Cross border communities can apply for $10 million covid recovery funding

Susanna Freymark

$10 million in covid recovery funding is available for NSW border towns like Kyogle and Woodenbong.

Anyone wishing to apply can contact the Office of the NSW Cross-Border commissioner James McTavish with an outline of their proposed project.

Mr McTavish said they weren’t only looking for projects from the big end of town. There was funding available up to $25,000 for smaller projects.

The cross-border project must be of benefit to both states, and in our region this means Queensland.

“It doesn’t only need to be a project with economic benefit, “ Mr McTavish said,

“It can have a social benefit.”

This includes projects around digital connectivity, sporting projects or a project that benefits the visitor economy, he said.

“We funded the Toonumbar Water retreat for $330,000,” Mr McTavish said.

Another example was the funding of a food sharing project in the south of the state at Wodonga.

Mr McTavish said these grants were the “simplest to apply for.”

State MP Janelle Saffin welcomed the $10million but she said the requirement that projects needed co-investment from neighbouring states could discourage local residents from applying.

She wanted the guidelines of the Cross-Border Commissioner’s Infrastructure Fund to be made easier to access and less tied to Queensland.

“I’m disappointed by the program’s red tape. It shouldn’t be so conditional,” Ms Saffin said.

The fund has delivered seven major projects since it rolled out in 2018.

The Covid Recovery round expressions of interest close on January 28.

To lodge an expression of interest and for program guidelines go here – opens in new tab

Applicants can contact the Office of the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner by email at enquiries@cbc.nsw.gov.au