The State Government should open community project applications for the second round of the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund (PKCIF), which is now nearly four months overdue.

The Government indicated that the details for the second round of applications under the PKCIF would be announced in October 2016 (see attached).

The Government also suggested that the guidelines for the second round of funding under the program would be updated and revised based on “feedback and experiences from Round 1.”

This is the second time the Government has failed to meet its own self-imposed deadlines for the PKCIF.

Last year, the Government indicated it would announce successful grant applicants under Round 1 by July 2016.

The Government finally announced successful recipients almost two months later (26 August 2016).

Now it is nearly four months overdue in announcing the opening of Round 2 of the PKCIF and releasing revised details of the program’s guidelines.

Wollongong MP, Paul Scully has also called for the public release of the first round evaluation report of the PKCIF.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“I am being approached on a daily basis by Port Kembla community groups asking when the next round of the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund will be opened.

“The Government keeps failing to meet its own self-imposed deadlines under this program.

“Applicants want to know what the updated and revised guidelines are under the second round.

“The Government indicated that it would announce the second round of the program open and the revised guidelines would be available in October 2016.

“Nearly four months later we are all still waiting for something to happen.

“It’s just another example of the Government’s willingness to put things in the Illawarra on the backburner.”