Mayor Glen Hartwig: councils need bigger slice of Federal budget pie

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said councils like Gympie, with vast road networks and a limited ratepayer base, would benefit greatly from more funding trickling down to local government

Mayor Glen Hartwig is joining LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam’s call for a bigger slice of the Federal budget pie to be handed to councils as long-term sustainability concerns continue to grow for local governments

Mayor Glen Hartwig has joined the LGAQ in calling for a lift in the quantity of Federal money filtering down to councils, as statewide sustainability concerns grow.

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam on Tuesday night resumed the campaign for the rate of Federal money designated for local councils to be raised from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent following the budget’s delivery, saying such a rise would “rewrite the book” on council sustainability.

Mr Hartwig agreed.

“Lifting the rate would help all local governments ease the burden on ratepayers,” he said.

Under the existing distribution scheme, he said the Federal Government kept about $80 out of every $100, with $16-17 going to the State and councils claiming the rest.

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam reiterated the call for the rate of cash going to councils to be raised from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent following the budget. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The latest report from the Queensland Audit Office into councils’ long-term financial sustainability raises serious concerns about the future, with a third of Queensland councils at “higher” risk of becoming unsustainable.

“Councils with smaller ratepayer bases and thousands of kilometres of roads need some assistance,” he said.

“In the big end of the world (like Brisbane) with higher population bases there’s a lot more attention (from state and federal members) in order to keep winning elections.

“Smaller regional councils don’t have the ratepayer bases to compensate.”

The Tiaro Bypass has been at the centre of a clash between Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Federal MP Llew O’Brien as to whether it should be two or four lanes wide.

This year, Queensland councils received $261.9 million in Federal Assistance Grants, up from $244.2 last financial year.

Mr Hartwig declined to comment on the absence of money to make the Tiaro Bypass four lanes but said there was merit behind the plan championed by Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien in his war of words with State Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

“The argument put forward by Llew O’Brien makes a lot of sense and I will wholeheartedly support his efforts,” Mr Hartwig said.

He did welcome more funding for regional telecommunications upgrades, but said there was still a lot of wiggle room left to be filled.

“Any improvement is better than what we currently have,” he said.

The ongoing coverage problems were a prominent hurdle for new businesses trying to establish themselves in the region’s satellite communities, he said.