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West and South Gippsland Shire Councils get $5.6M from federal Financial Assistance Grant program 2021-22 Q3 payment

Local governments in Monash have received their third 2021-22 quarterly payment through the federal government's financial assistance Grant program.

By news@gippsland - 24th February 2022 - Back to News

Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said the funding is untied, allowing councils to spend the grant according to their own local priorities. "Local governments are vital to building safer and stronger communities. They are an important delivery partner for the Federal Government's economic stimulus packages and play a critical role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic." Mr Broadbent said.

The financial assistance grant is untied, there are no conditions on how the funds should be spent, the amount is divided into two parts, a general purpose component and a local roads component

Quarterly payment recipients

Councils in Monash have received the following quarterly payment:

• Bass Coast Shire Council - $953,537
• Baw Baw Shire Council - $1,389,874
• Cardinia Shire Council - $1,588,058
• Latrobe City Council - $1,845,294
• South Gippsland Shire Council - $1,426,809

Assistant Minister for Local Government Kevin Hogan said a total of $2.7 billion in united Federal funding was allocated for local governments in 2021 - 22.

Boost to economic recovery

Mr Hogan said, "The Federal Government prepaid around half of the allocated funding in June 2021, the remainder will be paid through these quarterly payments across the year. We know the early payment is a valued support to councils, particularly in regions that have faced the combined impacts of bushfire, drought, floods and COVID-19."

"Across the nation, local governments employ around 194,000 people and deliver a wide range of services in the cities, regional towns and remote areas of Australia. This support will continue to bolster Australia's economic recovery."

Since 1974 - 75, the Australian Government has provided local governments with almost $60 billion in united funding through the Financial Assistance Grants program. For more information, visit financial assistance grant to local government page.

Pictures from Bass Coast Shire, Baw Baw Citizen website, Latrobe City Council Facebook page and Google maps.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com