Vital community projects in every local government area across regional NSW are under threat, with the Labor government refusing to rule out scrapping the hugely successful Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF).
Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson has urged the Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, to stand up for communities and roll out the $90 million in funding that had been set aside by the previous government for the next round of the program.
“Every day we’re reminded of the success of this program, and how it has made a really meaningful difference to the lives of people living in communities all across the Myall Lakes electorate,” Mrs Thompson said.
“In the most recent round alone, this fund contributed $207,709 towards the redevelopment of the Forster Surf Life Saving Club, $100,000 towards the Worimi Womens Project’s intergenerational cultural knowledge transfer program, and $435,000 towards the Blackhead Skatepark, to name a few.
“If Chris Minns and Tara Moriarty scrap this program, they are showing contempt for the people of regional NSW and saying that we don’t deserve the same kind of amenities that those in the city take for granted.”
NSW Nationals leader and Shadow Minister for Regional NSW Dugald Saunders said the Stronger Country Communities Fund is an important program that provides the infrastructure required to ensure regional communities thrive.
“This program was established by the former Coalition government in 2017, and since then has seen $660 million invested into more than 2500 projects across the bush. It’s been vitally important for regional communities,” Mr Saunders said.
“We know in some cases there are projects that simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the funding the former Coalition government invested into this program. If Labor walks away from the Stronger Country Communities Fund it’s letting down every regional community in NSW.”