Council defends right to $10m share of federal funding intended for drought-affected communities

A local council has again been forced to defend its right to apply for a share of funding intended for drought affected communities. The council was awarded $10m – the equal largest grant of 163 recipients.

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LAUNCESTON Council has again defended its right to apply for a share of federal funding intended for drought-affected regional communities.

It was announced in June that City of Launceston Council would receive $10m through round four of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

More than $200m was awarded across 163 grants and Launceston’s was the equal largest with only Coffs Harbour City Council and Ballina Shire Council getting the same.

According to the Australian Government website, Launceston’s grant was to “build a Creative Precinct on neighbouring sites in the centre of Launceston” and the project would have a total cost of $81,579,120.

Questions have been raised over the council’s eligibility for funding designated for drought impacted regions and were again raised in public question time at Thursday’s council meeting.

Ratepayer Ray Norman asked if “whoever is currently responsible” for the “operational matter” would provide copies of the funding application and applications for funding guidelines to all councillors “so they can satisfy themselves that the application was indeed made in good faith.

He said mapping published by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) indicated that the municipality was not drought effected, “neither was anywhere else in Tasmania” during the eligible period.

Mr Norman has previously requested a copy of the application be made available to ratepayers “in the cause of transparency”.

Mayor of Launceston Albert van Zetten at the Launceston Town Hall. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Mayor Albert van Zetten responded saying the BBRF was launched in December 2019 and BOM data demonstrated the city had “experienced a rainfall deficiency in the 20 months between [April 1, 2018 and November 30, 2019].

“Staff are currently working through the elements of the funding offer with the councillors and have previously provided all of the better building better regions eligibility requirements.”

Cr van Zetten directed Mr Norman to council chief executive Michael Stretton’s response to the claims on the council website.

“Successful projects included $2.4 million for an RV and caravan rest stop in the Shire of Upper Gascoyne, $2.1 million for a new public swimming pool in Jerramungup, $8.6 million for the redevelopment of the Maude Street Mall in Shepparton and $10 million for a new sport and community facility in Coffs Harbour,” Mr Stretton’s statement said.

“The BBRF is a very important funding stream for Local Government, as it is the only means outside of an election commitment for councils to apply for funding.”

Mr Stretton said the grant round was available to all regional locations where BOM rainfall data indicated an extended period with a significant decline in rainfall or none at all and BOM data “clearly showed a ‘severe deficiency’ in rainfall for the region”.

“Our application was submitted in good faith last year after we made all the necessary inquiries directly with the Federal Government as to whether we were eligible or not,” Mr Stretton said.

“If we weren’t deemed eligible at that initial stage, our grant application would not have been submitted – it’s as simple as that.”

On Thursday, Mr Stretton said council and the Coordinator General’s Office were working through the processes and planning around the acceptance of the grant.

“We will share further details with the public once this process is complete,” he said.

“What we can say is that it is intended that the funding will be used to invest in publicly-owned assets that will promote new and emerging industries in Launceston’s CBD, which in turn will increase employment and economic growth, as well as the overall liveability of the City.”