Quilpie shire mayor Stuart Mackenzie is gutted by the announcement by the deputy Prime Minister on Thursday that Quilpie and Boulia shires have once again been deemed ineligible for the federal government’s new Drought Communities Program.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss, speaking from Longreach on Thursday afternoon, announced that the drought-affected communities of Richmond and Barcoo in Queensland and Coonamble in New South Wales, are now eligible to participate in the program to assist in building much-needed infrastructure.
He said it had been introduced to generate greater economic stability in regional areas impacted by low rainfalls.
“As part of the assessment, the data supplied hasn’t changed Quilpie or Boulia’s status,” he said. “They don’t meet the criteria of a one in 20 year deficiency by 20 per cent of the shire.
“I know they’re all dry out here, and very significant parts of south east Queensland also meet that criteria.
“Richmond and Barcoo provided the demonstrations that we’re looking for, and we are trying to get people across the line.”
Cr Mackenzie, who wasn’t advised of his shire’s continuing ineligibility until Thursday evening through unofficial channels, said it was “one of the most heartless,mindless bureaucratic things ever invented”.
“If they knew what was happening out here, it’s pathetic,” he said.
“It’s only over a two-year period, but we’ve had such a pizzling over the last 20 years.
“If anyone were to look at a map, they’d see we were surrounded by shires that are eligible. Did we have a big storm that just hovered over us?”
The Australian government is providing $35 million over four years to fund local infrastructure initiatives in eligible drought-affected communities.
Fourteen shires were included under the program initially. So far five have applied for funding.
“This decision is going to save $1.5 million because our shire had 50mm more than the next,” Cr Mackenzie said.
“This is beyond money. It’s cold hard bloody-mindedness. You just don’t do that. If my council did that I’d be horrified.
“They have to look at the result of their decision-making. They have to change the criteria if it’s giving them the wrong result.”
Cr Mackenzie said that to make matters worse, the department won’t say what other information is needed, just that more is required.
He wasn’t sure how long Quilpie would have to wait for its eligibility to be reconsidered, but said it had projects identified and ready to go, that would employ people on droughted properties.
Rainfall data will be reviewed again over the coming months to monitor the funding eligibility of other councils in New South Wales and Queensland, according to Mr Truss.
“The decision to extend the Drought Communities Programme is based on an update and extension of rainfall deficiency records provided by the Bureau of Meteorology up to August 2015,” he added.
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said while two extra Queensland and one NSW regional centres are now eligible to access funding through the programme, the Australian government is currently assessing project funding proposals from five eligible councils.
“A number of regions continue to experience terrible drought,” Mr Joyce said.
“Also announced earlier this year was support for mental health, the Rural Financial Counselling Service, pest management and concessional loans, and each of these initiatives is well underway, providing real relief for those doing it tough.”
Eligible councils yet to submit requests for assistance under the Drought Communities Programme are urged to lodge applications by 24 December 2015 or their eligibility may lapse.
Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss (second left) was among the politicians who visited Longreach in May to announce funding to build resilience in drought-stricken western shires. Quilpie and Boulia shires remain outside the eligibility criteria to receive money, a decision which has greatly upset Quilpie mayor Stuart Mackenzie.
