Post Special meeting: February 2008Premier’s Local Government Council – Post Special PLGC meeting 4 February 2008PLGC supports local government owned regional modelThe Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) today advised the State Government that it supports the future delivery of water and sewerage services through a local government owned regional model. The PLGC sees the model as a workable way forward that balances the objectives of the State and Local Government in Tasmania. The model supported by the PLGC was developed by a working group comprising representatives of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), representative general managers from all Tasmanian council regions and Treasury officers led by Don Challen, Chair of the Water and Sewerage Steering Committee. The Premier, Paul Lennon, the Treasurer, Michael Aird and the Minister for Water, David Llewellyn, today met with the President of LGAT, Mayor Mike Gaffney and other mayors at a special meeting of the PLGC to discuss future structural water and sewerage reform options that, along with changes to the regulation of the sector, will ensure the provision of safe and sustainable water and sewerage services for all Tasmanians. The PLGC welcomed the opportunity to have input into the deliberations of the Government’s Water and Sewerage Taskforce on the best structural reform model to support the move towards sustainable water and sewerage services. The PLGC agreed that there are benefits to be achieved from reforming the water and sewerage sector and that there are significant challenges facing the sector in some parts of Tasmania that can be addressed under the proposed local government owned regional model. Employees in the sector are a key priority in the reform process. The PLGC agreed that transitional arrangements will ensure that employees are not disadvantaged by the reform process and noted that the new arrangements would create enhanced career opportunities for employees in the sector. The PLGC acknowledged there will be transitional issues that need to be worked through under this model, but recognised that the viability of councils will be enhanced by financial returns from the new water and sewerage businesses. To this end, the PLGC agreed that State and Local Government will work closely together to develop detailed implementation plans for the PLGC’s proposed model and remain in close consultation through the implementation process. Local Government members of the PLGC thanked the Premier and Treasurer for indicating a willingness to provide transitional funding assistance to councils in support of this important reform. |
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