Mayor Mia Shaw Welcomes Recommendations for Improved Local Government Services.
Wyndham City Council has expressed support for the recommendations of a recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Local Government funding and services. The report, published this week, proposed several measures aimed at assisting Wyndham City to continue investing in the services and infrastructure required by its residents.
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Key recommendations from the Inquiry include the reinstatement of more equitable funding for Maternal Child and Health Services, the restoration of a 50/50 funding model for public libraries and school crossing programs, and the prevention of funding delays through the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions (GAIC) scheme to curb cost escalations.
Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Mia Shaw, stated, “Wyndham City certainly supports these recommendations.” She added that the city had made a submission to the Inquiry and that their message was clearly reflected in the recommendations.
Mayor Shaw highlighted the city’s rapid growth and the need for timely and equitable state government assistance to provide necessary services and infrastructure. She pointed out that the state’s contribution to public libraries, which was a 50/50 partnership with local councils in 1975, has dwindled to just 17%, leaving the council to cover the remaining 83%. This shift, according to Shaw, has posed significant financial and operational challenges for the council.
The Mayor also expressed concern over the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service, stating that the service is crucial for supporting the health and development of young children and their families in Wyndham. However, she noted that the council is currently bearing 60% of the cost of this service, which should ideally be a 50/50 partnership.
Mayor Shaw also supported the recommendation for the Victorian Auditor-General to investigate the financial impacts of cost-shifting onto councils. She acknowledged the state government’s significant funding grants but emphasized that the city couldn’t afford to deliver services and infrastructure to keep up with its fast-growing community without more support.
The Mayor concluded by expressing the council’s belief that the state government should provide funding models and grant allocations that specifically address the rapid growth and infrastructure demands of councils like Wyndham. She cited the GAIC as an example, stating that funds should be invested where they are collected promptly to ensure the community has the infrastructure it needs.
