The successful Farming Together Program based at Southern Cross University will receive $3 million to help co-operatives around the country under a re-elected Government, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan announced today.
“This is great news for our local farmers and farmers across the country,” he said.
“This program provides grants to assist farmer groups establish farm co-operatives and other collaborative business models.
“This builds on the Government’s Agricultural White Paper that led to the establishment of the $13.8 million Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program.
“Farming Together has helped support more than 224 existing co-operatives and helped establish 69 new ones.
The Farming Together Director Lorraine Gordon said: “Farming Together has reached across every region and every primary industry sector in Australia.
“It has the expertise and capacity to address the very complex problems we are experiencing in rural and regional Australia around climate change. It is through collaboration that we remain resilient in difficult times.
The Farming Together team know how to empower farmers to embrace change. It makes logical sense that Government would support such a successful Program.
The Northern Rivers is the Collaboration and Cooperative Capital of Australia and is supported by a a leading University in all things environment and ecology.”
Some of the major projects Kevin Hogan has delivered for our community include:
- $15 million for expansion of Norco’s Ice-cream factory
- $17 million in grants for nine job-creating projects
- More than 300 new Aged Care beds
- New Headspace in Grafton
- Co-funding $7 million upgrade of Clarence Way
- $6 million for upgrade of Crozier and Oakes Oval
- New Northern Rivers Regional Art Gallery
- Expanded North Coast Regional Hockey Complex
- Grant for Casino Meatworks
- Maclean Riverside Precinct
- Casino Amphitheatre
- Southern Cross Lads Safe Driving Course
- Expansion of Summerland House Farm
- Woolgoolga Surf Life Saving Club
- Wollongbar Club House
- Kyogle Aquatic Centre
- Upgrade of Casino Saleyard
- Sealed road to Toonumbar Dam
- Repair of Woodburn to Coraki Road
- Coffs Harbour bypass
- Revitalisation of Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall
- Major upgrade of Culmaran Creek Road
- Upgrade of Harwood Mill and Refinery
- Replacing 20 wooden bridges in Kyogle
- Upgraded Albert Park Baseball Complex
- Upgrade of Casino Hospital Emergency Department
- Six new Trade Training Centres
- Record bulk billing rates
- Record funding for our local schools
- Record health funding
- Woodburn Riverside Precinct
- Casino Drill Hall Precinct
- More In-Home and Residential Aged Care place
