Councils want Feds to start on $27b infrastructure backlog
LOCAL councils across Australia have urged the Federal Government to fund a $1.5 billion program in its coming budget to start to address a $27 billion backlog of community infrastructure.
The call came yesterday in the Australian Local Government Association's budget submission, which recommended $300 million a year be allocated for five years.
It backs up the association's call for the fund last year, after its 2015 National State of the Assets report showed some $27 billion of community infrastructure was "at risk of disrepair".
That infrastructure includes assets ranging from playgrounds to community libraries deemed in poor or very poor condition and needing replacement, maintenance or upgrade.
ALGA president Troy Pickard acknowledged the government's aims to cut spending, but said such constraints "should not be at the expense of support for essential community services".
