The statement came in the wake of several councils, including Moree Shire Council, being told to go back to the drawing board after their initial Drought Communities Program applications were rejected. 

“We haven’t been told that we have not got the drought funding, like some other councils have been told recently,” Cr Harmon said.

“I’m really hoping that that is news for us to say that we have our drought funding - but we haven’t heard anything officially yet.”

Focusing on the promotion and growth of the community, building resilience and infrastructure, Cr Harmon said the council had been creative in meeting the guidelines set out in the package. 

If successful in their application, in their October meeting the council resolved to spend $118,000 on the promotion of economic activity, $500,000 on community resilience programs and $382,000 on community infrastructure projects.

The economic activity section included $100,000 for the Choose Inverell marketing campaign in partnership with Chamber of Commerce and $18,000 to beautify the Ashford CBD.

The community resilience programs would be widespread, with a wide range of events in the shire’s villages, village ‘invigoration projects’ such as the Ashford Bowling Club roof, Bonshaw Hall’s air conditioning and public amenities, solar panels for the Delungra Bowling Club, the Elsmore Hall and Gwydir CWA’s kitchens, Graman Hall repairs, Nullamanna Hall water security and a cricket pitch upgrade, caravan park solar lighting and Diamond Street kerb and gutter in Tingha. The proposal also includes $100,000 in vouchers for community groups and schools to access meat from local butcheries, and to help families pay for sports club memberships.

Cr Harmon said the infrastructure projects submitted were of the kind the council wouldn’t “traditionally” do, and weren’t already on their four year works program, which he said was critical in meeting the guidelines. If successful, the council will put $150,00 towards Equestrian Centre stables, $28,000 to install an access ramp at the Ashford Medical Centre access ramp and $204,000 to a cycleway / footpath network extension.

“We’re hoping we find out that information very soon because we know that those monies have to be expended by the 30th of June, and we’re certainly looking forward to making sure – if we are successful in gaining that $1 million – that we have programs in place so we can actually start rolling that out into the community,” Cr Harmon said.

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