A federal government fund the Glen Innes council used to subsidise a million dollars' worth of new infrastructure could be up for grabs a second time.
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Barnaby Joyce said he is lobbying for the federal government to pour another million into local governments through the drought communities program.
"I have to say it was my lobbying when I was the drought envoy for direct stimulus to councils which assisted in leading to this drought communities program," he said.
"I'm hoping that sort of economic stimulation - it's never going to fix it, but it's going to help."
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Glen Innes Severn council also won funding through the drought communities program for $360,000 of road resheeting, an upgrade for Apex park, a water supply stand pipe in Deepwater, an upgrade to the King George oval grandstand, the rugged bash and to hire additional staff at GLENRAC.
Council also spent $120,194 of federal taxpayer money on a new bike path from Melling park to Grey Street. Glen Innes received funding through the second round of the program.
The drought communities program was expanded to cover new councils in Victoria earlier this week, including one local government area which many locals consider to be not in drought.
Asked if he was confident that the program could get a third round Mr Joyce said he was lobbying hard.
"I've got the treasurer coming to Inverell next week; he'll be there on Thursday so I've got the treasurer coming into the electorate to try and reinforce our need and the ongoing need caused by the drought," said the Member for New England.
"I have to say this - the drought will finish, I have to say that. When it finishes we can put this one in the annals with the Federation drought and the 1964-65 drought and we'll say we lived though the 2019 drought."
Mr Joyce said the projects that had been completed would leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, while also stimulating the economy of drought-affected towns.
"The flow on effects these projects have had on Glen Innes by pushing money through cash tills and helping to keep people in work, cannot be understated," he said.
"Because it is not only farmers who suffer the effects of drought, whole communities feel the strain on cash flow as well."
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Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
