COROWA’S mayor says a $1.89 million Roads to Recovery funding boost is merely a starting point in fixing his shire’s roads.
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The shire’s slice of the Farrer electorate’s $14.4 million federal handout follows recent Senate approval.
But mayor Fred Longmire said yesterday that the $1,899,133 headed Corowa’s way was what the shire had already factored into its budget.
“It was what we were eligible for and not over and above that,” he said.
“At the end of the day, that’s what we’ve allowed for in our programs.
“If it turns up then that’s a good thing, but it’s not extra money.”
Cr Longmire said Corowa was still well short of the money it needed to maintain a decent, safe road network.
“We’re always on the lookout for the funding we need,” he said.
“It’s not just our council, it’s the same for other councils as well.”
Albury Council will get $624,328, Lockhart $2,131,599, Wodonga $423,579 and Wangaratta $1,069,622.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said the council was “very pleased” to once again receive the Roads to Recovery funding.
“It’s an important annual funding program that helps us maintain and improve roads across Albury,” Cr Mack said.
“The funds will be allocated to various projects that will be delivered in the 2014-15 financial year.”
Farrer MP Sussan Ley said the payments across her electorate followed the passage of the Land Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 through the Senate.
“Importantly, it is each of our 16 councils which choose the road and street projects they want to address,” Ms Ley said.
“As I first alerted in March, passage of the bill was being held up by Labor and the Greens, without either party pointing to a single issue in the legislation they opposed.”
Ms Ley said Labor waved the legislation through the Senate last week, “releasing a vital $2.1 billion in funds”.
She expected the money would be distributed to councils over the next month.
Cr Longmire was a recent critic of the NSW budget for failing to deliver enough money for state roads in his shire.
Corowa is also looking for cash for essential bridge work.