The Federal Government needs to give the Dunolly community a clear answer on whether it will fund a much-needed upgrade to Deledio Reserve, Federal Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says.

Before the 2022 Federal election the Coalition had committed $3.6 million towards upgrading the reserve’s pavilion under the Community Development Grants Program.

Labor scrapped that program along with Building Better Regions Round 6, leaving Dunolly high and dry and Deledio Reserve still in desperate need for an upgrade.

“The Federal Government is showing their complete disregard for infrastructure communities like Dunolly rely on,” Dr Webster said.

“I was at Deledio Reserve this year cheering on the Dunolly Football and Netball Club while also speaking to residents about what the project meant to them, they were looking forward to what could be delivered for all sports that use the reserve with the money the Coalition had committed.

“The Federal Government needs to step in and show the people of Dunolly they matter too.”

An answer given this week to a question taken on notice at recent Senate Estimates confirmed the Department of Infrastructure did not currently have a commitment to the Deledio Reserve project.

“That is not a good enough answer,” Dr Webster said.

“The people of Dunolly deserve more than that from their Federal Government – they need investment.

“I will continue to fight for the people of Central Goldfields to get the projects they deserve.”

Labor has replaced the Community Development Grants and Building Better Regions Fund with the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

“Sadly just $1 billion over the next three years has been committed to those two programs while the Federal Government throws more than $2 billion to Daniel Andrews for the Suburban Rail Loop,” Dr Webster said.

“Is one metropolitan project seriously worth more than three years of projects for regional Victorians? The Federal Labor Government seems to think so.”