FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Copper Coast Council is pleased to announce $824,398 of the funding received as part of Phase 3 of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program has been distributed across the following projects:
*Rural Roads resheeting/maintenance - $400,000
*Kadina CWMS Effluent Lagoons - $240,000
*Wallaroo to Moonta Cycling and Walking Trail - $169,398
*Provision of lighting for the Art Gallery at the Ascot Theatre - $15,000
Mayor Roslyn Talbot said funding for local roads and infrastructure could not have come at a better time for the Copper Coast community and its tourists after the extreme rainfall event late last month.
“We have long been pushing to improve our roads and the recent floods experienced on the Copper Coast was further evidence of the works required as a number of roads had to be closed,” Mayor Talbot said.
“We have spent a lot of time on our 5 Year Transport and Stormwater Management Plans, and this funding for rural roads resheeting and maintenance will help us put these into action and continue improving these roads, so family and friends can safely arrive at their destinations.
“The Community Wastewater Management Systems (CWMS) across the Copper Coast were also under stress with the downpour, and the $240,000 dedicated to upgrading of the Kadina CWMS Effluent Lagoons will ensure we continue to comply with the Environmental Improvement Plan we have with the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority.”
Mayor Talbot is also thrilled the Wallaroo to Moonta Cycling and Walking Trail has now been fully financed with the additional $169,398 contribution from the Federal Government, while the $15,000 for lighting at the Ascot Theatre’s Art Gallery will put Copper Coast artists in the spotlight.
“This path is a great way of connecting the Peninsula’s three largest urban centres of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo in a way where residents and tourists can safely explore the area in a recreational way,” Mayor Talbot said.
“The Copper Coast Art Group has created some fantastic art over the years, but the use of house lamps to exhibit these installments takes away from the beauty of the pieces and Council agrees that a lighting upgrade is required.”
The Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey congratulated the Copper Coast Council for electing to split their Local Roads and Infrastructure allocation with almost half going to local roads and the balance to a pedestrian/bicycle trail, works at the effluent ponds and lighting for the art gallery.
“The diversity of works is a demonstration of wide range of demands that come on councils who have constant calls to allocate resources for any number of projects across their geographical area,” Mr Ramsey said.
“The LRCI grants demonstrate the confidence the Federal Government has in Local Government and acknowledge the importance of rural and regional communities.
“In three rounds the LRCI program has now delivered $2.5Bn for vital road and community infrastructure upgrades.
“It comes at a time where there has been unprecedented investment in regional roads and local communities through programs like the Building Better Regions Fund, The Drought Community Program and Mobile Black Spots.”
Council thanks the Federal Government, as these projects would not be possible without these contributions.