A last-minute attempt to get public art included in projects put forward for bushfire recovery funding failed last week.
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Tenterfield Shire Council had already held a discussion at its last meeting, followed by a workshop, to discuss what local projects should be part of an application for more than $4 million of bushfire recovery funding.
While councillors went into last Wednesday's extraordinary meeting with a recommendation to approve the seven projects, which it ultimately did, Cr Gary Verri had suggested allocating $100,000 to employ local artists.
He said they could produce a range of artworks across the shire, but it drew criticism from other councillors, including Bronwyn Petrie who said council would be pushing it uphill to get a quality application in before the deadline.
The council had already missed the deadline to get tourism funding for the half a million dollars needed to fix access to Bruxner Park, the meeting had heard.
Deputy mayor Greg Sauer was scathing.
"Councillors have had two previous opportunities to put projects up. It comes to the crunch and another one's lobbed on the table with no paperwork with it," he said.
"I'm not against the project (but) go away and come back at the next grant application."
Cr Verri, who had tried to introduce an amendment suggesting alternative projects, when the discussion took place at last month's council meeting, said he had not been able to attend the workshop where the seven projects had been decided.
The seven projects in the application include almost $3 million for drainage and road works at Drake, while $344,000 has been proposed for dead tree removal across the shire and $220,000 for rural addressing.
The installation of industrial ceiling fans and emergency lighting at Memorial Hall, along with a switchboard upgrade was allocated $220,000 in the application. Mingoola Hall upgrades, including a stand-alone accessibility friendly disabled toilet, have been suggested for $120,000.
Other funding applications include $190,000 for Northern Border Walk Signage and $240,000 for Tenterfield Swimming Pool equipment.
Tenterfield Shire is eligible to apply for $4.5 million from the bushfire recovery fund, which was created by the federal government to support communities impacted by the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
While council missed the deadline for tourism funding for Bruxner Park, general manager Daryl Buckingham - who said the application had only missed by moments - said he was confident there would be an extension.
He said other councils would be in the same boat, but added if they could not get tourism funding, they would find another grant to apply for.