Local Government

WESTERN SYDNEY TO TELL LABOR HOW TO IMPROVE LOCAL COUNCIL SERVICES

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson and Shadow Local Government Minister, Sophie Cotsis will hit the streets in Western Sydney today to listen to local ratepayers, pensioners and community groups about improving council services.

Ms Cotsis said while the NSW Government was hosting a conference in Dubbo for councillors and council managers, she and Mr Robertson would be listening to what local ratepayers had to say.

"Local ratepayers expect councils to focus on essential services like garbage collection, road maintenance and child care," Ms Cotsis said.

"The NSW State Government should be looking at ways to help councils improve the quality of these services in the here and now.

"It's good to hear ideas from councillors and managers – but local ratepayers should also have a say.

"Today we will be visiting Western Sydney to listen to local residents, pensioners and community groups.

"We want to listen to the local community's issues and concerns."

Ms Cotsis said the visit today was part of an ongoing tour of local communities in metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

"Labor wants to work with local communities to improve local services," Ms Cotsis said.

"Over the past month, I've been visiting local councils and speaking with ratepayers and frontline council workers - as well as elected representatives and council managers.

"So far, I've been hearing about the good work many local councils do in delivering essential services and getting lots of ideas about where there is room for improvement."

Over the past month, Ms Cotsis has visited councils and communities in Maitland, Taree, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Clarence Valley, Canterbury, Marrickville and Rockdale.

Today, Ms Cotsis will visit Blacktown and Penrith Local Government Areas, before heading to Holroyd tomorrow.

MEDIA RELEASE

Sophie Cotsis MLC, Shadow Minister for Local Government

Mick Veitch MLC, Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Affairs

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR DON PAGE –

GOVERNMENT MUST REVEAL OUTCOMES OF CLOSED-DOOR CONFERENCE

NSW Local Government Minister Don Page must tell ratepayers exactly what outcomes were achieved at this week's closed-door conference in Dubbo with mayors and council managers.

Speaking on ABC Local Radio earlier today, Mr Page said of the conference:

"Obviously there will be a lot of initiatives in the Budget… there are things that we are trying to do for local government.”

(Deborah Cameron show, 8.33am)

He also told Radio 2GB:

"We’re trying to map out a sustainable future for local government … the model we have at the moment really is just not working.”

(Alan Jones show, 7.48am)

Shadow Minister for Local Government Sophie Cotsis and Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Affairs Mick Veitch said Mr Page must explain to ratepayers:

1. Just how dire are council finances, especially in rural and regional NSW?

2. Which councils are worst affected?

3. What impact will this have on essential council services?

4. What action is the Government taking to improve council services?

5. Exactly how much extra money will be in the budget for councils?

Ms Cotsis – who has spent the past two days meeting ratepayers in Western Sydney - said Mr Page must release a report and all document from the conference and detail exactly what extra funding would go to councils.

"Don Page must put his money where his mouth is," said Ms Cotsis.

"He should release a report detailing exactly what resolutions were reached at his closed-door conference.

"Don Page also ought to tell councils exactly how much extra money he'll be stumping up.

"Don Page must also release all documents from the conference and make them available to all councillors who weren’t invited – as well as to the community as a whole."

Mr Veitch said Mr Page had to come clean about the financial state of councils in Country NSW.

"Local councils are the lifeblood of rural communities,” he said.

"If the Minister thinks the current model isn't working, then he needs to tell Country NSW exactly what's going wrong.

"He must detail what he's doing about the problem and reveal exactly what funds he will commit to fix it."

Ms Cotsis visited Blacktown and Penrith Local Government areas yesterday to speak to ratepayers about improving council services and is in Holroyd and Parramatta today.

Over the past month, she has also visited councils and ratepayers in Maitland, Taree, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Clarence Valley, Canterbury, Marrickville and Rockdale.