Road fix clock starts

THE race starts this weekend for Loddon Shire Council to fix roads damaged in last October’s flood emergency.

Council has two years under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements with the Federal and State Governments to do work on 1300 damaged sealed and unsealed roads.

Operations director Steven Phillips said he was confident the panel of contractors appointed by council would complete works by the June 2023 funding deadline.

But the funding formula is causing concern to Loddon Mayor Dan Straub and Mr Phillips.

Funding covers 75mm of grav-

Supporters tuck in for Kaye’s Day

YELLOW balloons bobbed in the breeze at Inglewood on Saturday when the football and netball club held its annual Kaye’s Day.

Lynette Rose, Corie Birthisel, Glenn Billett and Paul Byrne were among supporters raising funds for the Cancer Cancer and honouring the life of Kaye Colahan.

Lynette’s cake stall was popular with supporters while on netball court, the A Grade team donned yellow skirts.

Footballers opted for yellow armbands on the field as they helped raise awareness of the fundraising day.

el re-sheeting but Loddon roads have been built to higher standards with 100mm. That could mean a gap of millions of dollars under the current funding formula.

“We don’t know what it is yet but there is a risk for council,” Mr Phillips said.

Cr Straub has used meetings with federal and state ministers over the past month to lobby for better funding of flood recovery projects.

“By voicing our concerns directly, we aimed to ensure that our shire receives the necessary support and resources,” Cr Straub said,. Mr Phillips said: “The tighter they (government) make it, the harder it is to restore roads to the previous network standard.”

Council has estimated that it will receive more than $20 million in Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements this financial year.

Estimates have put the road damage bill at three times that figure.

Manager assets and infrastructure David Southcombe told councillors on Tuesday: “Council is currently progressing the rehabilitation of council’s roads after the October 2022 floods. These works are being funded by the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Due to the

Catalyst grows

funding arrangements between the State and Federal governments, betterment of assets (upgrades to be resilient against future flooding) cannot be funded through this funding stream in Victoria as it is in other states of Australia.

“An allocation of $1.34 million has been allowed for betterment of assets to be spent in 20232024 and 2024-2025. If an alternative funding stream becomes available under the DRFA (or another source), reallocation of this funding may be sought.”

He said council had employed four additional staff to assist with the flood restoration program.