INDEPENDENT Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has made the case for significant investment in the Strathbogie Shire in her submission to the Federal Government ahead of the October budget.
The new Labor Government will hand down its first budget at the end of October, following the change of government at the May election.
Working in partnership with local councils, regional development stakeholders and others, Dr Haines submitted detailed proposals for funding across Indi.
The budget submission recommends commonwealth contributions for projects across all nine local government areas across the electorate, with seven projects in the Strathbogie Shire being included.
The projects included cover a wide range of portfolios including tourism and recreation, agriculture, water, climate change and energy, communications and community infrastructure.
"In the last parliament, I worked hand in hand with the community to ensure Indi's funding needs were front and centre at budget time and you can be assured this will continue in the new Parliament," Dr Haines said.
"Indi is facing serious challenges regarding health care and housing, but we also have momentous opportunities for investment to fuel regional development.
"The Indi budget submission calls on the government to address areas of need and boost projects that will help our towns reach their potential."
Notable projects such as 'Greening Euroa' were included in the budget submission, with $3.8 million in Commonwealth funding for the project being requested.
"This infrastructure will make our Strathbogie Shire a more climate resilient region, attractive to visitors and keep our open spaces green during years of climate variability and increasing water insecurity," Dr Haines said.
"The Greening Euroa project is climate smart, cost efficient and community inspired.
"It demonstrates a smart use of a valuable resource while taking pressure off our potable water supply and our waterways heavily relied upon by farm dams and groundwater bores."
As reliable power infrastructure remains a major issue in the region, Dr Haines also called on the federal government to back the Strathbogie Shire's push for a microgrid to increase energy security and reduce emissions...
