Rural and Remote Councils Policy and Legislation Committee – Annual Update 2022-23

Guardian’s foreword

In 2022-23, the Rural and Remote Councils Compact (the Compact) rose to an even greater level of importance as rural and remote local government areas faced increasing headwinds of worsening housing/supply chain/labour shortages and cost of living pressures in a high inflation environment.

Against this backdrop, the Compact has given rural and remote councils a direct voice with the State Government on our 2022-23 priority issues of roads, housing and local government sustainability – as well as investment attraction, water and quarry access which we have added in 2023.

The Compact aims to ensure the realities facing these communities – like small populations, large road networks, funding and policy uncertainty and the tyranny of distance – are better understood by State Government decision-makers so future policies can be better tailored to meet their needs.

In its second year, we have been using the Compact to progress some long-standing challenges which unfortunately do not have overnight solutions. However, we have made some key achievements including a specific focus on low-cost solutions to resolve Roads Off Alignment challenges, participation in State Government forums to unlock housing supply in rural and remote communities and has helped to tailor economic development policies.

As the five rural and remote regions Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Policy Executive members, we represent our communities as Compact Guardians by attending the quarterly policy and legislation committee meetings. During 2022-23 we have engaged directly with the Deputy Premier, the Assistant Minister for Local Government and the Director-General of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.

As the Compact enters its third year, we know we need to accelerate solutions with the State Government for some of the longstanding issues we have been tackling. There is no time to lose, especially with local and state government elections in 2024.

On behalf of Queensland’s 45 rural and remote councils and the local communities they represent, we sincerely thank the Queensland Government for working with us on key issues that impact the community liveability of rural and remote parts of the state.

Councillor Jane McNamara, Mayor, Flinders Shire Council

Councillor Peter Scott, Mayor, Cook Shire Council

Councillor Andrew Martin, Mayor, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council

Councillor Robyn Fuhrmeister, Balonne Shire Council

Councillor Paul McVeigh, Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

Background

Rural and Remote Councils Compact

At the 2020 State Election, the Queensland Government committed to finalising a Rural and Remote Councils Compact to support the Queensland Government and smaller councils working together to address the challenges facing rural and remote communities.

The Compact was signed by the Deputy Premier and the President of the LGAQ in 2021 and is a sub-agreement to the Partners-in-Government Agreement (PIGA), which establishes the key principles in the relationship between the State and local governments and provides a foundation for effective negotiation and meaningful engagement between both levels of governments.

The Compact promotes enhanced engagement with rural and remote councils to ensure the government’s legislation, policies and programs take account of the unique circumstances of their communities.

There are 45 Rural and Remote Councils identified by the LGAQ that are captured by the Compact.

During the reporting period, the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning was  the lead agency for implementation and operation of the Compact on behalf of the Queensland Government. This role is now undertaken by the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works.

The Compact is overseen on behalf of the LGAQ by its five Rural and Remote Regions Policy Executive Members (the Guardians):

• Councillor Jane McNamara, Mayor, Flinders Shire Council
• Councillor Peter Scott, Mayor, Cook Shire Council
• Councillor Andrew Martin, Mayor, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council
• Councillor Robyn Fuhrmeister, Balonne Shire Council
• Councillor Paul McVeigh, Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council.

On 1 November 2022, Mayor Robbie Dare from Diamantina Shire Council resigned from his position as LGAQ Policy Executive and Guardian, and was replaced in those roles by Mayor Andrew Martin from Blackall-Tambo Regional Council.

Under the Compact, the LGAQ and the Guardians have identified roads, housing and local government sustainability as the three key priorities for consideration, with further topics of rural economic development, quarry access and water also being considered.

Rural and Remote Councils Policy and Legislation Committee

A high-level Rural and Remote Councils Policy and Legislation Committee (the Committee) was established as the primary governance structure for the implementation and operation of the Compact.

The Committee brings together representatives of the Queensland Government, the LGAQ and the Guardians (the nominated mayors representing rural and remote councils). It provides a regular forum to develop solutions to promote the liveability and long-term sustainability of communities.

The Committee meets quarterly to develop solutions on key strategic priorities for rural and remote communities.

