The region’s community infrastructure, roads and rail have received a multi-million dollar boost from the state government.
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The Bogan Shire Council was notified on Friday it had been successful in obtaining funding for numerous projects under the Regional Growth Fund (Stronger Country Communities) program, Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Rail.
It includes $480,283 for new lighting at Larkin Oval, $101,447 for upgrades at Heritage and Moonagee Parks, and $142,953 for improved irrigation at the golf course.
A total of $1,150,000 has also been allocated to construct and seal the final seven kilometres of the Hermidale-Nymagee Road.
Funds have also been allocated to the rail line at Hermidale, to improve the loading of mining containers.
“That’s an injection of nearly $3 million,” Bogan Shire mayor Ray Donald said.
“Council are very, very pleased we’ve been successful with the ones we’ve applied for.
“They were projects that our community had supported and wanted, and any funding that can help seal any of our road network in our shire is very much appreciated as well.”
He said the Hermidale-Nymagee Road has taken on “quite considerably more” mining traffic from Hermidale in recent years, and sealing the final section of the road would reduce the maintenance burden on council.
That money could now be spent on other roads, councillor Donald said.
The council is still eligible to apply for another $760,000 under the Regional Growth Fund.
Among the possible projects were improvements at the Nyngan Swimming Pool, including heating, play equipment and a toilet upgrade, and extending the shared pathway.
General manager Derek Francis said council would work with the community to seek support for those projects, “or whether there are some other things they would like”.
“The intention is to improve the facilities at the pool and possibly heating to make it more bearable in the shoulder part of the season when the water is still a bit cold,” he said.
“On our own we probably don’t have the funding to do that sort of thing without taking out a loan so … it’s a good opportunity to spend a fair chunk of money on something to achieve a meaningful result.”
