Local communities across the region have again had their hopes dashed with the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, that the Abbott Government will only honour a handful of projects across regional Australia awarded under the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King said while the partial reversal of the Abbott Government’s position to deny funding to regional projects was welcome, many communities will still be left in the cold.
“I welcome that the Abbott Government has finally come to its senses by honouring Labor’s funding for two important job-creating projects in Golden Plains Shire ending months of unnecessary uncertainty,” Ms King said.
“However, today’s announcement by Mr Truss also confirms that our community will still miss out on millions of dollars in important community infrastructure.
“Over $12 million of local funding announced in Rounds 5a and 5b of the Regional Development Australia Fund is still facing the Abbott axe.”
The Regional Development Australia Fund was designed to stimulate regional economies and create jobs by funding important community infrastructure projects.
“These projects were fully funded in the May budget and deliver critical recreational, community and job–creating infrastructure for our region,” Ms King said.
“Refusing to release this much needed funding into the community will deny our regions the economic shot in the arm they need to maintain local employment and create new jobs.”
Regional Development Australia Fund projects to be honoured:
Golden Plains
• $4,170,000 to create a water delivery ‘backbone’ for the Golden Plains Food Production and Employment Precinct in Lethbridge
• $480,000 to provide a multipurpose family services and community hub in Meredith
Regional Development Australia Fund (Rounds 5a and 5b) projects still facing the Abbott axe:
Ballarat
• $891,000 for the All Inclusive Playground at Victoria Park, Ballarat
Moorabool
• $7 million for the Bacchus Marsh Indoor Swimming Centre
• $379,314 for six projects identified as priorities for communities across Moorabool, including:
o $236,814 for Maddingley Park Improvements
o $19,250 for Masons Lane Redevelopment (Stage 2)
o $35,000 for Ballan Recreation Reserve Improvements
o $20,000 for Wallace Pavilion Extension (Stage 2)
o $26,500 for Bungaree Oval Irrigation works
o $41,750 for Gordon Tennis Court Upgrade
Hepburn
• $1.25 million for the Multi-Purpose Centre at Victoria Park, Daylesford
• $275,000 for Hepburn Shire Council to improve Springhill Tylden Road.
Golden Plains
• $317,337 for the extension of the Smythesdale Business and Wellbeing Hub
Grampians
• $2.2 million for the upgrade of Longerenong College student residential facilities