The Productivity Commission’s final report on local government funding and financing, released last week, recommends significant changes to the financial relationship between central and local government. That included in climate change adaptation, which was now seen as "the most challenging new and growing pressure" facing local government funding. There was a need for central government leadership, including new forms of financial support, to help councils meet the challenge. A climate resilience fund, overseen by a new Crown agency, should also be established to support councils with infrastructure — including water and wastewater pipes — threatened by climate change. A new fund would be a "positive", as would increased focus on the issue from central government, he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 22, 2019 15:33 UTC