Premier delivers another

$2m for country halls

COUNTRY Labor Duty MLC, Mick Veitch, says communities across rural and regional New South Wales will benefit from an additional $2 million for local hall upgrades.

Mr Veitch says the Premier, Nathan Rees, announced the funding boost at the Regional Jobs Summit in Bathurst on Friday.

“Last year, the NSW Government committed to spending $2.5 million over five years on country halls,” says Mr Veitch.

“Today, the Premier has announced that the NSW Government will increase that funding by another $2 million.”

Mr Rees says the additional funding is part of the NSW Government’s response to stimulating local economies and jobs.

“In a time when many communities are continuing to suffer the effects of the drought, keeping the local economy ticking over with infrastructure spending is important,” says Mr Rees.

“Country halls have long been a central point for country towns and are often a key part of the identity and history of regional communities.

“They are significant not just because of their infrastructure value, but because they provide a place for the community to come together.”

Mr Veitch says the additional funding will make a big difference to families in many small communities across the state.

“Community halls really are the heart and soul of towns across country NSW – they’re used for everything from recreation to social events to service delivery,” he says.