Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, has called on Central Coast Council to fund more community services as Bushcare volunteers receive Council letters outlining further possible cuts to the service.
The Bushcare groups were some of the many community groups to receive emails from Council in early February asking them to support its submission to IPART for the current rate rise to remain for 10 years.
The Council letter said a reduction in services for the Environmental Volunteer Program could include a loss of staff, supervisors, contractors, training and tools if its IPART application for a seven year extension to its special rate variation (SRV) does not get support.
Council recently received their third 2021-22 quarterly payment through the Federal Government’s Financial Assistance Grant program which comes to a total of $27.1M.
Wicks said Council should use the payment to help fund services such as the Bushcare groups.
“I was disappointed to hear from local community groups, Bushcare volunteers and concerns residents on the Central Coast, who have received Council letters outlining further possible cuts to local services,” Wicks said.
“This funding is untied, meaning councils can spend the grants according to local priorities, and is designed to ensure local governments are well supported to deliver vital services.
“Community organisations and Bushcare groups volunteer their time to serve our community and environment, this work is vitally important to our region and ought to be supported.
“… I am asking Central Coast Council the question: can the $27.1M that Central Coast Council has received from the Federal Government be used to deliver community services and Bushcare groups and if not, why not?”
Tony Winch from Umina Community Group said Bushcare was an extremely successful long-term community program organised by Central Coast Council.
“The program runs on a limited budget,” Winch said.
“This budget provides the critical foundation for the many volunteers to participate and safely enjoy the experience of gathering with neighbours and restoring our natural environment.
“For the program to be successful we need a professional site supervisor to plan the program and educate volunteers, tool kits and safety gear and on occasion, professional contracting work to assist volunteers with big tasks.
“Each of these elements helps to keep volunteers engaged and ensures our Bushcare work is carried out correctly.
“The balance of the assistance across these three areas has proven to create successful outcomes and cuts to any of these components would weaken the entire program.”
In the previous financial year (2020-21), the Federal Government provided $26.1M in untied funding to the Central Coast Council under the same program.
For more information, visit regional.gov.au/local/assistance/
Maisy Rae