State Budget 2024-25

Prior to the budget being handed down, LGA South Australia outlined our 14 key priorities to be addressed focusing on economic prosperity, resilient communities and healthy environments.

While some have received support from the State Government, others require further ongoing advocacy to secure funding.

In this budget we are pleased to see the government’s commitment to finalise a State-Local Government Economic Partnership Accord to grow economic opportunities across the state.

We will engage members on this as we work with the Office for Local Government and Department for Premier and Cabinet on the details.

Health

The biggest budget spend will be on health, with $2.5 billion to be spent over five years to address ongoing ramping and emergency department issues.

We welcome $24 million of funding for three new ambulance stations to be built at Marion, Whyalla – replacing the existing facilities – and Two Wells.

Our hospitals, particularly in regional areas, are critical for the wellbeing and liveability of towns and our health care system still faces significant challenges that need addressing through state funding.

This includes support for attracting and retaining GPs and allied health workers, who care for patients arriving by ambulance to emergency rooms.

$11.5 million to support the Port Pirie Emergency Department upgrade and provide for a multi profession simulated training and development service will support Mid North communities.

We also support the $5 million being invested into creating new programs to improve mental health services for young people, along with the continued funding of the Public Health Partnership Agreement between LGA and Preventive Health SA.

LGA hopes to learn more about the allocation of these funds, particularly whether increased mental health services will be available to people in the regions.

Cost of living

A total of $266.2 million has been committed for a range of cost of living measures.

This includes $51.5 million for a one-off $243.90 payment to be given to people who received the cost of living concession payment in 2023-24.

$35.8 million over three years will also be spent upgrading insulation and inefficient appliances for tenants in public and community housing, with the Federal Government footing half of this cost.

These concessions are pitted against government fees and charges rising by around 3 percent, with Metrocard single fares for public transport increasing to $4.40.

Health Care Card holders, however, will save up to $2.25 per trip following $10.6 million being committed over the next four years to offset fees for around 15,000 people using these cards.

Emergency Services Levy fees for median-value residential properties are also expected to increase by around $6.55 to $157.85 next financial year.

LGA and councils have conducted ongoing campaigns and advocacy to restore annual CPI increases for public libraries, however this has still not occurred.

Housing

The budget builds on the State Government’s commitment to address South Australia’s housing crisis and increase housing availability through a $843.6 million housing package.

Stamp duty exemptions will no longer be tied to value of a property, with first home buyers who build or buy new homes now excluded from paying fees.

LGA has been supportive of measures to increase housing stock supply in both regional and metro areas and we welcome the $576 million commitment to build 2,000 new homes in Seaton and Noarlunga Downs.

It’s crucial the State Government consider the local advice and expertise of both City of Charles Sturt and City of Onkaparinga when developing these areas to deliver sustainable results that reflect the character of these suburbs.

LGA’s advocacy led to the creation of the Office for Regional Housing and since its creation we have pushed for increased funds.

We welcome the government’s $30 million commitment over three years to boost housing in regional SA, which includes at least $10 million in 2024-25 for the Regional Housing Initiatives Program.

We look forward to the ongoing partnership and engagement between local government, Renewal SA and the Office for Regional Housing to deliver regional housing initiatives.

Roads

Funding for roads is essential to productivity and safety, and it is positive to see a commitment from the transport department to complete the business case for the High Productivity Vehicle Network, incorporating the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass.

We will be working proactively with the government to advocate for the sector’s views in this business case alongside other freight and transport studies.

There continues to be shortfalls in funding for road safety and repair in regional South Australia and it is unfortunate greater road spending has been overlooked in the budget .

The $20 million over four years for planning transport improvements in the Riverland – to improve network resilience following the River Murray flood event – is only a small slice of the total $500+ million allocated to road, transport and road safety improvements in this budget.

Other commitments include:

• $150 million to upgrade the Mount Barker and Verdun interchanges
• $10 million to extend the Seaford and Gawler rail lines to support population growth in these areas.
• $200 million over three years to manage motorway on the South Eastern Freeway to improve safety and traffic flow.
• $31.8 million for construction of three overtaking lanes on Main South Road between Normanville and Cape Jervis.

In addition, $35 million has been committed over three years to deliver extra road safety maintenance, including road resurfacing – this will be split between regional and metro SA but is only applicable to the State Government network.

LGA will continue to advocate for the State Government to invest in a five-year program to assess and improve regional road safety and management across the state.

Infrastructure

Announced earlier this week, the government has committed $5 million per year ongoing for coastal councils leasing state-owned jetties to support maintenance and repairs.

This is a positive first step in ongoing discussions with the State Government and the direct result of advocacy by the LGA both through sustained media campaigns and behind closed door discussions.

We’ve been clear that due to the scale of works needed across many South Australian jetties, stretching into the tens of millions of dollars, federal assistance will also likely be required to reach a sustainable, long-term solution.

We will continue working with the state department to review the terms of leases and Jetty Renewal Program guidelines to get a better deal for councils.

Environment

LGA has fought strongly for greater protection of South Australia’s tree canopies and significant trees and we’re pleased many of our recommendations have been enacted.

Announced last month, new laws will bring stricter requirements on tree pruning, changes to the classification of significant and regulated trees, and greater fees for removing trees on public and private land.

LGA remains committed to pushing for undergrounding of powerlines to reduce conflict with tree canopies and help meet Urban Green Strategy targets.

Approximately $80 million has been committed to a range of environment initiatives, including River Murray operations, Coorong wetlands and sand replenishment at West Beach.

We will be seeking to learn whether these additional funds will come from regional landscapes boards (sourced in turn from the Landscapes Levies collected by councils).

In the coming year, climate change amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1993 will be introduced alongside changes to modernise the Container Deposit Scheme.

To support the state’s transition to a circular economy, a review of the Environmental Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy will be reviewed, with the release of a discussion paper for consultation. We expect to play a key role in these review processes.

The government will continue to rollout single-use plastics regulations in the coming year.

There does not appear to be any new money to support construction or maintenance of stormwater infrastructure.

Skills

$2.3 billion in total investment over five years in skills and training will provide for jobs of the future.

LGA has already partnered with the State Government on education initiatives such as the Grow Your Own Workforce program and will seek more details about how this funding, including support for the regions, will be spent across the state and how councils may be involved.

In the coming weeks we aim to learn more about whether the local government sector can access these training funds.

We will keep you updated on budget measures as we gather more information regarding initiatives impacting the local government sector.

For more information about budget measures: www.statebudget.sa.gov.au