Councils criticise how Victoria plans to divvy up $140m to Murray-Darling Basin towns
A group of seven councils says the proposed allocation of funding does not address the individuality of the regions affected by Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks.
Victorian water minister Michaela Settle insists the state government will not alter its plans for the Sustainable Communities Program, despite criticism from seven regional councils. The $140 million allocated to the program has been met with skepticism from the councils, who argue the funding will be lost to bureaucratic overhead.
Gannawarra Shire Mayor Garner Smith has urged the minister to meet with the councils to discuss their concerns. The Sustainable Communities Program, a federally funded initiative, aims to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of water recovery measures in the Murray-Darling Basin. Victoria is set to receive a portion of the $300 million four-year program, but the distribution of the $140 million remains a point of contention.
The councils suggest the funding should be allocated directly to local government for more targeted distribution, rather than through Regional Development Victoria. Despite calls for a review of the funding allocation, Minister Settle maintains the government is committed to delivering the funds as soon as possible to support farmers and communities affected by water buybacks.
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