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Sarsfield and Ensay Recreation Reserve projects receive $5.9M from former Coalition government March 2022 budget

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.

By news@gippsland - 3rd November 2022 - Back to News

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.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, at Ensay Recreation Reserve, said he was relieved the Labor Party had agreed to fund two bushfire recovery projects in Ensay and Sarsfield

Win for the communities

Mr Chester said, "It's a huge win for the communities and a victory for common sense. I'm relieved that our efforts to lobby the government and explain the importance of these two projects have 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."

Finalising designs and contracts

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." Mr Chester said.

Pictures from Sarsfield Community Association website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  South Gippsland marks Remembrance Day on 11 November with local services honouring veterans. Plus, free green waste disposal, festive giving initiatives, business support, community events, and engagement opportunities across the region this spring.
• Eat Drink Play Gippsland celebrates local flavours, award-winning cheeses, and culinary creations from passionate regional makers
  Eat Drink Play Gippsland showcases top restaurants, award-winning cheeses, and artisanal delights. From snacks to gourmet dishes, the festival celebrates local flavours and passionate makers, offering something delicious for every palate.
• Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem.
• Wellington Shire Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange surges ahead, handling one in 43 Victorian Cattle Sales in 2024
  Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange recorded a remarkable 122% increase in cattle throughput last financial year, making it the highest percentage increase of any saleyard in Australia.
• East Gippsland residents invited to author talk on Pearl Bradshaw - Princess of Hotham on 10 September 2025
  Author Stephen Whiteside will present Pearl Bradshaw - Princess of Hotham, sharing remarkable stories of resilience, adventure, and history at special East Gippsland library talks on Wednesday 10 September.
• David Littleproud says new mapping reveals Labor's renewables damage, strengthening the call for nuclear energy
  The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has accused the Albanese government of removing veterans' rights to review bravery awards, warning proposed reforms undermine fairness, independence, and recognition of Australia's war heroes.