July 10, 2013, 9:39 p.m.
AND the winner is . . . Sydney.
But at least Newcastle has managed to snatch an unexpected consolation prize from the fourth round of the federal government's Regional Development Australia Fund.
Only last week this newspaper reported the melancholy news that the Glendale interchange project had missed out on any more money from the fund. And yet, surprisingly, yesterday brought the news that $5.45 million would be provided for the top-rated Hunter project after all.
Presumably this was because $7 million allocated from the first round of Regional Development Australia Fund grants to Newcastle Art Gallery had been withdrawn, thanks to the seeming disinterest of the NSW government and Newcastle City Council.
It's a shame that the new allocation is smaller than the lost one, and it's a lot less than the $15 million sought by Lake Macquarie City Council. But it does mean, at least, that the interchange has now gained $12.45 million in federal cash from the regional development fund.
The only other money to come to the Hunter over the fund's four rounds has been $2.7 million for student accommodation in the Upper Hunter and $698,000 for the Hunter Valley Research Foundation, making a regional total from the entire program of about $15.85 million.
By contrast, Sydney projects have managed to attract $23.4 million in funding from the fourth round alone, with $7.4 million for a Fairfield youth and community centre, $12 million for a Western Sydney community and sports centre and $4 million for a Sydney multicultural arts and sports complex.
That's not a bad haul for the state capital, from a federal government program allegedly reserved for regional funding.
And before the state government starts trying to score points from that news, it must be recognised that Newcastle's federal art gallery grant was lost, primarily, because of the NSW government's refusal to match it.
Not surprisingly, soon-to-retire Newcastle MP Sharon Grierson was as unhappy as soon-to-retire Charlton MP Greg Combet was glad with the double-barrelled news.
Flatly accusing the NSW government and Newcastle City Council of letting the art gallery grant get away, Ms Grierson said Newcastle's loss was Lake Macquarie's gain.
Most Novocastrians, however, will be pleased that some funds at least were rescued for the Hunter.
The Glendale interchange is, after all, the project rated most highly by all Hunter councils on their collective regional infrastructure wish-list.
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