Last week MidCoast Council gifted $508,195 of that mighty million to 17 organisations and the list on first glance is an inspiring representation of diverse not-for-profit community groups seeking to improve their region. There are hall extensions, field lighting, walkways, playground improvements, community garden infrastructure … it’s community building and the investment is essential.

The list on second glance reveals inequity - MidCoast Council gifted $328,884 to groups in the former Great Lakes local government area – the only council of the three declared Fit for the Future under the controversial NSW government criteria. A little more number crunching reveals $135,311 will be spent on projects in the former Greater Taree area and just $44,000 will find its way to the Gloucester region.

The expenditure inequity is patent and fuels community concerns that the Manning and Gloucester areas of MidCoast Council are disadvantaged by the merger and the perception of Great Lakes dominance in the new MidCoast Council staff mix and its forward agenda. Great Lakes secured 65 per cent of the funding, Greater Taree 27 per cent and Gloucester a mere eight per cent.

The Manning River Times asked MidCoast Council to provide a list of all funding applications received – we wanted to see how many groups from each former local government area sought funding – we didn’t get project names but we got numbers … 76 applications. Greater Taree area 40, Great Lakes 26, Gloucester nine, one from outside the region and seven were ineligible.

Government guidelines required the applications be examined by a panel and assessed to selection criteria that included community benefit, community priority, budget, capacity to deliver the project and ability to fund recurrent costs.  The balance of the million will be distributed in 2017 and the panel will again meet to distribute the balance of funds.

The million dollar question is – will MidCoast Council act to remedy the inequity in round two?