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-split-bridge-that-divides-sydney/2008/11/14/1226318927525.html
