Destination 2036

Latest Update:

The Minister for Local Government has launched the final Destination 2036 action plan.

Click here to download the Action Plan.

The Destination 2036 Action Plan sets out the actions that will be delivered over the coming years to meet the needs of NSW communities and achieve the vision of creating strong communities through partnerships.

The action plan has been prepared by the Implementation Steering Committee and has been finalised following extensive consultation with councils and other stakeholders.

Click here to review submissions on the draft Action Plan.

Work on many of the actions has already commenced and work on other actions will now be developed. The Implementation Steering Committee will monitor progress on the actions it is responsible for and provide regular updates via this site.

Details on how each action, for which the ISC is responsible, is being developed can be found here:

• Project Plans

Project plans have not been developed for actions that fall within the terms of reference for the Independent Local Government Review Panel or that involve ongoing advocacy.

The latest quarterly update, which summarises progress in delivering the actions, can be found here: Quarterly status report

The first initiative out of the Destination 2036 Action Plan was announced by the Minister on 20 March 2012. This was the establishment of the independent Local Government Review Panel, which has responsibility for a number of actions in the plan relating to governance, structure and financial sustainability. For further details, please see the following documents:

• Media Release - Expert local government panel selected
• Media Release - Panel to set direction for councils of future / Local Government Review Panel Terms of Reference
• Media Release - Independent Panel gets to work

For further details visit info@localgovernmentreview.nsw.gov.au

What is Destination 2036?

Over the next 10, 20 and 25 years, our population, technologies and economy are going to change dramatically. As the providers of core services to our communities, it is incumbent upon local government to consider what these changes will mean, both for our communities and for the councils that serve them.

Destination 2036 provides a process and a forum for local government to explore these issues and to consider and develop structures and approaches to local government in NSW that will allow the sector to meet the needs and expectations of our communities of the future.

Destination 2036 is the start of a new way of planning which moves local government in NSW from talking about and reacting to change, to managing change to create a preferred future. In effect, it will begin the strategic plan and delivery program for NSW local government, mirroring key elements of the integrated planning and reporting frameworks which individual councils are implementing.

Destination 2036 reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to work constructively with local government and to recognise local government as a partner.

Destination 2036 is being developed with the help of the Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) , the Local Government Managers Australia (NSW) (LGMA) and the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG).

Over 350 representatives from every council in the State gathered in Dubbo on 17 and 18 August 2011 to begin the process of creating a strong and viable local government sector.

Implementation Steering Committee

Membership of the ISC consists of the Chief Executive of the Division (Chair), the Presidents of the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) and the President of Local Government Managers Australia NSW (LGMA NSW). It has been established to develop the action plan, in consultation with the community, councils and other stakeholders. Its role is to ensure actions for which it is responsible are delivered in collaboration with interested groups.

A copy of the Committee’s Charter is available here.

Meeting agendas and minutes will be made available once they have been endorsed by the ISC.

Meeting 1 – 2 September 2011 - Agenda and Minutes.

Meeting 2 – 19 September 2011 – Agenda and Minutes.

Meeting 3 – 14 November 2011 - Agenda and Minutes.

Meeting 4 – 16 March 2012 – Agenda and Minutes.

Meeting 5 – 18 April 2012 – Agenda and Minutes.

Destination 2036 Papers

• Destination 2036 Workshop - Mapping the future for better local government - Communique – 18 August 2011



• LGMA Conference Outcomes click here



• Elton Outcomes Report click here



• Draft Action Plan, December 2011 click here



• Presentation summarising the Draft Action Plan click here



• Final Action Plan, June 2012 click here

Background - The Workshop

Pre-workshop Papers

• Discussion Paper: “Our Communities, Our Councils, Our Future”



• Discussion Paper: “Local Government Reform in England”



• Personal Message from Chief Executive Officer, Division of Local Government - “Some food for Thought”

Workshop Papers

Final Workshop Program

• Destination 2036: Creating a Legacy, starting the Journey



• Destination 2036: Our purpose (Presentation / Opening Remarks)



• Starting the journey; What we’ve heard so far



• Focus on the Future: Talking with a Futurist



• A Vision for Local Government: Perspective from the Minister for Western NSW



• Ideas to Stimulate Discussion: Local Government Reform in England



• Dinner Speaker: Professor Sohail Inayatullah



• Professor Brian Dollery, Director of the Centre for Local Government at the University of New England discussing research on future directions for NSW Local Government.



• Ms Melissa Gibbs, Assistant Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government providing insights about local government reform across Australia.



• Closing Address by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Don Page MP, 18 August 2011