Family and Community Services and Social Housing Minister Brad Hazzard, local MP Adam Marshall and mayor Katrina Humphries braved the bleak weather yesterday to announce $50,000 in state funding to redevelop Cooee Park.
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Though pleased with the news Moree secured a portion of the state's Social Housing Community Improvement Fund, worth more than $4 million, mayor Humphries added a caveat.
“I think it would be lovely to have Cooee Park redesigned and functional,” mayor Humphries said.“But, the community has to step up and look after it.
“If it's vandalised and damaged, there is no point in doing projects like this. We don't want it to be a dumping ground for syringes and other rubbish.”
The Moree Plains Shire Council secured the funding to develop a meeting place in the park where locals could come together, share a barbecue and relax.
“More than $4 million in SHCIF grants were awarded in round one and the Northern Tablelands, under the guidance of Adam Marshall, was successful in securing a chunk of that money for two projects,” Minister Hazzard said.
“The SHCIF is a wonderful grants program designed to build safer, more vibrant and inclusive housing areas that can be shared by the entire community,” Mr Marshall said.
Mr Marshall and Mr Hazzard also toured south Moree to gain a greater insight into possible additions to the area.
Minister Hazzard met with members of Pius X and the community to discuss the current state of south Moree and options for integrating government and non-government services to improve the overall living conditions. “We want people to come up with ideas on how to transform communal areas into something special that locals can be rightly proud of,” Adam Marshall said.
