A RIVERLAND council is set to receive almost $500,000 in additional Federal Government funding to use on local road and infrastructure projects by the end of 2021.
Berri Barmera Council will receive $484,839 in additional stimulus through the Government’s extended Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP), with neighbouring Gerard Council set to receive about $74,000.
The funding is the second grant received by Berri Barmera Council through the LRCIP in 2020, after receiving an allocation in May of almost $300,000, which councillors voted to spend on improving Colin Jennings Apex Park in Berri.
Council chief executive officer Karyn Burton said uses for the LRCIP funding would likely be considered during 2021/22 budget talks.
“We’ve got until December 31, 2021, to spend the funds and right now we are focused on delivering our Drought Communities Programme projects and the Apex Park project,” she said.
“When we do our budget process, it may become quite obvious where we can use that money.
“The Barmera jetty may be one place we look to use the funding because it would fit the program criteria and we don’t know what recommendations will be made in the assessor’s report once we get that back.
“We’re not rushing to come up with a project – we’re going to see what the needs are in the community first.”
Ms Burton said the council was “very lucky” to receive further funding from the Federal Government for local infrastructure projects.
“It will help provide a stimulus as we will hire local contractors and source local supplies and materials which will allow us to get the money into the community,” she said.
Ms Burton said Berri Barmera Council would assist Gerard Council to identify suitable projects to spend its $74,176 allocation on.