Federal Funds Earmarked for Community Projects

An allocation of $1.38m in funds from the Australian Government has been earmarked by Coffs Harbour City Council for the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Glasshouse Project and the next stage of the Jetty Foreshores Project.

The money has come from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, part of the country’s COVID-19 economic stimulus recovery plan.

“The funding is available for use only on the enhancement of existing, or the creation of new Council infrastructure which has a direct community benefit,” said Mick Raby, Council’s Director Sustainable Infrastructure.

“We looked at Council’s list of priority projects and the Botanic Garden Glasshouse and the carpark component of the Jetty Foreshores Project were the best fits within the grants criteria and timescale.”

The allocation of the available funds will be:

In May 2020, the Australian Government announced a new $500m Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program) to support local councils nationally to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects to help stimulate local economies and communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government used a funding allocation method that is similar to the way it shares funds for the annual Roads to Recovery Program and the road component of the Financial Assistance Grants. This formula takes into consideration road lengths and population – hence Coffs Harbour’s allocation of $1.38m.