Key meeting dates

• 11 August 2022
• 17 November 2022
• 16 February 2023
• 18 May 2023

11 August 2022

At the 11 August 2022 Committee meeting, attendees noted work was continuing under the roads strategic priority and were provided with updates on the Roads Maintenance Performance Contracts Working Group. Attendees were also advised of upcoming Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program Industry briefings and provided with information about registering for attendance.

Attendees received updates on the strategic priority of housing and were provided with a data collection template that will be used to develop the Local Housing Action Plans. It was noted that fieldwork was underway, with visits to the initial six pilot councils scheduled to be complete by the end of September 2022.

An update on the strategic priority of local government sustainability was also provided. It included updates on budget initiatives and best-practice asset management for local governments. Attendees also noted the timeline for implementation of the Local Government Sustainability Framework, which was to be rolled out to councils and ready for use by 1 July 2023.

The issue of cost-shifting being devolved to local government was also discussed, with the LGAQ outlining new research that it had commissioned.

Attendees also thanked the Assistant Minister for Local Government, Nikki Boyd MP for her attendance at the meeting.

17 November 2022

At the 17 November 2022 Committee meeting, attendees were provided with an update on the status of work from the Roads Maintenance Performance Contracts Working Group and of the Roads Off Alignment Working Group meeting.

An update was provided to attendees on housing and the progress of the Local Housing Action Plans. A further update was provided about the issues identified from the State Government Housing Summit held on 20 October 2022.

An update on the strategic priority of local government sustainability was provided to attendees, noting a copy of the draft Financial Management (Sustainability) Guideline 2023 had been approved by the Deputy Premier and would be distributed to councils.

The meeting also included a workshop on rural and economic development and attracting investment into rural and remote parts of Queensland. In particular, matters relevant to the importance of water to economic development and the need for greater cross-government coordination were identified.

16 February 2023

At the 16 February 2023 Committee meeting, an update was provided to attendees on the strategic priority of roads and the Roads Off Alignment Working Group. Guardians also discussed the challenges in undertaking road maintenance following the closure of a number of quarries across the State while native title agreements are undertaken. Committee members noted a cross-agency working group would be formed to further consider this issue, lead by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Attendees were provided with an update on the strategic priority of housing, including manufactured housing solutions that are in consideration. Updates were also provided on the outcomes from the Housing Round Table and the Local Housing Action Plans. Attendees noted 14 draft Local Housing Action Plans had been sent to councils.

The meeting also included a workshop on regional economic development and water. Guardians highlighted how councils are the economic drivers for rural and remote local government areas. The importance of water security and affordability to achieve growth was also discussed. This included discussion on the availability of water for projects, the impact of water for growth of rural and remote regions, the process for reviewing water plans and the ability to harvest water in wet times and store it for use throughout the year. Committee members appreciated the ability to discuss these issues directly with the Director-General of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, who attended the meeting in person.

Attendees also thanked the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure for his attendance at the meeting, where the LGAQ and the Guardians provided their quarterly updates to him.

18 May 2023

At the 18 May 2023 Committee meeting, an update was provided to attendees on the strategic priority of roads. It was noted that the Roads Off Alignment Working Group had developed a flowchart to assist local government with roads-off alignment issues. It was also noted that a Quarries Working Group was established to deal with the renewal process for quarry permits issues to councils with native title agreements required as part of the renewal process.

An update was provided on the strategic priority of local government sustainability, noting the Local Government Sustainability Framework would commence on 1 July 2023. The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning also provided an overview of its new project supporting Indigenous Local Government Sustainability.

A briefing was also provided on the Local Economic Opportunities (LEO) Network and the Regional Economic Future Fund, which are both important regional economic development initiatives that will support renewable energy and decarbonisation efforts. Committee members heard how each local government area would get a dedicated LEO Officer to assist with engagement with councils. This followed on from previous discussions about a tailored approach to economic development opportunities in rural and remote Local Government Areas.

Attendees were also provided with an update on the topic of water, which included an overview of the Water Act Regulatory Framework, Water Plans and particular water allocations. Guardians were encouraged to engage directly with the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water about any specific issues they had in relation to water policy or infrastructure.

The strategic priority of housing was also discussed. Attendees heard how work was progressing with Local Housing Action Plans and how the State Government was continuing to help councils link available land with housing opportunities.

Guardians also raised the issue of ageing populations in rural and remote areas and noted the lack of federal support for aged care accommodation in those communities.