The successful round 1 community organisations – The Marshall Liberal Government says the projects were a waste of money and time.

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The Marshall Liberal Government has axed the very popular fund my neighbourhood grant program that gave local communities control over which projects or activities should be funded in their local areas.

In State Parliament last week, Treasurer Rob Lucas confirmed that the Marshall Government has scrapped Fund My Neighbourhood, taking $20 million from communities who work hard to make a difference in their local neighbourhoods.

Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo said the decision was revealed during Question Time when asked by a Labor Member of the Legislative Council if it was true the program was axed, Mr Lucas responded by saying:

“Yes, it was stopped. It was a decision of the former Liberal Party Opposition, but now the Marshall Liberal Government… and it was one as Treasurer together, arm-in-arm, lock step with the Premier and with my Ministers that we are happy to defend and to support[the axing].”

Mr Piccolo said the glee and gloating with which the axing decision was announced was a slap in the face of local communities who had worked hard to deliver necessary and cost effective projects for their neighbourhoods.

“The decision and announcement smacks of arrogance and decide and defend,” said Mr Piccolo.

Mr Piccolo said the Marshall Liberal Government are saying that the projects selected and endorsed by local communities under the Labor Government program were a waste of money and unnecessary.

“I would like Premier Marshall and Treasurer Lucas to come to Gawler and tell the 15 community groups, and all the local people who voted for them, that their projects were a waste of money and time.”

Mr Piccolo said in the first round local churches, service clubs, resident groups, sporting associations and recreation groups in Gawler were amongst the successful community groups.”

“These volunteer based groups are the foundation of our community and Liberal Government is calling their projects a waste of time.

”Almost $1million in projects gained community support in the Gawler area.

The Fund My Neighbourhood program was one of the world’s biggest participatory budgeting exercises, implemented last year.

The program was created by the previous Labor Government and gave South Australians the power to improve their local community through pitching and voting for their favourite ideas in their local area.In the first round alone over 122,000 votes were cast by South Australians, resulting in more than 200 neighbourhood improvement projects being funded.

Mr Piccolo said the Liberal Government has shown they don’t trust the community to decide how and where funds should be allocated.”

“The success of this program speaks for itself, with over 33,000 people having a say in what matters to their community.”

“Fund My Neighbourhood wasn’t just about new funds for communities; it was about bringing people together.”