Funding windfall for community groups

There is no doubt it is a massive windfall as these are funds no-one expected to have a year ago. 

Additionally, the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has $9 million to spend on public infrastructure; also funds they had no prospect of prior to the council amalgamation. 

The $10 million came from the State Government when they announced the merger of Cootamundra and Gundagai Shire Councils against the wishes of the majority of residents.

No group should look a gift horse in the mouth; the money has the potential to do a lot of good in the community, however is it bringing people around to a more positive stance on the council merger?

The simple answer looks like that is not the case.

Concern, and from some residents anger, at the way the State Government went about the process of amalgamation still exists across the new council area.

One Cootamundra Herald reader wrote on social media in response to Wednesday’s ‘Funding Windfall’ front page:  “You have to admire the State Government for the magic money that has become the Stronger Communities funding. When they are having problems with the way they have handled the amalgamation throw money at it to make them look like they really care. Just remember it is your tax dollars they are spending.”

The day-to-day running of the new combined council appears to be running smoothly; parks and gardens are being looked after, rubbish and recycling bins collected, roads repaired and all of the usual items ticked off on but a simmering undercurrent of discontent that the communities of Cootamundra and Gundagai were not listened to remains.

The future will be telling as to whether the amalgamation works.

In the meantime, there is no denying the distribution of Stronger Communities funding is a windfall for the community as a whole with projects previously sitting on a wishlist now given the green light to proceed.

The Cootamundra Herald will publish a list of all Stronger Communities grant recipients when available this month.