TWO North East community organisations will share $1.3 million in federal funding under the Growing Regions program.
Some $502,000 will go to Porepunkah Baseball Club for a new clubhouse and Eildon Boat Club is in line to receive $814,700 to develop its Maritime Community Hub.
Indi MP Helen Haines said Porepunkah Baseball Club has big plans for a new clubhouse that can double as a community refuge in times of disaster.
"This federal funding will mean that the long-awaited clubhouse can be built together with lighting across the grounds," she said.
"This is a big boost to sporting facilities in the Alpine area.”
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The Eildon Boat Club Maritime and Community Hub will deliver a new multi-purpose facility at the popular tourist spot.
“This investment will not only provide a great venue for community and volunteer groups to use, but will support emergency training, education and local employment,” Dr Haines said.
“I was in Eildon very recently and know the shared and strong desire to develop infrastructure that will support tourism, help their local economy and provide facilities the community needs.”
Dr Haines welcomed the funding in this latest round, but said more investment was needed for regional development and it needs to be easier for councils and community groups to apply.
“Eight projects in Victoria shared in $25 million funding in this latest round, with two of those projects here in Indi," she said.
“I’m really pleased for the local communities that can progress their projects with this funding, but I acknowledge there will be many organisations disappointed across Indi as well.
"I have been pushing the government to increase the funding for regional Australia - the need is far greater than the overall funding pool that is provided by this Labor government.
"I’ve said before that competitive grant programs like the Growing Regions Fund and regional Precincts and Partnerships are heavily subscribed and demonstrate how much more investment we need in regional Australia.
“Projects often require councils or community groups to stump up with a co-contribution of 50 per cent, which can hold back good projects.
“Regional councils have smaller rate bases than city councils and have to do more with less.
“Both major parties need to up their offer to regional Australians with greater investment in regional grant programs coming into the next election.”
