Leisure at the Heart of Council Stimulus Projects

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has released details of more than 3,300 projects currently being rolled out by Australia's 562 councils under the Federal Government's $800 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

A large number of these projects involve the building and renewal of local leisure infrastructure including community centres, town halls, parks and playgrounds, pools and sporting facilities.

ALGA President Councillor Geoff Lake explains "construction has started on many of these projects and we are already seeing real outcomes on the ground in local communities in terms of job creation, stimulating local demand and delivering valuable infrastructure.

"One of the best aspects of this funding is that the Rudd Government has put its faith in councils to identify their own priority projects for funding. Importantly, it is local communities rather than Canberra bureaucrats who have developed these projects and therefore they reflect localised needs and priorities.

"A report ALGA commissioned by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2006 found that councils across the country were struggling to maintain vital community infrastructure. At the same time as providing important economic stimulus, this $800 million program is providing a critical helping hand to councils meet some of these growing demands.

"Economic stimulus may only be a temporary economic measure, however the long term benefits which flow from these projects will last many generations."

The Community Infrastructure Program has two components:

• $250 million allocated between all councils and shires proportionally on the basis of population; and
• $550 million for larger-scale strategic projects allocated on a competitive basis.

A list of the projects which have been funded is available at www.alga.asn.au/policy/regdev/reginf/