Local and central government to work together on infrastructure

Stronger partnerships between local and central government on infrastructure issues will benefit communities and regions, says Local Government New Zealand.

LGNZ representatives met with the Minister for Infrastructure Hon Bill English and other Ministers in Wellington last night.

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says improved strategic alignment between central and local government decision-makers will help the right infrastructure to be provided in the right place at the right time.

“Local authorities across New Zealand play a vital role in the development of infrastructure programmes and initiatives and manage over $80 billion in assets.

“LGNZ looks forward to the development of an updated version of the National Infrastructure Plan as a positive step towards the creation of a nationally-consistent infrastructure planning and investment framework, encompassing both central and local government.

“This is an opportunity to develop a framework based on engagement, discussion and management of tradeoffs, rather than regulation, central government direction setting or binding funding commitments,” he said.

LGNZ also looks forward to the opportunity to work with central government on investigating regulatory barriers currently faced by local government and how they can be addressed in the future.

“The opportunity to work together with central government on infrastructure issues that can help grow towns and regions across New Zealand is one the local government sector has been working to progress for some time so we are looking forward to embracing it,” said Mr Yule.

Infrastructure Minister Bill English’s statement on the meeting can be read at www.beehive.govt.nz.

ENDS

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