Walgett Shire Council in NSW will receive $2,485,714 to upgrade the Walgett levee.
“The town of Walgett is subject to flooding and the levee is important to help minimise flooding and damage,” said Barwon MP and Minister for Western NSW, Mr Humphries.
“The levee is being upgraded to increase its effectiveness and this grant will help complete Stage 3 of the upgrade – leaving only one more stage before the upgrade is complete.”
Mr Humphries said significant public works funding has been spent in Walgett on water quality and quantity improvements, a new police station, school renovations, the new weir, and now the levee upgrade.
“At a time when Walgett is struggling through one of the worst droughts in history, we are making a strong commitment to ensure the long-term future of the town is secured,” he said.
NSW Minister for the Environment, Rob Stokes, said the funding comes from the 2014/2015 round of two programs – the NSW Floodplain Management Program and the Floodplain Risk Management Grant Scheme.
“A total of $16,338,131 is being made available to local councils and other authorities for 51 new projects across NSW,” Mr Stokes said.
“The NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on communities and to reduce public and private losses resulting from floods.”
NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Stuart Ayres, said the Floodplain Risk Management Grants Scheme is a part of the Natural Disaster Resilience Program jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
“The Floodplain Risk Management Grants Scheme provides financial support to councils and other land managers to prepare and implement floodplain risk management plans to reduce damage and loss that floods can cause,” Mr Ayres said.
“The projects funded under this program will also help to save lives and property and help communities prepare for the impacts of flooding.”
Local councils will also contribute their own funding to projects.