BY HOLLY FISHLOCK
The NSW government has announced it will cut the Resources for Regions grant program, a move which has been heavily criticized by Singleton Mayor Sue Moore.
It comes after Singleton Council recently worked closely with the government to deliver positive changes to the program.
Singleton and Muswellbrook account for a total of 43% of NSW's coal mining output, which amounted to over $18 billion in 2021. Because of this, more than $25 million has been given back to the Singleton local government area.
Cr Moore says Resources for Regions has delivered a fair return to the Singleton community for the unavoidable impacts of mining.
"The changed Resources for Regions program, changed three years ago, was hugely beneficial to Singleton residents and the local government area. We were able to support projects and programs, not just council projects," she said.
Cr Moore said she will continue to advocate for the program to continue, and is devastated to see it cut from Tuesday's budget.
"Projects that we've been able to support for the last three years will no longer be able to receive support... so I'm really concerned for what it's going to mean for those community programs that have no way of getting funding," she said.
However, Cr Moore says she is hopeful the introduction of the new $350 million Regional Development Trust Fund will continue to support communities in rural and regional NSW.
