Melton council will seek state government funding to help relocate a local food bank after the federal government withdrew grants promised by its Labor predecessor last year.
Council’s community services general manager, Maurie Heaney, confirmed the federal government had advised that funding allocated for two projects through the Regional Development Australia Fund, totalling nearly $1 million, would not proceed.
The former Labor government allocated $200,000 towards the relocation of Combined Churches Caring Melton’s food bank and $739,118 for construction of a regional tennis centre in Caroline Springs.
“Council has $80,000 in the current budget towards assisting relocation of the churches but has also submitted an application to the state government for $200,000,” Mr Heaney said. “The council is waiting to hear the outcome of this funding submission. It is still council’s intention to have Combined Churches Caring relocate to their own site.”
The food bank needs to relocate to a permanent site because of the redevelopment of its present council-owned building.
Mr Heaney said the tennis centre was in the design phase and any funding would be considered in future council budgets. Moorabool council has also confirmed that seven projects in the shire will no longer be funded, including the long-awaited Bacchus Marsh Indoor Aquatic Centre and upgrades to Maddingley Park and Gordon Tennis Club.
“We’re disappointed the federal government didn’t honour the funding commitments made by the previous government, but we need to move on and look at other options,” chief executive Rob Croxford said. He said the stalled projects would remain on the council’s wish list but would require significant funding to become a reality.
