President’s Update – 10 November 2025
I am delighted to welcome over 200 government and industry leaders, technical experts, and councils from all over the country to ALGA’s 2025 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress, in the historic town of Bendigo in Victoria.
After our welcome reception today, we will launch into a busy two-day program, with delegates coming together to share ideas and listen to experts about how communities can tackle local road and infrastructure challenges. We will explore how councils can strengthen road networks, improve freight connections, and introduce more sustainable transport options.
I am confident these sessions will spark plenty of practical discussions and give everyone a chance to learn from each other.
We are especially pleased to welcome the Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Senator Matt O’Sullivan, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, and Senator for Western Australia.
It’s such a valuable opportunity to hear directly from federal government decision makers and better understand how we can work together to improve our nation’s productivity.
Australia’s local governments play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s infrastructure landscape. We manage roughly a third of the country’s public asset. From roads and buildings to airports, water systems, and land, we manage an impressive $600 billion worth of assets and infrastructure. That figure dwarfs our collective annual revenue, underscoring just how asset-heavy our level of government truly is. That why ALGA continues to provide this annual event dedicated to roads and infrastructure.
A special thank you to our host council, the City of Greater Bendigo, the Municipal Association of Victoria and Melbourne Convention Bureau for their support in bringing the event together.
A sincere thank you also to our key sponsors, including the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, NBN, McArthur, and the City of Greater Bendigo and Higher Consulting. Your support is so valuable in making these events happen.
Hopefully I’ll see many of you in Bendigo, where we can have a chat over morning tea – because that’s where we can also share ideas from across the nation.