WELLINGTON Shire Council and Latrobe City Council have agreed to sign a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding, officially forming the Coal Councils Australia Alliance.
It represents the first important step in securing a share of the Federal Government's $200 million Structural Adjustment Scheme from the Climate Change Action Fund.
The agreement will strengthen ties between those municipalities likely to be impacted by the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
Other alliance members include Newcastle City and Muswellbrook Shire councils in New South Wales, and Central Highlands, Isaac and Whitsunday regional councils in Queensland.
The alliance was formed after a meeting between the councils in Canberra in June, where it was decided a joint response to the potential impacts that the CPRS would have on their respective economies was the best way to lobby the Federal government for assistance.
Wellington mayor Darren McCubbin said the alliance would be seeking to quantify the potential social impact that the CPRS may have on the member's communities.
"Social impact analysis will be the key to assisting regions to demonstrate the likely impacts of the CPRS,'' he said.
"All three levels of government need to embrace a collaborative approach if we are to minimise the impacts on our communities.
"Broad statements and anecdotal evidence wont be enough; we need to advocate for our community with hard facts founded in strong research.''
Cr McCubbin said the Coal Councils Australia Alliance would provide a greater focus for negotiations.
"There are a range of organisations and stakeholders lobbying the Federal Government on the issue of the CPRS, it is important that we build a united front to enable us to bring some weight to our negotiations,'' he said.
Latrobe mayor Lisa Price said it was the responsibility of all local governments to provide leadership and lobby on significant issues.
"Members of the Coal Councils Australia Alliance are passionate about their communities; and we all agree that we have an important role to play in representing the best interests of our communities and securing for them a sustainable and prosperous future,'' she said.
"The communities of Latrobe and Wellington can rest assured that we will be exhausting every possible avenue to make sure that their voice and concerns are heard.''
Cr Price added that one of the alliances first priorities would be seeking clarification on the Structural Adjustment Stream of the Climate Change Action Fund.
"There is a potential $200 million dollars available to adversely affected communities, and we want to make sure that we get our fair share,'' she said.
"We are seeking details on its timing, administration and intent.
By working together we hope to be able to approach the fund in a proactive manner that will enable funds to be allocated to minimise the impacts of the CPRS on communities before they occur.''