A WHIRLWIND visit to Canberra last week to meet with federal politicians gave Naracoorte Lucindale Council mayor Erika Vickery a chance to air issues relating to local government.
"It was about building that connection with federal politicians," she said. "It's important for the Federal Government to just be aware of SA - both rural and metro areas."
Mayor Vickery and the other delegates started their meetings with an informal lunch with SA federal MPs and Senators on September 11.
After lunch they met with Tony Rolfe, advisor to Peter Dutton, SA MP Greg Hunt, Anthony Albanese and Simon Crean.
"We had some issues papers that we put together," she told the Herald. "The subjects were constitutional recognition of local government, infrastructure, the financial things like the financial assistance grants, regional development, waste management, climate change and managing carbon."
She said SA councils had always felt left out in regards to money.
"South Australian councils have always felt that they have been underfunded through that because it is based on a formula to do with population," mayor Vickery said.
"We (Naracoorte Lucindale Council) always have but we realise for us to get a bigger portion someone else has to miss out somewhere."
She said if more funding was given then everybody would get "their share".
The ageing population was also a point of discussion.
"I think it's an issue for all councils - with our ageing population we must make sure we keep our infrastructure like our footpaths and access points suitable and friendly for people to access," mayor Vickery said.
A brief meeting with opposition leader Tony Abbott was also a highlight for the mayor.
"He talked mainly about constitutional recognition and just that connection between federal government and local government," she said.
"He was supportive of local government, which was pleasing to see."
September 12 started with meetings with Mark Dreyfuss, Warren Truss, Nicola Roxon, Tony Burke and Senator Barnaby Joyce and gave the delegates the chance to have lunch with federal independents MP Tony Windsor and Senator Nick Xenophon.
"We talked about the whole range of things that we had already discussed," mayor Vickery said.
"(Mr Xenophon) was quite interested in the things that affect SA in particular."
The delegation will meet with federal politicians again in the future to further discuss issues relating to local government.