Regional fund ‘axed’

MALLEE councils are being “robbed” of potential federal funding by the Victorian Government’s decision to axe the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, according to Member for Mallee Anne Webster.

A Victorian Government spokeswoman refused to confirm if the fund had been discontinued, but said it had “ensured regional Victoria has near record-low unemployment”.

But Dr Webster claimed the state funding of more than $100 million per year had been “ripped away” from regional communities, meaning councils can’t access the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program due to the need to match funding.

“The Growing Regions Program provides grants of between $500,000 and $15 million to local government entities and not-for-profit organisations,” she said.

“Roads won’t be fixed, and sporting facilities won’t be built, councils don’t have spare cash to deliver projects, or repair roads for their communities now.

“I have spoken to council chief executives and they feel stranded, councillors are worried about being able to meet their community’s needs.

“One of my 12 councils has told me their total revenue is $12 million and they have 5000km of local roads which will remain potholed due to lack of state and federal funding.

“Councils are not only now having additional cultural agreements imposed on every decision they make, but many feel powerless because they can’t access state funding and will not be able to access federal funding through the Regional Growth Fund.”

The government spokeswoman said the fund had “created jobs, secured investment, diversified local economies and improved the liveability of our regional cities and towns”.

“We’re investing more than $5 billion in this year’s budget right throughout regional Victoria on the projects and services that matter to local communities – from cheaper V/Line fares, free kinder, hospital upgrades and bringing back the SEC,” she said.