Camden Council has given the green light to the $113.8 million third stage of its Covid-19 community support package.
Mayor of Camden, Cr Theresa Fedeli, says the delivery of the package over the next four years would make the lives of each and every resident, worker and visitor better.
According to council figures, the package of 65 projects will increase the local Gross Regional Product (GRP) by up to $89.4 million, create up to 437 new jobs and raise output by up to $195 million.
The bulk of the money, $108 million, will go towards infrastructure.
The council will also spend $320,000 on events, $350,000 in grants and financial assistance to residents and businesses, $675,000on employment projects, and $3 million on beautification work.
“We promised stage three would come once the social and economic impacts of covid-19 on the Camden community became clearer, so we were able to give our community what they really needed,” Cr Fedeli said.
“The projects included as part of stage three are key priority projects for the Camden community.
“Stage three is council’s commitment to get these projects off the ground in the next four years so our residents, workers and visitors can all benefit from them in the short term and for many years to come.
“And the benefits expected to be delivered are just incredible.
“Stage three is estimated to raise Camden’s economic output by up to $195 million, which is a measure of the value of all sales of goods and services.
“For example, in construction, it would be the value of everything that is built, including all the services and goods that are engaged during the construction period.
“It is also estimated to add up to 437 new full-time equivalent jobs, which means we’ll be able to have people work closer to home because those opportunities have been created for them,’’ Cr Fedeli said.
“And an increase of up to $89.4 million contributed to Camden’s GRP – this reflects the value of all goods and services that have changed hands throughout an economy, and the increase means our local economy is strong. This will all be thanks to stage three.’’
Stage three comes after the successful rollout of the first two stages of council’s Covid-19 community support package, announced in May 2020.
The economic modelling estimates that, over 2019-20 to 2021-22, stages one and two are raising output in Camden by up to $26.7 million, adding up to 70 full-time equivalent jobs locally and contributing up to $13.3 million to Camden’s GRP.
