The December deadline for community drought funding to be spent is causing concern for Lithgow City Council, as its projects have not yet been green-lighted. The council has asked the Federal Government to consider an extension to June 2020.
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Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee has been asked to help expedite the Federal Government approval process for the $1 million in funding for Lithgow, which was announced as a way to provide stimulus for rural communities and towns who have suffered in drought.
Among the projects proposed by council to get the funding allocation are community hall and facility upgrades, playground improvements, youth programs, mental health initiatives, rural trials and weed control and other community projects.
At the regular council meeting on July 22, councillors expressed their concerns that the funding would need to be spent by December and time was running short.
Cr Stephen Lesslie said it was concerning that the work would need to be completed with approximately 20 weeks to year's end.
He said it would be important to see an extension to June 30, 2020.
"At the moment we've been given a grant and then it's [as if it has] been taken away from us because we won't be able to use it," Cr Lesslie said.
It is understood that the neighbouring council area of Bathurst has had its projects approved.
Mr Gee confirmed the council had written to him on July 12 with concerns "about not being able to complete all of the projects by December".
"I have raised these concerns with the Minister and the process will be that if the deadline can't be met, then it will be a simple matter of requesting an extension of time," he said.
"I'm looking forward to working with the council on getting some really worthwhile community projects up and running, while at the same time giving our area a welcome economic boost through this local spending."
Mr Gee said the Drought Communities Programme funding for Lithgow was currently in the process of being assessed and spent.
"The council submitted its projects for approval on June 5 and they are currently being assessed," he said.
"I am expecting the approvals process to be completed in the very near future."
The $1 million allocation from the Federal Government was announced on March 26.
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