ALGA urges Government to 'reconsider' cuts to environment program

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell will fly to Canberra today to make urgent representations to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, about the Government's decision to slash funding to the Local Government Natural Resource Management Facilitator Network.

Under the decision announced on Friday in a joint media release by the Ministers, funding for the Network has been discontinued as part of the Federal Government's new arrangements for natural resource management - the 'Caring for our Country' program.

Cr Bell said the decision was shortsighted and made without adequate consultation with the Australian Local Government Association and its members.

"Local Government is the closest sphere of government to the community," he said. "It plays a key role in environmental and natural resource management throughout Australia. This role is particularly critical now, given the challenges we all face in terms of climate change and management of our precious water resources."

"I call on the Rudd Government to reconsider its decision."

"Today I will personally deliver letters to Ministers Garrett and Burke urging them to reinstate Federal Government funding of the Local Government Natural Resource Management Facilitator Network."

Cr Bell said the Network had been operating effectively for almost five years and, through its strong leadership and focus on locally-based programs, played a major role in the remediation and stewardship of the environment.

"The message has always been to 'think globally, act locally' and I am concerned that in this case, we are overlooking the extraordinary achievements of Australian communities in conserving our environment, and the work that still needs to be done."

Cr Bell said the Network has made substantial contributions to local and regional natural resource management throughout the country.