COUNCILS across the New England have pocketed an extra $1 million as the federal government unveils a new program targeting drought stricken areas.
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Upgrading water works will be at the top of most council wish-lists with the bonus bucks flowing into the budgets.
However, a number of New England mayors said more detail was needed to clarify where the fresh dosh could be spent.
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Liverpool Plains mayor Andrew Hope said some smaller villages, including Premer and Blackville, might be able to have their water supplies shored-up with the funding.
“Their systems are quite old and antiquated so we could look at making them more efficient,” he said.
He said farming was crucial to the shire and businesses had started to feel the lack of cash being spent in towns as the drought took hold.
“Any funding injection which can create some employment, even if it’s infrastructure being built is welcome,” he said.
“We’re quite happy to see money coming into the community.”
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Tenterfield mayor Peter Petty said he hadn’t met with the council CEO yet to discuss potential projects.
Cr Petty said the shire had just started to catch up to the rest of the state in terms of feeling the effects of this year’s drought.
“The eastern side of the shire is holding up pretty well,” he said.
“We’ve just had some offers of hay coming through, that was organised through the council.”
“We’re just trying to be as helpful as we can.”
Uralla mayor Michael Pearce said he was just “reading through the dos and don’ts” of the funding stream.
But he also listed water infrastructure as a priority for the shire.
“Sourcing water, that’ll be one of the main items of note, but we’ll look at all aspects,” Cr Pearce said.
He said farming was a big industry in Uralla, but the shops were still strong.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce, said all 10 councils in his electorate were eligible for the extension of this assistance.
“Every council in the New England, from the Upper Hunter to Tenterfield, can apply for this funding which demonstrates just how widespread and how seriously we are taking these worsening drought conditions in our region,” Mr Joyce said.
“It will give local councils on the ground the opportunity to use the drought funding where they see fit whether that’s for transporting water, community drought information sessions or hiring extra hands to help with the drought relief measures.”
The funding will deliver flexibility for councils to choose projects that will have the biggest impact. These can include:
- Employing local contractors to undertake repairs and maintenance
- Upgrading or building new community facilities
- Holding events and undertaking drought-relief activities
- Carting potable water into communities for drinking and bathing
NSW councils receiving funding:
- Armidale Regional
- Blayney
- Brewarrina
- Broken Hill
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Cabonne
- Central Darling
- Cobar
- Coonamble
- Dubbo Regional
- Forbes
- Gilgandra
- Glen Innes Severn
- Gunnedah
- Gwydir
- Inverell
- Lachlan
- Liverpool Plains
- Mid-Western Regional
- Moree Plains
- Muswellbrook
- Narrabri
- Narromine
- Oberon
- Parkes
- Tamworth Regional
- Tenterfield
- Unincorporated
- Upper Hunter
- Uralla
- Walcha
- Walgett
- Warren
- Warrumbungle
- Wentworth