Local government funding
Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (12:15): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Following on from meetings with three local councils, I am concerned with the recurrent theme that is emerging of off-loading costs from the government to councils and changes to local government funding which are compromising councils’ ability to fund essential community services such as maternal health centres, school crossing supervisors, child health services and libraries. Infrastructure Victoria has also supported this objection and says that the situation is dire. Libraries were funded 50-50 between the state and local governments in the past; councils now say they are paying 80 per cent of the costs. For maternal and child health services, which were previously funded in a 50-50 split, councils are contributing well over 60 per cent of the funding now. My question is: will the minister please advocate to address these funding shortfalls so councils can stop having to look at downgrading services due to a lack of government funding?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:16): I thank Mr Hayes for his question for Mr Leane. He will be most aggrieved that he is not here to answer your question today. He has a fantastic enthusiasm for local councils. The reports I get back from the many councils in Northern Victoria are that they are really happy to have such a passionate minister in the local government portfolio who is more than prepared to sit down and listen to their concerns. I am sure that Mr Leane will delight in preparing a response for you to be handed in hopefully tomorrow, I guess it might be.
Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (12:16): Thank you, Minister. I am glad to provide some delight there for Mr Leane, and I look forward to his reply. Councils in new growth areas such as Melton, Hume and Casey are struggling to fund the essential infrastructure required to match population growth in these areas. Housing development growth is exceeding supply of local infrastructure: pools, libraries and other community facilities. Comparative examples are Wyndham, with about 150 000 people per public pool and recreation centre, compared to 75 000 people per pool in Geelong. There are fewer libraries per person in the growth areas, while residents in new areas have no access to a library at all. The forecast growth in some areas means new road projects are unlikely to meet the demand for more homes and are already struggling under the current population growth. My question is: why is the minister not advocating for additional council funding to assist with costs and expenses, particularly in these new areas, so that new residents do not buy into a home and land package and then have to wait 10 years for additional facilities to be built?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:17): I will pass Mr Hayes’s supplementary question on to Minister Leane.