Nanango will receive a boost – and a facelift – from a $276,000 cash injection by the State Government announced today.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the money would help the South Burnett Regional Council undertake Nanango’s “CBD Town Transformation Streetscape” project.
The money has been awarded from the State Government’s Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program.
It comes on top of the almost $1 million earmarked for the same project in the South Burnett Regional Council’s 2013-2014 Budget.
Mrs Frecklington said the funding would be a great boost for the town, would help local small business and inject much-needed funds into the local economy.
“I am very happy to see that the State Government has allocated funding to help make this project a success,” she said.
“The comprehensive streetscape project planned for the Nanango CBD is an important one which will provide great benefits for the community.
“Council have put forward those projects that are important to our region, and we’ve stretched every dollar to give maximum value for money.”
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program was about building infrastructure in local communities while also creating jobs at an important time.
“This must be the ‘year of delivery’ for all levels of government and we’re making projects happen to help councils deliver a better lifestyle for their communities,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“There was a time only a few years ago when it would take nearly a year for the State Government to call for applications and award funding for these types of projects.
“This year it has been completed in six weeks.
“For the first time, this money will be spent entirely this financial year. So as well as improving what makes our communities special, it will also be injecting money at the right time.”
News of the grant has been received warmly by SBRC Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Division 1 Cr Barry Green.
Mayor Kratzmann said he greatly appreciated the grant, particularly since it was well known the State Government was in a tight financial position and money for community development projects was scarce.
“I am particularly impressed by Minister Crisafulli’s rapid turnaround on the approval process,” he said.
“Six weeks from application to approval is almost unheard-of.”
Cr Barry Green echoed these sentiments, saying he was “over the moon” about the State Government’s extra investment in the Nanango CBD revitalisation project.
“This project will make a really big difference to Nanango when it’s completed and will do a lot of good for the community,” he said.
Cr Green has been a long-time advocate of upgrading and modernising Nanango’s CBD area.
