Boost to New England Electorate through local government grants, says Joyce

16 Feb 2015

 

 

FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said councils in the New England Electorate welcomed their third quarterly payment under the Australian Government’s Financial Assistance Grant programme.

 

Mr Joyce said the Australian Government is providing $575 million to local councils nationwide today, including $10,245,572 to the New England Electorate.

 

“The Australian Government is committed to supporting local communities to deliver the services and facilities they need,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“The Financial Assistance Grant programme will deliver $9.3 billion to local governments from 2014–15 to 2018–19 for investing in services and building community infrastructure.

 

“The great thing about today’s funding is councils are free to spend this untied grant money according to local priorities, including for infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and road projects.

 

Tamworth Regional Council will receive a payment of $2.531 million, part of the overall payment for the financial year of $10,127,024, while the Armidale Dumaresq Council will receive slightly more than $1 million – about a quarter of its overall payment of $4,076,494.

 

“As such, it is tangible recognition from the Abbott/Truss Government of the importance of local councils, which is in addition to the Australian Government’s $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery, $500 million Black Spot and $300 million Bridges Renewal programmes.

 

“I am looking forward to seeing our local councils target local priorities with today’s Financial Assistance Grant funding.”

 

Last week Mr Joyce announced $1,575,000 for the New England Electorate under the Bridges Renewal Programme including, $705,000 for the Uralla Shire Council to replace the bridge at Abington Creek.

 

The Tamworth Regional Council will receive $170,000 for the Catong Gully Bridge on the Lower Somerton Road while the Tenterfield Shire council receives $350,000 for the Bookookoorara Creek Bridge on the Mount Lindesay Road.

 

The Glenn Innes Severn Shire council will receive $350,000 for a bridge over the Severn River on the Nine Mile Road.

 

Mr Joyce said the good news kept on coming with $421,000 for his electorate under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme, including $135,000 for an intersection upgrade at the Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange.

 

A new decoupling and inspection area will be constructed with $86,000 to the Gunnedah Shire Council, north of the town on the Kamilaroi Highway. The Kamilaroi Highway will share in $200,000 for green reflector sites as well as on the Kidman Way, the Gwydir and Mitchell Highways.

 

Local councils will receive the following funding under the Australian Government Financial Assistance Grant programme:

 

Full details of the allocations to councils under the Financial Assistance Grant programme are available online at: http://regional.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx.

 

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson, Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce and Tamworth Regional Council Mayor Col Murray at the intersection to the Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange on the Glen Artney Estate.

 

 

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