Mayor Nic Carmody in front of the dam wall before construction began.
The Yass Valley has missed out on any significant funding in the state budget announcements this week.
Mayor Nic Carmody said he’s frustrated the promises made by Burrinjuck MP Katrina Hodgkinson haven’t been kept.
“I’m not surprised but I’m disappointed,” Cr Carmody said. “Things have been promised in the past, such as funding for our dam.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the community was given ample warning the budget would be tight.
“As a ratepayer and resident of Yass, I fully understand community concerns about the lack of funding for the Yass Dam wall project,” she said.
“I remain keenly aware of the cost the project will place on ratepayers and the desire for a state government subsidy.”
The local member said she would continue to support council’s requests for more state assistance.
Ms Hodgkinson said she helped council get the original interest-free loan and noted the Yass Valley had another application in for the Local Government Infrastructure Renewal Scheme.
The mayor was optimistic council could still get its hands on another low-interest loan in the coming months.
“It would be worth $100 per year to water users in the Yass Valley,” he said. “Given we can’t get any direct funding a low interest loan would be the next best thing.”
The mayor met with the Minister for Local Government Don Page last week and raised the importance of another loan.
Cr Carmody said he was told the wall raising was exactly the sort of project the loans were for but Yass didn’t meet all the criteria.
Council has since sent further information to the NSW government and Cr Carmody said he hoped they would now be able to qualify.
Safe seat means less funding
Cr Carmody said it was disappointing that a lot of decisions for funding tend to be made for political reasons.
He said the fact that Burrinjuck was a safe seat meant money would flow to other areas in the state.
The government has put $5 million up for the Kings Highway and $4 million to upgrade the Monaro Highway in the swinging seat of Monaro.
Ms Hodgkinson said she was pleased with the funding received in Burrinjuck, particularly with regard to roads.
Burrinjuck will get more than $106 million for road infrastructure, an increase from $67.4 million last year.
“Not all the budget details have been released yet; however Yass Valley will benefit from up to $1.3 million for pavement resurfacing at various locations on the Lachlan Valley Way and up to $539,000 for pavement resurfacing on the Burley Griffin Way,” Ms Hodgkinson said.