By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council approved 17 Community Drought Recovery Program applications, for a total of $200,981, at the recent Ordinary Council Meeting.
Councillor Ross Bartley stated that looking through the applications, he stated that there were some pretty good choices there and they were very fair and evenly spread throughout the community.
He raised concerns about the buying of equipment by the deadline of March 2022, stating shortages may prevent this.
He questioned whether the equipment being paid for, and a receipt provided, would allow the applicants to get some leeway.
Staff members said they expected this may be an option.
Councillors changed the motion before moving it, so that authority would be delegated to SDRC CEO Dave Burges “to reallocate funding for withdrawn projects, or projects that do not meet their specific conditions of their funding offer, using the next highest scoring application”.
Groups on the list to receive funding include the Killarney Rec Club, Dalveen Film Society, Warwick Killarney Uniting Church, Stanthorpe Agricultural Society, Ballandean Football Club, Warwick Gymnastics Club, Warwick Men’s Shed, Killarney Show and Rodeo Society, and more.
The Killarney Rec Club application is of note, as it applies for machinery to mow their facilities.
The club inquiring about SDRC help was the source of debate at the last Connecting with Council meeting in Leyburn, with some councillors concerned that their approving Stanthorpe Sports Association’s lease with added benefits would cause other clubs to ask for help too.
As the list of projects for this motion shows, many clubs in the region simply need help.
It is stated the Killarney Rec Club is currently using borrowed mowers from local farmers.
The club states that “having unlimited access to our own equipment allows volunteers to schedule their time”.
Ensuring the timing of borrowing local mowers suits all parties is involved is becoming “quite difficult”, they state.
The motion was moved by Councillor Jo McNally and seconded by Councillor Cameron Gow.
