Editorial Grants A Shot In The Arm For Illawarra
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday November 19, 2008
IT was just a couple of weeks ago that NSW Premier Nathan Rees told us there was no money in the piggy bank for the people of the Illawarra.
Thankfully Kevin Rudd's Federal Labor Government didn't have the same attitude and dump on the Illawarra like his State counterpart when it came to doling out the grants at yesterday's inaugural Australian Council of Local Government gathering at Parliament House.In a show of strong federal leadership, aimed at easing the burden on local communities, the Prime Minister was generous in the extreme, awarding more than $4 million to our councils - Wollongong ($2,152,000), Shellharbour ($899,000), Kiama ($221,000) and Shoalhaven ($1,441,000). It was a timely injection of funds for the Illawarra, still reeling from the sacking of its two Labor-controlled councils and weighed down by high unemployment.In particular, the Wollongong and Shellharbour communities owe their gratitude and congratulations to hard working Federal Labor members Sharon Bird and Jennie George, who so ably represented them at yesterday's meeting.And a word of advice to all of our councils: spend the money wisely on infrastructure and employment and on projects that will have a lasting impression on their respective communities.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury