Local government

Role

Local government’s charter involves providing directly or on behalf of other governments adequate, equitable, appropriate, efficient and effective services, and facilities

The charter highlights principles relating to: community leadership, regard for cultural and linguistic diversity, planning and providing for the needs of children, management and conservation of the area's environment, regard for the cumulative effect of decisions, trusteeship of public assets, and facilitation of stakeholder participation and elimination of bias.

Responsibilities

Local government can choose to involve itself in the provision, management or operation of the following community service functions:

  • community services
  • public health
  • cultural, educational and information services
  • sport, recreation and entertainment.

Services and programs

Every council provides libraries (many with extensive children’s sections) and recreation areas (including children’s playgrounds, swimming facilities and programs and vast numbers of sporting fields).

Local government provides close to 800 community facilities (halls and neighbourhood centres), approximately 300 child care services (long day care, outside school hours care, family day care, pre-school and occasional care), approximately 200 child health services (immunisation and early childhood health centres), and approximately 230 cultural services (arts/cultural programs, museums, theatres and art galleries).

The provision of community services is not solely an 'urban' or 'metropolitan' phenomenon. There are a number of rural and remote councils involved in providing and delivering community services.

Local government also provides community information and referral services, family support services, community aid services, disability access committees, NESB access committees and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) access committees.

More information can be found at http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au or www.lgsa.org.au.