Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he’s relieved the Labor Party has agreed to fund two bushfire recovery projects that were in danger of having money taken away.
The Sarsfield and Ensay Recreation Reserve projects received $5.9 million in the former Coalition Government’s March budget but have been in limbo ever since, despite repeated requests for confirmation of the grants.
This week the community groups were advised the new government will honour the original Community Development Grant announcements.
“It’s a huge win for the communities and a victory for common sense,” Mr Chester said.
“I’m relieved that our efforts to lobby the government and explain the importance of these two projects has delivered a positive result, despite the months of waiting.
“As I repeatedly warned the Minister, both privately and publicly over the past five months, a failure by the government to support both of these projects would amount to an enormous breach of trust with the two communities that were directly impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.”
Mr Chester said he was looking forward to working closely with the community groups to finalise designs and contracts to get the projects completed as soon as possible.
“Both Sarsfield and Ensay communities have waited too long…now it’s time to get the projects done,” Mr Chester said.
“Almost three years after the bushfires, the communities want to see more action on the ground and these grants will help enormously to provide a focal point for community life in the future.”.
