The funds will be split into $900,000 for upgrading infrastructure and energising rural communities, $100,000 for the Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Choose Inverell marketing strategy.

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce was pleased to announce the funding, along with $1 million to Tamworth Regional Council for sealing rural roads, $360,000 to Glen Innes Severn Council for re-sheeting roads and $500,000 to the Armidale Regional Council for the Armidale region drought infrastructure program. 

“At Inverell, Council is refurbishing 10 community facilities and will be calling on local tradespeople and local suppliers to assist,” Mr Joyce said.

“They are also hosting a series of free community events designed to promote local business throughout the region.”

All 10 New England local government areas were eligible for the funding, which Mr Joyce said was helping to stimulate the economies of regional towns. 

“A major road project can keep a town going with the motels booked, meals selling from the local hotel, money flowing through cash tills and local people in work,” he said.

Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Decentralisation Bridget McKenzie said despite the impact of natural disasters, regional and rural Australia continues to punch above its weight in the nation’s economy.

“With regional Australia accounting for around two-thirds of our exports and employing hundreds of thousands of Australians, supporting these communities now is a small price to ensure we keep the economy growing,” Minister McKenzie said.

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