Local councils call for funding to rebuild public spaces

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils, wants $500 million per year in ongoing funding, indexed annually, made available to councils through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

Permanent funding could be used to upgrade local playgrounds, community centres, libraries, sporting grounds and bike paths, ALGA president, councillor Linda Scott said.

Regional councils had $9.2 billion worth of government buildings and community facilities in poor condition, a 2021 report from ALGA and the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia (IPWEA) found.

"Our communities depend on a vast network of infrastructure assets, managed by local councils. We often take this infrastructure for granted until something fails," IPWEA president Myles Lind said.

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"When infrastructure assets are nearing the end of life, councils must be able to renew and replace these assets, before they fail, whilst still planning for future improvements," he said.

Making the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program permanent would be an investment in Australia's future productivity, councillor Scott said.

"The recent upgrade of Gunnedah Aerodrome - funded in part through the LRCI program - is a fantastic example of how this program is supporting local economic growth, and making our cities, towns and regions more attractive places to live, invest and visit," she said.