Councils receive funding boost for local priorities

AUGUST 20, 2018: Four councils in the Dawson electorate will receive more than $22 million in grants this financial year to spend according to local priorities, as first payments have now been made under the 2018-19 Financial Assistance Grant Program. The great thing about today’s funding is councils are free to spend this untied grant money according to local priorities, including for infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and roads projects.Funding allocations are as follows:

• Whitsunday Regional Council: $677,424 (Financial year total of $5,310,051)
• Mackay Regional Council:  $717,327  (Financial year total of $6,068,182)
• Burdekin Shire Council: $418,327 (Financial year total of $3,544,491)
• Townsville City Council: $868,721 ((Financial year total of $7,126,625)

Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh said the program was a prime example of the Liberal National Government’s commitment to supporting the efforts of local government to deliver the services and facilities their communities need.“Under the program, the Government is providing local governments with a total of $2.4 billion in untied grants in 2018-19,” Dr McVeigh said.“I am looking forward to seeing our local councils target local priorities with this funding, along with additional funding provided by the Coalition Government under the Roads to Recovery, Black Spot and Bridges Renewal programs.”Full details of the allocations to councils under the Financial Assistance Grant Program are available online at regional.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx