At the first sitting council meeting of 2026, Campaspe Shire councillors voted to endorse four motions to be pitched at the National General Assembly of Local Government, relating to renewable energy developments, disaster mitigation and public swimming infrastructure and social housing.
The NGA is a national gathering in Canberra where local government representatives can share ideas, debate motions and strengthen relationships with the Federal Government.
Campaspe’s NGA wishlist
1. Work with state and territory governments to establish a consistent framework around distributing community benefit contributions from renewable energy developments.
2. Increase of co-contribution for disaster mitigation infrastructure projects so local governments are not financially disadvantaged.
3. Call for Federal Government to develop dedicated funding program to support renewal of public swimming infrastructure.
4. Call for Federal Government to increase public and social housing in rural and regional areas.
Cr Zoe Cook, who was one of the representatives for council at the NGA in 2025, moved to endorse the motions, speaking specifically about the need for public swimming infrastructure funding.
“(The pools) are all getting older — they are coming to the end of life,” she said.
“We are calling for assurance that there will be funding provided and a policy implemented on how to deal with this large current infrastructure problem.”
Seconding the motion, Cr Tony Marwood talked about the submission for clearer framework for renewable energy community contributions.
He referenced the significant challenges two communities in particular were facing while negotiating with international renewable energy companies.
“There’s not a framework … to help them, and it’s very difficult for small communities that are under-resourced to try and negotiate outcomes with international renewable companies,” Cr Marwood said.
“The purpose is to make sure that our small communities are best placed to take the opportunities that are possibly there and have a consistent approach across the country.”
Discussing federal co-contribution of disaster mitigation infrastructure, Cr Rob Amos used Rochester as an example of how the financial brunt was often left to local governments with limited resources.
He acknowledged the work done by the Victorian Government on funding the flood studies and making recommendations on what mitigation projects should be in place, but said councils faced significant funding constraints in implementing them.
“They are very large, expensive projects, and the bottom line is councils will not be able to afford them — not just Campaspe, but councils right across Australia will be facing these same issues,” Cr Amos said.
“We need the Federal Government to be better at putting large portions (of funding) to these mitigation projects to ensure that our community is protected into the future.”
Cr Cook also mentioned the connection between needing clarity on disaster mitigation infrastructure and need for social housing.
“Federal contributions towards building infrastructure and building public housing through their Housing Australia Future Fund ... will go a great way in helping the people in rural and regional areas who are affected by climate disasters,” she said.
Councillors voted unanimously to take these suggestions to Canberra where they will be pitched at the NGA in June.
