Rural Advocacy Strategy

In the recent past, the Buloke Shire Council provided services to its residents that were in excess of the financial capacity of the organisation.  This led to a situation whereby the Council became financially unsustainable.  In order to address this issue Council has had to reduce the level of services provided to residents to ensure that it can continue to serve its community.

A hard lesson that has been learned during this period of time is that the level of services that can be provided to rural residents is considerably less than those that can be provided to residents in more densely settled areas.  This is especially inequitable for residents in large shires with small populations.  The lack of availability of these services results primarily from the much higher costs arising for their provision given a range of factors including:

• Lack of economies of scale
• Large distances and time required to deliver services.
• More people with lower incomes and other socio-economic factors.
• A higher proportion of aged people in the population.
• Lack of competition from service providers and suppliers.
• Difficulties in the recruitment of staff and skilled contractors.
• Frequent market failure resulting in premium prices for goods and services.

In revising its Council Plan, the Buloke Shire has taken this difficulty into account and set the above actions to influence governments to improve liveability for rural communities.  In order to implement these actions the Council need to address the actions in a co-ordinated strategic manner by developing its Rural Advocacy Strategy. 

To view a copy of Buloke Shire Council's Rural Advocacy Strategy which was tabled for adoption at Council's 11 February 2015 Ordinary Meeting, please click on the below link:

Rural Advocacy Strategy