Member for Bega Andrew Constance has responded to claims of a Bundian Way funding crisis by stating that he is fully supportive of the Bundian Way as a critical and significant project for the state.
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Bundian Way manager Noel Whittem expressed his disappointment and frustrations with state and federal governments who he said had made commitments to fund the project through the Regional Jobs and Investment Package (RJIP).
According to Mr Whittem, their application for funding through the scheme was developed with a “verbal commitment” from state MP Mr Constance.
“We were told at the 11th hour that the Eden LALC would need to contribute 50 per cent of the matching funding required under the RJIP, funds that the Eden LALC just didn’t have,” Mr Whittem said.
Mr Constance said Mr Whittem’s comments were disappointing.
“We have already attracted thousands of dollars for the project, and we have always been committed to seeing the project succeed,” he said.
Mr Constance also said that he is keen to resolve any issues that the Bundian Way project had with the RJIP funding application.
“I want to help resolve this quickly by getting to the bottom of the funding issues.
“We need to look at what concerns bureaucrats had with the application first and sit down and go through every concern. We need to work with the process,” he said.
Mr Constance said he understood the critical needs of the project, but stressed that the RJIP was not the only funding available to the project.
“There is other money sitting in another fund that can assist the project,” he said.
The member for Bega continues to be a champion of the Bundian Way.
“The Bundian Way is a culturally significant project for the state and it is also significant to the development of the region,” he said.
