Published on Wednesday, 5 February 2020 at 12:34:20 PM
Local councils in the Midwest have expressed their disappointment and frustration after being excluded in the federal government’s recent announcement of drought funding.
A total of $47 million will be distributed amongst 52 councils across Australia, including 35 local governments in Western Australia as part of the Drought Communities Programme.
The recent announcement have local communities questioning the eligibility criteria for the selected areas.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said it was disappointing to see so many communities struggling in drought affected areas, miss out on critical funding.
“The formula for the selection of local governments seems irrational and we are frustrated by the methodology used,” he said.
“While we are happy for those councils who were selected, it is safe to say that some actually had bumper harvests and while their rainfall may have decreased – it is still a lot more than what some areas received who didn’t get funding.
“It seems as though the criteria was not well thought through and that’s why the City of Greater Geraldton, along with other local governments will be making a stand.”
The criteria for chosen local governments was based on rainfall deficiency data from the Bureau of Meteorology as well as population and industry data.
Shire of Morawa President and WALGA life member Karen Chappel said she was disillusioned by the announcement.
“The use of the deficiency tool to determine the chosen councils will see places like Morawa never meet the criteria,” she said.
“We sit among local governments who were chosen and whose rainfall data is a lot higher than many of those councils who didn’t get funding.
“I believe we must band together as a group and campaign for this eligibility criteria to be reviewed, as it is not fair or sensible.”
Mayor Van Styn will be meeting with relevant ministers in Canberra as well as local member Melissa Price to discuss the issue and lobby for funding.
The full announcement and the selected Councils can be found at https://www.pm.gov.au/media/more-support-communities-affected-drought
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