IT would be hard to argue the Hunter region, as a whole, hasn’t received significant funding from the NSW Government’s Resources for Regions program since it was established in 2012.
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Of more than $250 million allocated to mining-affected areas of the state so far, two Upper Hunter areas – Muswellbrook and Singleton – have received about $53 million and $43 million respectively.
That is only fitting, supporters of funds to those local government areas say, because they provide about 70 per cent of the state’s mining royalties.
Resources for Regions was established “to support regional and rural NSW communities affected by mining by addressing infrastructure constraints”, according to the Department of Industry.
The department and Infrastructure NSW, which was established in 2011 to provide the NSW Government with “independent and strategic advice” to ensure the state gets “the infrastructure it needs”, are responsible for assessing proposals for Resources for Regions funding.
A process stressing the “independence” of assessments is supposed to ensure a distribution of funds based on the merit of projects, and free of politics.
But from its first round Resources for Regions has been challenged on allocations that appear heavily weighted to projects in seats held by the Nationals. The party is entitled to argue that isn’t surprising, given where mines are located across the state.
The latest round of allocations has done nothing to stop criticism of the program. Of 10 funded projects, eight are in state Nationals seats and the ninth, Orange, was a Nationals seat until November when the Shooters and Fishers won it in a shock by-election.
Another Nationals seat, Barwon, that could be shaky for the party has done very well, while Muswellbrook and Singleton, in the Upper House seat held by Nationals MP Michael Johnsen, have lost nearly $4 million of the $10.5 million they hoped to receive.
There appears to be strength in Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper’s call for a NSW Audit Office review of the program. After four years Lake Macquarie, despite being significantly affected by mining, hasn’t received a cent. The Labor-dominated Illawarra has also received very little under Resources for Regions.
Being seen to be fair in allocations is as important as being fair.
Issue: 38,443.
