Published on Friday, 3 July 2026 at 9:26:28 AM
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has secured national backing for key regional priorities at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra, with all three motions put forward by the City receiving support from delegates.
Held from 23–25 June, the NGA brings together councils from across Australia to advocate directly to the Federal Government on issues affecting local communities.
Representing the City, Mayor Glenn Wilson was joined by Cr Carla Viskovich and Cr Wayne Johnson, who worked alongside councils from around the country to advocate for issues critical to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and regional Australia.
The City's housing and planning motion was adopted by the Assembly, calling for greater Federal investment in enabling infrastructure such as roads, power, water and wastewater to unlock residential land and accelerate housing supply in communities experiencing significant workforce demand.
The City's motions on regional roads and critical infrastructure, and climate resilience and emissions reduction, were both incorporated into broader strategic motions adopted by the Assembly, demonstrating strong national support for these priorities.
The regional roads and critical infrastructure motion sought increased Federal support for road networks, freight corridors and regional airports, recognising their importance in supporting industry, workforce mobility, emergency services and national supply chains.
The climate resilience and emissions reduction motion called for long-term national investment to help communities respond to extreme heat, reduce emissions and deliver infrastructure suited to local conditions.
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the outcome showed that councils across Australia recognised the importance of investing in regional communities.
"These outcomes send a strong message to the Federal Government that regional Australia needs the infrastructure to match its economic contribution," Mayor Wilson said.
"Housing shortages remain one of the biggest barriers to growth in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and many other regional centres. We can't build the homes we need without the roads, power, water and wastewater infrastructure that supports them."
"Our road network, freight routes and Airport are critical pieces of infrastructure that don't just serve our community, they support one of Australia's most productive mining regions and make an important contribution to the national economy."
"Local governments simply can't carry the cost of this infrastructure alone. Continued partnership with the Federal Government is essential if regional Australia is going to keep growing and supporting the industries that power the country."
During the Assembly, the City also held meetings with Federal Members of Parliament, Senators and Senior Advisers to advocate directly on local priorities, including health, enabling infrastructure, regional growth and the need for greater recognition of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's FIFO and drive-in drive-out workforce and the impact they have on local resources, which are not often considered in funding models.
Mayor Wilson also attended meetings in his capacity as Chair of the Australian Mining Cities Alliance (AMCA), contributing to national discussions on the future of Australia's mining regions. During the NGA, AMCA also launched its advocacy document, The Regions That Power Australia, highlighting the vital contribution mining communities make to the nation's economy.
Mayor Wilson said face-to-face engagement remained one of the most valuable aspects of attending the Assembly.
"Having the opportunity to sit down directly with Ministers and their advisers means we can explain the challenges our community is facing and make sure Kalgoorlie-Boulder's voice is heard where national decisions are made," he said.
"In recent years, we've seen that advocacy through the NGA can lead to some real positive outcomes, and we’ll continue working with all levels of government to build support for the projects and policy changes our community needs."
Over the past two years, the City has successfully secured support for motions addressing transitional Aboriginal homelessness and a review of the Modified Monash Model, which would help attract more doctors, nurses and other health professionals to communities such as Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
This year's outcomes build on that momentum and have continued to keep Kalgoorlie-Boulder's priorities firmly on the Federal agenda.
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