Mark Coulton's Catch Up Monday, October 13

Funding for Remote Airstrips 

Applications are now being sought for round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, which will provide up to $12 million in grant funding for airstrips in remote areas nationwide. I’m pleased to see this initiative of the former coalition government continued and anticipate many much-needed improvements to remote airstrips as a result of this funding. Applications for round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program can be lodged by local governments and owner and/or operators of an existing aerodrome in remote areas, with applications closing next month. 

On Farm Connectivity Program opens 

Round one of the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), a new grants program designed to increase the uptake of ag tech amongst Australian primary producers, is now open. The OFCP will provide $30 million over two years, with round one contributing $15 million towards rebates of up to 50 per cent of the cost of eligible smart farming technology which can assist with monitoring livestock, improving water efficiency, optimising soil quality, and improving farm logistics, and connectivity. Eligible primary producers have until June 30, 2024 or until round one funding is exhausted to access discounted smart farming technologies through one of the eligible equipment suppliers. 

Dubbo Regional Sports Awards 2023 

On Friday, November 10, I had the pleasure of hosting the Dubbo Regional Sports Awards for the 16th consecutive year in conjunction with Dubbo Regional Council. These awards are an annual event recognising the talent of some of our finest home-grown sports stars and have now been running for over two decades. As always, the calibre of the athletes was very high and it was wonderful to acknowledge their achievements and contribution to sports at so many levels, from locally to nationally and beyond.