Directed at infrastructure upgrades for sporting organisations across the shire, the subsidy will significantly boost the $2.34 million currently being spent on community projects in the region.
Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica was ecstatic at the future benefits the municipality would receive as a result of the much-needed cash injection.
“The nominated projects are spread the length and breadth of the shire with the townships of Nathalia, Numurkah, Cobram, Yarrawonga, Picola, Yarroweyah, Wunghnu and Tungamah also receiving funding for much-needed projects,” he said.
“This funding will make an enormous amount of difference and allow us to undertake and complete projects now, instead of them being put into our wish list.”
From construction of toilet facilities at the Yarroweyah Football Club ground to playground equipment installation at Cobram's Federation Park, a range of Moira Shire projects are set to be bolstered by the financial backing.
However, there have been twists and turns aplenty in the drought funding debacle.
Late last year Moira Shire was controversially denied drought funding because it fell 0.1 per cent short in its required agricultural industry employment statistic.
The decision was then overturned, but Moira Shire did not receive any additional sports funding.
Now that the funding has finally eventuated, Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum praised the work of all involved and looked to a brighter future for communities crippled by drought.
“The Drought Communities Program has been a long and laborious process in ensuring the Moira Shire are going to be the recipients of this money. It is now great to see the council has added to the $1 million that they were awarded, now to the tune of $2.34 million being spent right throughout the Moira Shire,” he said.
“It is $1 million that the Moira Shire desperately deserved, and it took a while for it to turn up, but it did turn up and now we are seeing these funds being spent on communities who have being been hardest hit by the horrible drought over the last 18 months.
“I want to thank Mark Henderson and Libro Mustica for their continued patience in this program coming to fruition.”
Mr Drum highlighted community sporting clubs as pillars in keeping drought-stricken towns afloat, and placed his full support behind the initiative to give back to those clubs.
“Whilst the (rain) break has been fantastic, and start to year has been amazing, it is worth remembering that those families hit by drought will take until at least Christmas to see any of the returns coming into the farmers’ pockets,” he said.
“Many of our sporting clubs hold the community together through these tough times. It has been sporting clubs which act as the centre of these communities and bring people together.
“The projects which have been selected by the Moira Shire are the ones which have been advocated for by really strong communities. It is full credit to the Moira Shire; they have been able to step in and help these communities who have been affected by the drought.”
