State funding to ease transition for Toowoomba, south-west councils
Published Thursday, 27 March, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Amalgamated councils in the Toowoomba and south-west Queensland regions will share in $17.75 million in Queensland Government funding to help with the post-amalgamation transition process.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt, who addressed the Premier’s Summit of Councils in Brisbane today, said the funding was provided as part of the $27.1 million Local Government Reform Funding Package.
“The current program of structural reform provides Queensland’s new local and regional councils with significant potential for sustainability in the long term,” Mr Pitt said.
“However, it is clear that the provision of funding for affected councils is also required to help them realise the expected benefits of reform and to provide a basis for sustainable local councils.
“The State Government has previously announced a $27.1 million funding package to support affected councils, in direct response to a submission from the Local Government Association of Queensland which requested $26 million in assistance.
“We have already provided $8.75 million in pre-election funding to Local Transition Committees and also contributed towards the cost of the recent elections.
“We are now distributing the remaining $17.75 million in funding to the affected councils.”
Mr Pitt said $2.875 million was committed to councils in the Toowoomba and south-west regions, including:
• $675,000 for Dalby Regional Council
• $500,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council
• $675,000 for Roma Regional Council
• $350,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council
• $675,000 for Toowoomba Regional Council.
He said the payments were based on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation’s assessment of local government funding needs associated with the structural reform of local government.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt, who addressed the Premier’s Summit of Councils in Brisbane today, said the funding was provided as part of the $27.1 million Local Government Reform Funding Package.
“The current program of structural reform provides Queensland’s new local and regional councils with significant potential for sustainability in the long term,” Mr Pitt said.
“However, it is clear that the provision of funding for affected councils is also required to help them realise the expected benefits of reform and to provide a basis for sustainable local councils.
“The State Government has previously announced a $27.1 million funding package to support affected councils, in direct response to a submission from the Local Government Association of Queensland which requested $26 million in assistance.
“We have already provided $8.75 million in pre-election funding to Local Transition Committees and also contributed towards the cost of the recent elections.
“We are now distributing the remaining $17.75 million in funding to the affected councils.”
Mr Pitt said $2.875 million was committed to councils in the Toowoomba and south-west regions, including:
• $675,000 for Dalby Regional Council
• $500,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council
• $675,000 for Roma Regional Council
• $350,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council
• $675,000 for Toowoomba Regional Council.
He said the payments were based on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation’s assessment of local government funding needs associated with the structural reform of local government.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819