The Lachlan Shire is the next in line to receive a huge amount of money for priority projects in the community, but the Shire Council mayor says there’s some details to smooth out that even money can’t buy. 

The council recently received $4,257,016 in funding as part of the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program. 

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the federal funding will help to overcome community challenges from the last few tumultuous years, including Covid-19, floods and drought.



“That’s why we have moved quickly to approve funding for these projects in the Lachlan Shire, paving the way for shovels to hit the dirt to make them a reality," Mr Coulton said.

“This will provide a vital boost for communities in the Lachlan Shire, backing local jobs and economic growth while delivering important projects that will benefit residents for years to come.”

With over $4 million now in their pocket, the Lachlan Shire Council is ticking off 11 priority projects from the to-do lists, including almost $2 million committed to roadworks in just two streets of Condobolin. 

Shire Council Mayor John Medcalf said that while the funding is exciting, the sheer amount of projects could cause other issues in the supply chain. 

“Because of the amount of money that we’ve got coming in and trying to get some of these projects happening is certainly a bit of a problem to manage getting supplies and contractors. It’s taking to take a while to get that all together,” Cr Medcalf said. 

Despite the delays, like many other councils, Cr Medcalf says the road funding will barely scratch the surface on the work that needs to be done. 

“With our budget, we’re pretty tight. Even now we’re waiting for the next financial year so we can make ends meet. The expenses of just keeping roads open is getting more and more demanding,” Cr Medcalf said. 

With projects approved for roads LED streetlight replacement, sports facilities, river walks and companion animal surrender cages, the Lachlan Shire is eager to cover as many bases with the funding as possible, promoting tourism, safety and sustainability. 

“We’ve got this money to make this happen and it’s going to make a big difference. Hopefully in the long run, we can set things up not only for tourists, but also getting people who are wanting to move out of the city areas and into regional areas and making it more attractive for them to come to our area,” Cr Medcalf said.