Wednesday, 24 February 2016
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is urging Glen Innes Severn, Gwydir and Uralla Shire Councils to apply for one-off grants from the State Government’s $4 million Innovation Fund, to deliver better services and better infrastructure in their local communities.
Mr Marshall said small councils in country NSW who were not a part of a merger proposal and have communities of less than 10,000 people were eligible to apply for an innovation grant to help them more effectively address their particular challenges.
“Small country communities and their councils face unique issues and challenges and the Innovation Fund recognises this and provides some financial help,” Mr Marshall said.
“The grants are being offered over two $2 million rounds to help councils and their communities develop new ideas and new ways of working to provide better services and better infrastructure.
“This might include developing more efficient processes, different ways of delivering services, sharing resources with other councils, or using technology to help overcome the challenge of distance.
Mr Marshall said it was important that all councils across country NSW received support to deliver better services and better infrastructure, regardless of whether they were subject to a merger proposal or not.
“It is vital that communities have confidence their council is financially sound, operating efficiently and is in a strong position to guide community growth and deliver quality services,” he said.
“In addition to the $4 million available through the Innovation Fund, the government is offering more than $5 million in seed funding to establish new regional Joint Organisations to help councils work together on important regional issues.”