Otago's local governments are seeking roughly $280million in government funding for shovel-ready projects in a bid to create more than 2500 jobs and stop the flattening of the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also included in its application another $336million worth of projects it could do with further government support. The funding, if approved, would supplement the more than $100million already tagged for the projects in the council’s long-term plans. Otago Regional Council operations general manager Gavin Palmer said the council applied for funding for seven projects, including one on behalf of the Clutha District Council. The seventh application was for the council’s share ($130,000) for funding of a stock truck effluent disposal site on State Highway 8 at Tarras.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 16, 2020 16:30 UTC