Council pursues $1 million drought funding
Published 18th December 2018
| 18 December 2018 |
Mayor Rodney Reid said applications for the proposed programs would be compiled as quickly as possible.
Looking after the hubs of our community – our halls, clubs, sporting grounds and pools – is the focus for a series of programs Wakefield Regional Council will put forward for $1 million Federal drought funding.
The Drought Communities Programme provides up to $1 million for each council to support local infrastructure and other projects for communities and businesses which have been impacted by drought. Wakefield Regional Council was one of the 17 local councils invited to apply for the funding.
At a special meeting last night, Council approved five programs:
• $290,609 Heart of the Community program: for repairs and upgrades to halls, institutes and important local meetings places;
• $417,800 Sustainable Region program: to install solar systems, water efficiency measures and help cut costs for community facilities in the long term;
• $116,591 Community Wellbeing program: to foster development in sporting clubs, tourism and work to improve township lifestyle;
• $100,000 Road access program: to address road access issues for landholders;
• $75,000 Drought projects coordinator: to oversee a highly ambitious program of activities and liaise with community groups involved.
Mayor Rodney Reid said applications for the proposed programs would be compiled as quickly as possible.
“These projects are really exciting and, if approved, most of them will boost the potential and scale of our community spaces,” Mayor Reid said.
“We can’t get shovel ready just yet until the funding is approved but we’ll work at pace to get things moving on the ground as quickly as we can and to ensure the community groups involved can help us deliver.
“Turn around time for the projects is really short. All must be completed by 30 June 2019 in order for them to be funded.
“Thank you to those who provided their feedback during our community consultation. Given the little time we had to make a decision all feedback was helpful during Council’s decision-making.
“Council will notify the community as soon as we hear back from the Programme.”