Media Releases

Alice Springs Town Council has today urged residents to say YES to the facts in the upcoming referendum, in an effort to ensure that federal funding continues to be available for important local projects.

Alice Springs Town Council stands to lose millions of dollars if the upcoming referendum to continue to allow direct Federal funding to local councils around the country doesn’t succeed.

“For some time many really important local council projects such asAliceSolarCityand the Regional Waste Management Facility have been possible due to direct Federal funding,” said Mayor Damien Ryan.

“A YES vote will preserve the sort of arrangements that, for more than 10 years, have funded these important local projects. Voting YES simply ensures existing practice can continue and that’s a good thing for our community”

In the past year alone $3.839M was allocated to Alice Springs Town Council and has been used on the following local projects:

• Regional Waste Management Facility:
  • Total cost of upgrade is estimated to be $4.75M with $3.5M from the Australian Government Regional Development Australia Fund. Once complete the new Waste Management Facility will offer recycling services, recycling shop retail area, transfer station to deliver separated waste and a modern weighbridge.

• AliceSolar City:
  •  A further $831,105 to theAliceSolarCityinitiative which achieved $8.17 million worth of funding for residential and commercial solar and energy efficiency. The project boasts 317 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on homes and businesses, 908 residential solar hot water systems installed and 608 smart meters installed in homes. Total impact on theAlice Springseconomy has been estimated at $100 million. Just over 700 solar PV systems have been installed in total, from just two installations in town when the project began in 2008.

• Healthy Communities:
  • $155,259 as part of a grant from the Department of Health & Ageing for $703,607 over three years in line with the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health. The Healthy Communities program has established referral pathways for patients through several allied health professionals inAlice Springs, making exercise appropriate, accessible, affordable and socially-connected. This has relieved burdens for those with, or at risk of chronic disease, by removing financial, emotional and infrastructure barriers that may otherwise prevent participation in physical activity.

• Roads to Recovery:
  • Over five years from 1 July 2009, Alice Springs Town Council will receive $1.7M as part of the Australian Government Roads to Recovery program. This funding is vital for adequate road infrastructure within the municipality, including the new road works and the repair and re-seal of existing roads.

The upcoming referendum has the majority support of communities and councils all aroundAustralia, and was supported by all sides of politics in the Federal Parliament.

“When our Constitution was written 112 years ago, Federal funding for local government projects wasn’t mentioned, which means today billions of dollars in Federal funding for community projects could be legally challenged”, said Mayor Ryan.

“Our important local projects need Federal funding and voting YES is the only way to secure this. There is no other source to replace this funding.”

Around the country direct Federal funding has delivered safer roads, better playgrounds and parks, and upgraded libraries and other important local amenities – in short, safer and improved local environments for our communities. But two recent High Court decisions mean from now on this funding is under threat. Which is why the facts say YES on election day.

For more information please visit: http://www.thefactssayyes.com.au/

Damien Ryan (Mayor)

M:        0428 825 392