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Villages offered $5000 each for economic and social needs

2nd of May, 2003 10:22 am

RESIDENTS of Delungra, Gilgai, Ashford, Yetman and Bonshaw will be given the chance to win up to $5000 for each village to spend on their community's economic or social needs.

The money has been set aside in Inverell Shire Council's next budget to help shire villages maintain and improve their viability.

To get the money, community representatives will have to present council with a proposal that will improve community life.

Inverell Shire general manager Paul Henry said the shire's villages were vital contributors to the fabric of the shire and councillors believed these small communities should he supported.

The council already provides seed funding for community representative groups (progress associations, hall committees and so on) and offers a $10,000 cultural and sporting grant for villages on top of the regular maintenance program but Mr Henry said this was an initiative to take the commitment further.

The object is to help stimulate projects or village development to strengthen village communities.

Councillors and staff looking to sort out localised priorities are already using many of the villages' representative groups as a sounding board.

"They provide feedback to the council on local needs and issues and many are evolving into more economic focus.”

This evolution has opened the door to the extra funding option.

Mr Henry said the new funding would be available at the start of the new financial year on July 1 with local committees expected to make their submissions for councillors' consideration.

He said the council had a strong commitment to its villages and was looking to offer the most effective funding and support service it could.

Mr Henry said it was important for village residents to know they and their communities had a future.

But they needed to present a considered and united approach to council on what projects or initiatives they believed would enhance that future.

"Villages provide a wide range of community benefits to the residents of that area and we'd like to help them not only survive but develop.”