Michael Sukkar MP

$12.4 million on its way to Councils in Deakin

Local governments in the electorate of Deakin are set to benefit from funding under the Australian Government’s Financial Assistance Grant programme in 2015-16.

The Australian Government is providing $2.3 billion to local governments nationwide in 2015-16. This includes $1.1 billion in Financial Assistance Grants already paid to councils to ensure they had immediate access to untied funding to support local priorities.

Michael Sukkar, Federal Member for Deakin, said that councils in the electorate of Deakin will share a total of $12.4 million this financial year. This includes the early payment of $6.3 million.

“The Coalition Government is committed to supporting local government to deliver the services and facilities they need,” Michael said.

“We will deliver $9.45 billion to local governments from 2015-16 to 2018-19 through the Financial Assistance Grant programme to provide services and build community infrastructure.

“Councils are free to spend this untied grant funding according to local priorities, including for infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and roads projects.

“I’m pleased to note that the first quarterly payment of $1.5 million for 2015-16 has already been made to the Whitehorse, Manningham, and Maroondah councils,” Michael said.

Councils in Deakin will receive the following Financial Assistance Grants funding:

• Manningham City Council $3,158,017
• Maroondah City Council $5,091,563
• Whitehorse City Council $4,191,661

“This is in addition to the Government’s $3.2 billion Roads to Recovery programme – $1.45 billion more than previous government provided under its programme,” Michael said.

Councils in Deakin can also benefit from Round Two of the Government’s new $300 million Bridges Renewal Programme, which is available exclusively to local government. Up to $100 million will be provided for the repair and replacement of local bridges around Australia to deliver better transport links for their communities and industries.

Applications for Round 2 close on 31 August.

The Government also committed a further $200 million under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme, providing councils with funding for important local infrastructure over five years from 2014-15.

To further reduce crashes on Australian roads, an additional $200 million had been committed by the Government over the next two years under the $500 million Black Spot Programme.

“For Deakin residents, this includes $738,000 to fix the black spots at the intersection of Oban Road and Wonga Road and the intersection of Oban Road and Mullum Mullum Road,” Michael said.

The Coalition Government is committed to ensuring local councils and the communities they serve get the funding they need to deliver the infrastructure and services of the 21st Century.

Full details of the allocations to Councils under the Financial Assistance Grant Programme are available online at regional.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx