COST-SHIFTING and financial assistance grants are two key issues Wagga councillors hope to raise at a meeting of more than a hundred local government bodies in Warwick Farm next week.
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Five Wagga council representatives will attend the state's three-day local government annual conference, which starts on Monday.
Mayor Greg Conkey will be joined by councillors Rod Kendall, Vanessa Keenan and Yvonne Braid, as well as regional activation director Michael Keys.
The conference gives the council the opportunity to pass on certain issues to the various politicians in attendance, including the state's premier, deputy premier and senior ministers.
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Cr Conkey said the core concerns he plans to raise include the inadequate financial resources for local government groups.
He said the state and federal governments are transferring more responsibilities to local councils, yet reducing the financial support available.
"There has been $3.5 million cost-shifted on to local government. It concerns not only our council, but others as well," he said.
"The other is the drop in federal government financial assistance grants. It makes up point-5 per cent of government revenue. I say it needs to be reinstated to at least 1 percent.
"About 33 per cent of state infrastructure is managed by local government and we're expected to maintain and improve it with limited funding."
Cr Conkey said councils across the state face similar issues to Wagga council, therefore the conference presents an opportunity to discover new approaches to ongoing challenges.
He expects the motions up for discussion will concern drought relief, water security and financial assistance.
"I look forward to hearing the debate on those motions and what we can do to support them and what's relevant to us," he said.
"It is always interesting to know how other councils lobby the government on the same issues and it is important knowledge to have. So, we really do need to work together."