A drought support officer is now on the ground in the Liverpool Plains shire.
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Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) has appointed Anne Baily after Funding Drought Assistance and Recovery Envoy Barnaby Joyce announced $40,000 for the position under the Drought Communities Program in Quirindi in late February.
Ms Baily will manage drought funding and assist drought-affected locals with support and information.
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LPSC mayor Andrew Hope said Ms Baily would be the "first point of call for community members looking for drought assistance" and manage projects under the Drought Communities Fund, liaising with contractors, council staff and community members and keeping the community informed.
"Anne will oversee the drought funding projects developed for public facilities and amenities including $404,128 for upgrades to and refurbishment of amenity blocks, installation of barbecue and camp kitchen facilities at the Shire's Freedom Camping areas, installation of air-conditioning units at community halls in Blackville, Warrah and Wallabadah and installation of a water tank at Blackville hall," Cr Hope said.
Cr Hope said Ms Baily would also roll-out new tourism signage, a $71,455 project to install solar-powered emergency lighting and associated equipment at the Liverpool Plains Emergency Services Precinct and the $90,000 Currabubula Water Tank Argumentation project.
The projects were developed following extensive public consultation in 2018 to determine how to best utilise the drought funding to provide short-term support to drought-affected communities.
"[The projects] will help boost local employment and procurement as well as addressing social and community needs, driving the dollar further in our towns and villages," Cr Hope said.