Federal funding is vital for our community and we’re joining Councils across Australia in calling for a greater commitment to increased funding for local government in this year’s federal election.

We’re getting behind the Australian Local Government Association’s ‘Put Our Communities First’ campaign that has a goal of securing more federal funds to help local governments deliver national priorities. 

We’re supporting five national funding priorities. These include $1.1 billion per year for enabling infrastructure to unlock housing supply, $500 million per year for community infrastructure, $600 million per year for safer local roads, $900 million per year for increased local government emergency management capability, and $400 million per year for climate change adaptation.

This would provide an opportunity for us to secure funds for key projects that are important not only for the growth and prosperity of the Central Coast, but also for the nation. 

Late last year, Council developed a wish list of key enabling projects that, if funded, will support new homes, create more jobs, strengthen our environment and help us to better respond to natural disasters. These projects are essential as we grow by nearly 14 per cent over the next 20 years, and guaranteed commitment of federal funds will help our wish list to become a reality. 

I thank Councillors for their leadership in supporting this important initiative. To learn more about the campaign visit www.putourcommunitiesfirst.com.au.

Mayor Lawrie McKinna