ACT Government collects $6.1 million Financial Assistance Grant payments this quarter

The ACT Government is set to benefit under the latest round of local government Financial Assistance Grants with $6.1 million of untied funds for community projects.

Minister for Major Projects, Territories and Local Government Paul Fletcher said the ACT Government can direct the funds to any activities, programmes or services according to the needs of their local community.

“It is important for local authorities to be able to independently choose projects that directly address key priorities within their community,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This may be fixing local roads, investing in environmental programmes or funding new infrastructure such as building a new community hall—it’s a decision that is for them to make.

“The Australian Government knows how important this funding is for communities around Australia, which is why the Government is investing $2.3 billion through the programme in 2015–16.”

This is the third of four instalments the ACT Government will receive in 2015–16.

Funding provided under the Financial Assistance Grant programme for the ACT Government is in addition to:

• $14.6 million to the ACT through the Roads to Recovery Programme in 2015–16; and
• $2.7 million to the ACT through the Black Spot Programme in 2015–16.

More information about the Financial Assistance Grant programme, including funding being made to individual councils across Australia, is online at: www.regional.gov.au/local/assistance.

Media Contact –  Andrew Blow  0411 403 937