Grants Commission keen to hear about South-West local government issues

5/2/04
Western Australia's Local Government Grants Commission is visiting local governments in the South-West next week to discuss its formula for allocating Commonwealth funding.
Local Government Minister Tom Stephens said the visits would provide opportunities for local governments to highlight their key challenges.

Next week the commission will hold public hearings in Bunbury and Capel (Tuesday, February 10 ), Donnybrook-Balingup and Manjimup (Wednesday February 11), Nannup and Augusta-Margaret River (Thursday, February 12), and Dardanup (Friday February 13).
"The Grants Commission has a very important role - this year it allocated $174million between the State's 142 local governments," Mr Stephens said.
"The commission considers what factors should be taken into account, so that grant allocations recognise the particular challenges facing each local government and its capacity to meet them.
"This South-West tour will ensure many important local issues are considered, such as the impact of new development projects on local government services and infrastructure, or the challenges of managing coastal tourism and protecting local environments.
"Local governments and residents will also be able to discuss the formula and processes adopted by the commission in calculating individual allocations."
Mr Stephens said the public hearings were a condition for grants payments to be made to the State and they were held in each local government area every four to five years.
Details of each hearing were available from the relevant local council.
Minister's office: 9213 6500