Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (second from right), pictured with Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey, Red Chief LALC board member Gwen Griffen and Chairperson Mitchum Neave at Red Chief LALC in Gunnedah where a Keeping Place will be established.
Grants for Gunnedah community groups
Last week I had pleasure of hitting the road to Gunnedah, to visit a number of local community groups who have received funding from the Federal Government.
Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council has been awarded $76,000 under the first round of the Federal Government’s Indigenous Tourism Fund to establish a Keeping Place to store and preserve local culture. The Gunnedah region has a rich history and proud Indigenous heritage, and this funding will help showcase this to tourists and the local community.
Meanwhile, three volunteer organisations have received funding through the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program.
The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society has been granted $8,800 to construct and install permanent signage at The Mackellar Centre, making it easier to locate for locals and visitors and enabling more people to experience the legacy of iconic bush poet Dorothea Mackellar.
Gunnedah Conservatorium has used a $4,950 grant to build storage for its musical instruments at Town Hall, providing greater access to instruments and allowing more students the opportunity to learn music.
Finally, Gunnedah Rural Museum has been able to purchase new office equipment and promotional material thanks to a $2,500 grant, helping the dedicated volunteers to continue preserving and promoting their collection of early agriculture and transport memorabilia.
Days like these are what I enjoy most in this job, and I look forward to being able to visit more of the communities in my electorate in the coming weeks as lockdowns are lifted.
More local projects approved
Shovels will hit the ground across the Central Darling, Coonamble and Warren shires as more than $1.9 million worth of projects have been approved under Phase Two of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.
The following funding allocations have been made to the three councils for a total of 10 projects:
- Central Darling Shire Council – $716,220
- Coonamble Shire Council – $723,922
- Warren Shire Council – $507,734
This funding will not only improve local roads and provide for new and upgraded amenities across the region, but it will also support job creation, construction businesses and economic growth.
For a full list of projects, visit my website: https://www.markcoulton.com.au/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure-projects-roll-out-across-the-central-darling-coonamble-and-warren-shires/
Ag Visa a win for our farmers
Regional Australia is a step closer to welcoming the next generation of migrants to secure its future, with the Liberal and National Government’s historic new Australian Agriculture Worker Visa now in place.
The creation of this visa is a landmark moment for the sector and will help secure the long-term labour force our farmers in the Parkes electorate need. The Nationals will always stand up for regional and rural Australia, and with this Agriculture Visa we have again delivered.
The visa will be available to seasonal workers, skilled and semi-skilled workers. Further details and a fact sheet are available at https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-people/international-labour-mobility/australian-agriculture-visa
Flood support for local primary industries
Primary producers in the Parkes electorate who were impacted by the severe storms and floods in February and March this year can now apply for assistance through the $80 million Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program.
The floods and storms had a devastating impact on the agricultural industry in the Parkes electorate, and this program will help primary producers get back on track, while also providing a flow-on effect to other businesses and communities that rely on these industries to remain viable into the future.
The joint Commonwealth-NSW government funding includes Supply Chain Support grants of between $30,000 and $100,000 for farmers to help aid their recovery by funding the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure, replacing lost livestock, and accessing vet or pest management advice.
For more information and to apply, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/regional-recovery-programs/storm-and-flood-recovery/storm-and-flood-industry-recovery-program. Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au/.