BY JESSICA ROUSE

Community groups in Port Stephens have had all their Christmases come at once, with local council formalising more than $850, 000 in funding for community projects.

Service clubs, environmental groups, sports clubs and church groups were among the successful applicants with the funding enabling them to continue to run events and programs important to the community.

Mayor of Port Stephens Bruce Mackenzie says the local government is rewarding the efforts of the community he couldn’t be happier.

“For me Port Stephens is an example of local government working with the people, rewarding the people for their efforts right throughout the length and breadth of the local government area and I’m just so happy that we’re in a financial position to be able to do that.”

The mayor has raised concerns however, that if the proposed amalgamation with Newcastle goes ahead, the important community groups could be left behind.

“It’s probably the last time Port Stephens will be making those allocations to the people and I would imagine that especially if we amalgamate with Newcastle, those organisations will see peanuts in the future where we last night gave them gold because we appreciate the volunteers and the people that put in efforts beyond the call of duty.”
It was also announced that the proceeds of the sale of a new housing block at Tarrant Road in Salamander Bay, will also be endorsed to go towards unfunded projects totalling  $660, 000.