9 Dec 2021

Column - Federal Funding Flows to the Hills | Adelaide Hills Herald

Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan CSC

As I sit down to write this column, I find myself working hard for the people of South Australia during a busy week in Federal Parliament, our final sitting of the year.

With the festive season fast approaching, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

We have suffered through challenging periods during the COVID-19 pandemic and many families have been kept apart as we have each played our part in stopping the spread and saving lives.

Having now achieved our vaccination targets, I am hopeful that our government’s National Plan to cautiously reopen borders will allow you to spend this most wonderful time of the year with family, friends and loved ones.

As the patron Senator for Mayo, I have been thrilled to see federal funding flowing into the Hills of late.

There is still much to do as part of recovery efforts to assist those affected by the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires and it is important funding continues to be made available.

I have personally spent many weekends volunteering in the Hills with Disaster Relief Australia and know all too well the scale of effort still required to assist those affected within our communities.

Last month, the federal and state governments committed a further $3.8 million to the Local Economic Recovery Project, with a portion of these funds being directed to Cudlee Creek for the rehabilitation of bushfire-impacted small-scale pine and blue gum plantations.

Following recent damaging Spring storms, grants of up to $10,000 have also been made available for primary producers through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Aside from responding to natural disasters, the federal government is also investing in the future of Mayo and the Hills.

In the last few months alone, I have worked hard to advocate federal funding for important projects including $400,000 for the restoration of the Milang Butter Factory, $147,612 for new Girl Guides accommodation at Blewitt Springs, $25,000 for the development of a Mount Barker Plan for the Arts, $800,000 for the construction of a junior secondary school at Hills Christian Community School and $220,000 for Gumeracha Tennis Club upgrades.

It is a great time to be a member of the Hills community with such a wide range of exciting projects on the boil and I will continue to be a strong advocate for our region at a federal level.

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