The Future of Local Government Review Options Paper, released today, comprises options for reform and ushers in the next stage – community consultation on possible options.
Local Government is a critical level of government for communities. It is the grassroots opportunity for residents to shape the place they live.
There is, and should be, an increasing shift in local government focus from simply delivering services to also delivering for people. The community must come before developers and moneyed interests.
Things can be improved in local government service delivery, and the Options Paper provides a range of ways to do this. The Review proposes three pathways for structural reform – mandated sharing and consolidation of services across the state or regions, amalgamation into fewer councils, or a hybrid mix of these two.
The Greens support genuine and accessible community consultation. This is essential to determining any possible changes to the structure and regulatory systems governing local council business.
Any local government reform must enhance and respect the differing characters within regional and urban communities, and have broad community buy-in.
