$60 million cash injection boosts SA’s drought-affected regions
Millions of dollars for community projects are flowing to parched regions across SA, boosting local companies and keeping town tills ringing during the tough times.
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Communities ravaged by drought have been buoyed by $62 million in funding for local projects – a much needed-economic stimulus helping businesses stay afloat.
The money, distributed across SA, has come from the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program to pay for projects which are lifting spirits and keeping town tills ticking over.
Drought-affected communities have been invited to apply for up to $2 million each in grants for projects, with 32 councils now eligible for the cash injection and the latest round of projects to be determined early this year.
Kimba has already spent $1 million on a new water reticulation scheme and swimming centre upgrades, and Mayor Dean Johnson said more money on the way would cover the cost of paying farmers to build new footpaths, boosting their income during the tough times.
“It’s a three-month opportunity for some farmers to get some money coming in before the season hopefully opens very wet,” Mr Johnson said.
“But the truth is droughts affect whole communities. Local businesses are suffering as well and even wage earners – most of those are being cut down in hours so we’re tying to make sure everyone is looked after.”
Peterborough Council has already spent $1 million on projects such as major sporting upgrades, public toilets and footpath upgrades, using local firms wherever possible to carry out the work.
Workers drawn to the town were boosting the bottom lines of pubs and cafes, Mayor Ruth Whittle said, which was vital because the drought had drastically reduced spending.
Extra state and federal support, along with charity drives directly helping farmers was boosting community spirits, as the struggles of Mid North locals were highlighted across the state.
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Mayor Wayne Thomas said his region was using its Drought Communities money to build a new clubroom, upgrade halls and run programs to stimulate resilience and deal with depression.
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While not affected as badly as other areas, Mr Thomas said grapegrowers had been impacted by high water costs, and farm services businesses by producers’ reduced cashflow.
Livestock SA president Joe Keynes said although the Drought Communities funds were not directed towards producers, his organisation supported any money pumped into the regions.
Other funds were directly helping farmers, he said, such as council rate relief for people on the Farm Household Allowance and grants of up to $50,000 for infrastructure to help farmers secure emergency water supplies.
Peterborough tennis and basketball player Abbigail Duncan-Tiver, 18, said the region was doing it “very tough” but the sports funding, alongside other help such as the delivery of 600 bales of hay in December, was helping boost spirits.