Gippsland › Latest news › East Gippsland Local News

East Gippsland Shire Council presses federal ministers on local infrastructure and housing priorities

East Gippsland Shire Council advocates for infrastructure, housing, and disaster funding needs in online meetings with federal MPs in Canberra.

By news@gippsland - 28th March 2023 - Back to News

East Gippsland Shire Council has taken the call for a better deal for our shire directly to Canberra MPs, with Mayor Cr Mark Reeves, Cr Tom Crook and CEO Anthony Basford using online meetings last week with ministers to progress council's advocacy priorities.

Council seizes the chance to raise East Gippsland's funding needs with ministers, aware of challenges

Chance to advocate

The meetings gave council a chance to advocate for:

• Infrastructure funding
• Bairnsdale Aerodrome project
• Upgrades to Great Alpine Road
• Housing needs, including the impact of bushfires on housing stock
• Update on bushfire recovery
• Arts and culture centre/arts precinct
• Disaster impact on insurance premiums and related funding options

Cr Reeves said the discussions with federal MPs offered an opportunity to ensure that the voices of the community are heard in Canberra. "We have a relatively new government that is in listening mode and finding its feet."

Ministerial audience opportunity

Cr Reeves said, "The opportunity to have an audience with various ministers and advisers is one we took with both hands. We want to make sure the federal government is aware of the opportunities and challenges we have here, and what funding needs for East Gippsland should be considered and followed through on."

"When there are 500 local government authorities across the country, it's incumbent on us to be pushing our case in Canberra on federal matters that are important to East Gippslanders - both now and in the future. These discussions also add weight to our annual advocacy when in Canberra with the Australian Local Government Association." Cr Reeves said.

Face-to-face meeting

Meetings were held with: Advisers to Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Senator Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Education; Darren Chester MP, Member for Gippsland and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, and adviser to Julie Collins MP, Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business.

A face-to-face meeting with Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, is scheduled to be held in Gippsland in early April. A meeting with Murray Watt MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was deferred due to his requirement to attend the House for debate.

Pictures from East Gippsland Shire Council YouTube channel.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com