RURAL councils have been burdened with large amounts of infrastructure that the state opposition says the government needs to address. The opposition has criticised the Brumby government over a report into the financial sustainability of 18 small rural councils including Loddon Shire, Gannawarra Shire and Central Goldfields Shire. Loddon Shire CEO John McLinden said the issue was not a lack of funding from the state government but rather a structural issue.“State government provides all councils with a lot of funding and a lot of it is for one off construction grants,’’ he said.Mr McLinden said the problem was municipalities with small populations and larger areas to administer.He said rural councils usually have a large amount of infrastructure.“It can be a burden to maintain and there is not a lot of money to pay the bills,’’ he said.“There is an infrastructure gap and we don’t want to take more money from the community.’’Mr McLinden said councils were working with the state government to fix the gap.Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne dismissed concerns raised by the opposition and said the Auditor-General’s annual report into Victorian councils’ financial sustainability last November found no council was in the high risk category. “In contrast, it showed councils had improved their financial sustainability, with a decrease in the number in the medium risk category,’’ he said. “While core infrastructure is funded by the federal government, we are committed to supporting rural and regional Victorian communities and are delivering a record investment through a range of programs. “Federal Financial Assistance Grants are administered throughout the state, weighted towards rural and regional councils. “We do understand the pressure on local communities and my department will continue to work closely with councils to support them.’’ Shadow Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said the sustainability of these councils was dependent on the provision of guaranteed long-term funding.“Rural councils face huge financial constraints because of the burdening of responsibilities without appropriate funding from John Brumby,’’ she said. The 18 councils are: Alpine, Ararat, Buloke, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Indigo, Loddon, Mansfield, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.Sharing an option – Page 18