Well-structured governance frameworks will encourage collaboration, knowledge, capability and resource-sharing.
When they are applied effectively, these frameworks can harness focal government strengths (such as understanding community needs) and bring together adjacent councils while helping to minimise their potential limitations in funding and project delivery capabilities. They can be scaled to reflect the complexity of the planning process being undertaken and reflect network and systemic approaches.
" For Smaller Cities and Regional Centres to grow and achieve their potential, a consistent national approach is needed to the planning and delivery of infrastructure. "
Expanding and further developing the successes of the City and Regional Deals model of cross-government collaboration would be one way to deliver benefits to a broader range of settlements across Australia.