He described the process as a “disgrace and debacle” after the Edward River region secured just $6.8 million in funding despite the loss of 68 jobs directly linked to water buybacks, and likely more as a result of flow on effects.
Speaking after the latest funding announcements, Cr Hall said the Edward River region had been overlooked while neighbouring areas secured significantly larger funding allocations.
He said it was particularly disappointing after Federal Minister for Environment and Water Murray Watts indicated he would go in to bat for Deniliquin, after the mayor’s chance meeting with him last month.
“Leeton getting four projects up with $11 million worth of funding, after getting $14 million in the last round; it just stinks,“ he said.
“Basically, they've just got $25 million. We've got $6.8, and we've got 68 jobs lost, and they've got none."
Cr Hall said he supported successful local projects, including funding for a cattle feedlot and dairy industry initiatives, but questioned how funding decisions had been made across the broader Murray-Darling Basin region.
“The whole Sustainable Communities funding program has been a disgrace and debacle, and I say (NSW Minister for Ag and Regional NSW) Tara Moriarty should hang her head in shame," he said.
Cr Hall revealed that in council’s early submission on the funding program, it pledged support for two suitable projects.
One would increase age care services in Deniliquin - a booming industry that would secure jobs almost immediately.
The other project council endorsed was the proposal to establish a Country Universities Centre in Deniliquin, to enhance career options and pathways for locals.
While not wanting to take away from projects that received money or fellow council areas to benefit more significantly, Cr Hall did highlight that some of the areas to receive funding are not as directly impacted by policy and water leaving the region as the areas surrounding Deniliquin.
“This whole thing is about providing jobs for affected communities,” Cr Hall said.
“And it should have been the areas most affected by water policy that received funding.”
Cr Hall suggested the final decisions may not have reflected local priorities, despite extensive consultation efforts by affected communities.
"My biggest concern is I don't think the bureaucrats understand the area and what the effects of this type of thing (the Deniliquin Rice Mill redundancies and partial closure) that has happened," he said.
Frustrated by what he sees as a failure to adequately support communities bearing the brunt of water buybacks, Cr Hall said he was prepared to escalate his criticism.
"I'm nearly at the stage where the gloves are off," he said.
"At the end of the day, we've got nothing to lose here. We've lost more than we're gaining."
While stressing his criticism was directed at government decision-makers rather than other councils, Cr Hall said Deniliquin should have been among the program's highest priorities.
"The impacts are real. They are tangible, and we're probably sitting down the bottom third of the list where we should be at the very top," he said.
• For more on the projects allocated funding in our region, turn to page 3.
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