Some community road schemes kept alive in WA
With talk of the federal budget’s hamstring job on state governments, some local governments are at least a little bit pleased at what their states have managed to provide.
The West Australian government handed down its budget this week too, including a re-enlivened fund for the state’s most distant councils.
WA has reinstated funding to country infrastructure projects, which was welcomed by the local government sector.
The WA Local Government Association requested $20 million be returned keep existing projects going, scheme that commenced under the former Country Local Government Fund.
WALGA president Troy Pickard says the decision to bring back the funds will be met with applause by the local governments, which had started their projects in good faith with previous arrangements.
“It is a sensible and appropriate decision by the minister to recognise council's had made commitments and needed that process honoured,” he said.
“The Country Local Government Fund was well accessed by local governments and provided for a raft of projects that would otherwise not have been possible for many communities.”
“The reinstated funding will provide for 36 local governments to complete important community projects however Mayor Pickard said there was a genuine need for the fund program to be reinstated in its entirety.”