For Immediate Release

Cr. William Maslin today said, that he was disappointed with the outcome at the December Ordinary meeting of Gundagai Shire Council, in which it was resolved to spend the $100,000 Federal Government Grant on the upgrade of Carberry Park, located in Sheridan St, Gundagai.

Cr. Maslin is of the belief that there are other priorities in which the money would be better spent on, such as the establishment of multi-purpose netball courts, which would have far better economic outcomes for the shire and therefore would provide the taxpayer with a value-for-money result.

"Other priorities include the tidying up and strategic development of our town entrances and even providing small grants to our town hall trust's to get some urgent smaller works completed" Cr. Maslin said

Cr. Maslin was extremely disappointed that Council did not apply for funding for the Main Street upgrade under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program - Strategic Projects 2008-09, in which $50 million has been allocated for projects requiring a minimum Commonwealth contribution of $2 million or more.

This is a fantastic program as construction had to commence within six months of the funding agreement being signed with the Commonwealth. At the Development Committee meeting on December 2, 2008, the Mayor, Cr. Len Tozer explained to the meeting that the project was not in a position that would allow us to apply at this stage.

Cr. Maslin finds it interesting that the Coolamon Shire can put in an application for $2.6 million to have the sewage put on in the township of Ardlethan. "Here we have a shire [Coolamon] that is willing to put their neck on the line to grab $2.6 million to work on a project the size a a town, yet we at Gundagai are of the belief that we can't work on a project that is the size of one street", Cr. Maslin said.

"Here we have two projects, the netball courts and the Sheridan St upgrade that will have economic benefits for the Shire and they keep getting pushed further back. It is time that Council started to make some tough decisions. Start making some bold moves and if necessary, borrow some money to get things done. If we don't do it now, future generations will suffer. The town that could have it all, but did nothing...", Cr. Maslin concluded.

End.