The Upper Lachlan Shire will receive $1 million funding part of the Federal Coalition Government's drought relief package.
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Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an extension to 128 eligible councils for funding towards infrastructure and drought-relief projects.
Six additional councils - Greater Hume, Kangaroo Island, Tatiara, Lockhart, Hilltops and Upper Lachlan - are included.
"This funding will help these areas get through the drought and bounce back faster when the drought finally breaks," Member for Hume Angus Taylor said.
"This funding will go towards investment in projects that support jobs and businesses."
Projects will target infrastructure, and other projects including: increasing work opportunities for people impacted by drought; stimulate local government spending; use local resources, businesses and suppliers; and provide a lasting benefit to the community and agriculture industry.
Upper Lachlan Shire Council acting general manager Andrew Croke welcomed the funding. "This will be of great assistance to our communities which are experiencing hardship in this prolonged drought," he said.
"The intent of the funding is to not only provide an immediate economic stimulus, but to also assist in safeguarding against future periods of drought by constructing and repairing community infrastructure, facilities and spaces."
Upper Lachlan Shire Council mayor John Stafford said they had not lobbied to be included after being left out in the first round, but were delighted.
The council was working through the detail.
Upper Lachlan Shire farmer Vince Heffernan said he has offloaded around around 25 per cent of his herd to 2000 head off the back of the drought.
"We keep thinking of others in the state that are worse off, but it's not good here," Mr Heffernan said.
Moorlands between Biala and Dalton is "incredibly dry" and usable rainfall has been dramatically reduced.
"In a time where we look forward to more events from global warming like this drought, we have to diversify our paddocks," Mr Heffernan said. "We have to start looking outside the square to where our strengths are and how we tap into that."
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He would like to see the money spent on upgrading roads, including sealing the Rye Park Road and routes to the South Eastern Livestock Exchange, planning for population growth in the south-east of the Upper Lachlan near Canberra, tourism, and securing more jobs for Upper Lachlan school-leavers. "It's not about being prosperous, but more secure," he said.
The criteria for eligibility for the funding is based on Bureau of Meteorology rainfall data and requires that 17 per cent of all employment in the local government area is directly linked to agriculture.
Projects need to be finalised by December 2020.
Farmers can also access loans up to $2 million and apply for interest free loans of up to $500,000.
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