APPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS WORTH MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO CLOSE TOMORROW
March 05, 2009
The President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Cr Geoff Lake, today urged councils to ensure they met the deadline of 4.00pm AESDT on Friday 6 March for submitting applications for community infrastructure projects under the Rudd Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program - Strategic Projects.
"Councils have until 4pm on Friday to submit new or revised applications for the $550 million in funding available as part of the Government's $42 billion National Building and Jobs Plan", said Cr Lake. Councils that have previously submitted projects should also confirm those projects with the Federal Infrastructure Department.
"With funding contributed by councils, infrastructure projects worth more than $1 billion will soon be underway in local communities across Australia.
"Such a significant investment in local communities, in addition to the $250 million of funding previously announced by the Government in November, will make a real difference to local communities by supporting local jobs and improving local community infrastructure."
Given the short application period and to ensure that applications submitted by councils have the best possible design and planning content, ALGA partnered with the Australian Institute of Architects to provide councils with access to experienced architects on a pro bono basis.
"Good design does not need to be thrown out of the window when spending money quickly is the priority", Cr Lake said. "Smaller rural councils in a number of states have taken advantage of the opportunity to discuss their applications with an architect prior to submission."
ALGA has advocated for additional Federal Government funding for community infrastructure since a PricewaterhouseCoopers report into local government financial sustainability, commissioned by ALGA in 2006, highlighted an investment backlog of at least $14.5 billion in local infrastructure spending.
- Contact
- Cr Geoff Lake, ALGA President - 0411 645 281
