Local councils set advocacy direction at May Ordinary General Meeting

LGA CEO Clinton Jury said the event showcased the power of member-driven policy setting and underlined the importance of local government as an important voice for communities right across the state.

“Local government is at the frontline of community needs – whether it’s the housing crisis, infrastructure pressure or broader service delivery,” Mr Jury said.

“The motions supported today will help shape our agenda as we advocate strongly and work with both state and federal governments.

“In addition to today’s formal items of business, we also heard from regional Mayors who are facing unprecedented challenges with ongoing drought conditions.

“We also held an important discussion on financial sustainability, which will support our work to advocate for increases in the funding pool for South Australian councils and improve the equity and efficiency of Financial Assistance Grant distribution”.

New policy directions supported by members

All six items of business put forward by councils were endorsed by the membership. These included:

• First home buyers stamp duty exemptions: Advocacy to extend stamp duty exemptions to the purchase of existing home purchases in SA, making home ownership more accessible.
• Electoral fairness: Advocacy to prevent costs being imposed on councils when errors or omissions are made by the Electoral Commission SA.
• Managing delivery of approved development: Calls for tighter planning rules to require vendors to confirm new properties have been delivered in line with approvals, with full documentation handed to buyers.
• Jetty repairs and maintenance: A renewed push for state government to take responsibility for state-owned jetties and fund urgent regional infrastructure.
• Research and advocacy for community centres: Research and advocacy to ensure every community centre in SA receives stable, long-term funding, consistent with other states.

Financial sustainability in local government

The conference included an important workshop on financial sustainability – an issue which continues to challenge many councils, particularly in regional South Australia.

Led by SGS Economics, the workshop centred on the structure and equity of Financial Assistance Grants, recognising the rising cost of delivering essential services is being felt differently across the state. For smaller, geographically large councils, the pressure is greater as they maintain roads, services and infrastructure with limited rate bases and constrained revenue tools.

The session raised important considerations about how funding is currently distributed, what reform could look like and how the system could be more responsive to different council contexts.

This will help LGA progress its commissioned research, developing options to improve equity in the distribution model – an issue we know is urgent, particularly for regional councils facing sustained financial pressure.

Drought hardship front and centre

A key topic of discussion of the OGM was the severe impact of drought on South Australian farming communities. Delegates are all too aware of the pressures being faced by farming families, small businesses, livestock and communities as dry conditions continue to worsen.

LGA voiced its support for regional leaders including Coorong District Council Mayor Paul Simmons and Naracoorte Lucindale Council Mayor Patrick Ross, who have been vocal in calling for urgent relief.

“These communities are the backbone of South Australia – and they are hurting,” Mr Jury said.

“We need the State Government to step up with further immediate and meaningful support.

“We’re grateful for what the State Government have already committed, but more is desperately needed – the impact on producers and regional economies is already far too great.”

Empowering councils to build liveable communities

Under the theme Building Liveable Communities, this year’s conference focused on the leadership role of councils in shaping resilient, liveable and future-ready places.

Throughout the event, delegates heard from expert keynote speakers and participated in sessions on leadership, future work, AI and community-building.

“From the pivotal role local government leaders playing in shaping communities to the evolving landscape of society and the environment, elected members are drivers of change – and uniquely positioned to make lasting change in communities,” Mr Jury said.

“We’re proud to stand alongside members, supporting them to lead and deliver for their communities.”

Find out more

Discover more about the work of LGA: www.lga.sa.gov.au/about/what-we-do

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