Cash injection for Cardinia

By Melissa Grant
CARDINIA Shire Council will receive a $1.162 million windfall as part of a Federal Government program to build and repair community infrastructure across Australia.
The $300 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program would boost local economic development and support local jobs, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.
The Federal Government’s cash-injection into the country’s 565 local councils was announced at Mr Rudd’s mayors summit on Tuesday.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald, who attended the summit, said it was exciting that the Federal Government was taking an interest in local councils.
“It’s the first in an ongoing relationship with the Federal Government with the Cardinia Shire and all other councils,” Cr Ronald said.
“I thought that, in the scheme of things, it ($1.162 million) was a pretty good result.
“The Federal Government is trying to cut out the middle person, which is the State Government, which hamstrings us on all our projects.”
Community infrastructure eligible for the $300 million includes town halls, libraries, parks, sport and recreation facilities, stadiums, pools, playgrounds and facilities such as footbridges and bus shelters.
The Federal Government has also set up a $50 million strategic projects fund for larger-scale community infrastructure.
Councils are eligible to apply for grants of over $2 million from the fund for projects which require joint local, State and Commonwealth funding.
Cardinia Shire chief executive Garry McQuillan welcomed the funding announcement.
“Cardinia Shire Council had lobbied the Federal Government for funding of growth areas, through the National Growth Area Alliance, asking for more support for new communities, and it is good to see some money flowing our way,” he said.
Mr McQuillan said the council would soon consider what projects it would spend the $1.162 million on.
“The prioritisation of projects to be put forward for the funding will be discussed in the coming weeks,” he said.