Country Local Government Fund to report on clearing backlog, Grylls
Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 22-August-2011
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls wants the first Royalties for Regions initiative - the Country Local Government Fund (CLGF) - assessed to ensure community projects are being delivered effectively.
By 2014-15 the CLGF will have invested more than $552million through 109 local governments to renew and create community infrastructure.
Mr Grylls said the CLGF was created to address and estimated $1.75billion backlog identified in 2006 and he wanted feedback on its progress.
“I have asked the Western Australian Regional Development Trust to consult with relevant stakeholders and conduct meetings with country local governments, industry bodies and government departments and provide me with feedback by early next year,” he said.
“This program is in its fourth year of operation and it is an appropriate time for it to be assessed in an independent, evidence-based manner.”
The CLGF is one of three subsidiary accounts of the Royalties for Regions Fund established under the Royalties for Regions Act 2009 and assists country local governments to support capacity building and build and maintain their community infrastructure.
“I expect the trust to advise me on the continuing need of the CLGF and future budget parameters,” the Minister said.
The trust would be asked to advise on the formula used to allocate the funding and the split of funding between individual councils and regional groupings.
It would also be asked examine ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the CLGF implementation and would soon release an issues paper for public comment.
Mr Grylls said the trust was an independent statutory body established under the Royalties for Regions Act 2009 that provided advice and recommendations on the allocation and management of all Royalties for Regions funding.
Its terms of reference are published on the trust’s page on the Department of Regional Development and Land’s website http://www.rdl.wa.gov.au
