The new funding has been made available following a $220 million boost to the Community Infrastructure Program which was announced today by the Prime Minister at the second meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government.

Today’s announcement builds on $412,000 already provided to Tenterfield Shire Council since the creation of the Community Infrastructure Program eight months ago.

Tenterfield Shire Council Mayor Toby Smith said he was delighted with the announcement and it would assist Council in building and modernising local community facilities.

He said it underlined the growing relationship Local Government is forging with the Federal Government through the Mayors Assembly held in Canberra, which he attended last week.

Specific details are still to be finalised by the Federal Government, but the new round of funding is expected to follow similar guidelines to those of the previous year.

Councillor Smith said the timeline would also be similar to the previous year’s in which council had a December deadline for applications and January deadline for submissions to the Federal Government.

All of the nations councils and shires will share in $100 million of the $220 million available. The other $120 million has been earmarked for larger strategic projects, and all councils and shires will have the opportunity to compete for a share of this funding.

Tenterfield Shire Council will decide on the application process in the coming months for those wishing to request funding under the Community Infrastructure Program.