Role of Local Government in Local and Regional Economic Development
Posted on by jen.newman@rdatasmania.org.au
New report highlights importance of local government involvement in economic development
A new report from the University of Technology Sydney’s Centre for Local Government explores the role of local government involvement in local and regional economic development.
The promotion of economic development is a relatively recent feature of the activity of local government in Australia. There is huge diversity of economic development roles and for the majority of councils it remains an ‘additional’ rather than ‘general’ function, although this can often downplay the positive role they play in local and regional economic development.
This research has brought to the forefront the importance of internal and external perceptions and how these shape the role of councils in economic development.
Each tier of government is involved in promoting economic development, although in distinct ways that do not necessarily complement one another. The report’s findings support a strong case for advocating the involvement of all tiers of government in the pursuit of local and regional economic development.
The report provides local governments and their stakeholders with research and evidence to help them to better understand regional and local economic development in Australia, and how it can be improved.