Shire will cover federal shortfall
The Shire of Narrogin has announced it will cover close to $70,000 of Federal Government funding that was withdrawn from community groups when the Regional Development Australia Fund was canned.
Four Narrogin community groups were set to receive $67,643 from the Shire as part of a grant designed to enrich regional towns.
Late last year a RDA newsletter announced the funding would not go ahead, being followed by an official letter from the Federal Government stating the entire funding round would be cancelled.
The Regional Development Fund in conjunction with the Liveable Cities Program was part of $150 million allocated to regional development until 2018 and ran for five rounds.
Shire chief executive Geoff McKeown said the council was disappointed the money was taken off the table but the local government would be able to make funds available to the four groups immediately, if they were still required.
“I have formally written to the four community groups to let them know that if they want to proceed with their projects, the money will be there. We just need to be advised if they want it, as some projects still require additional funding to go ahead,” he said.
“But if the clubs want to start straight away, they can.”
Mr McKeown said the funds were found in the Shire budget and no other Shire business would be affected by the money.
“We will have to make savings in other areas to fund this, but we won’t be cutting anything,” he said.
Narrogin Speedway is slated to receive $30,000 for clubroom extensions, the Upper Great Southern Hockey club is set to receive $16,660 for a lighting upgrade while Narrogin Golf Club is set to pocket $6746 for a shed extension and Narrogin Menshed is expected to receive $14,237 of funds for its building extension.
