$21 million to flow to councils

AUGUST 19, 2015: Councils in the Dawson electorate are set to benefit from more than $21 million in funding this financial year under the Australian Government’s Financial Assistance Grant programme.It is funding which secures local jobs and is untied, so councils can spend it according to local priorities, including for infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and roads projects.We’re committed to supporting local government to deliver the services and facilities they need.The Dawson electorate will receive a total of $21, 274,001 this financial year. This includes early payments of $10,630,491 to ensure councils had immediate access to untied funding to support local priorities.The first quarterly payments for 2015-16 have been made.Nationwide, the Australian Government is providing $2.3 billion to Local Governments in 2015-16.Councils in the electorate of Dawson will receive the following Financial Assistance Grants funding:Mackay Regional Council                    $6,321,185 in total                  $780,748 quarterly Whitsunday Regional Council           $4,739,876 in total                  $602,200 quarterly Burdekin Shire Council                       $3, 328,728 in total                 $427,149 quarterly Townsville City Council                       $6,884,212 in total                  $850,780 quarterly  This funding is in addition to the Government’s $3.2 billion Roads to Recovery programme - $1.45 billion more than Labor provided under their programme.Councils can also benefit from Round Two of the Government’s new $300 million Bridges Renewal Programme which is available exclusively to local government. Up to $100 million will be provided for the repair and replacement of local bridges around Australia to deliver better transport links for their communities and industries.Applications for Round 2 close on 31 August. [box style="1 or 2"]Other Liberal National Government funding details:

• a further $200 million under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme will provide councils with funding for important local infrastructure over five years from 2014-15.
• an additional $200 million has been committed to further reduce crashes over the next two years under the $500 million Black Spot Programme.

The Coalition Government is committed to ensuring local councils and the communities they serve get the funding they need to deliver the infrastructure and services of the 21st century.Full details of the allocations to councils under the Financial Assistance Grant Programme are available online at regional.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx[/box]