General Manager Anthony McMahon said “Due to the number of applications that were received the originally planned assessment panel meeting was postponed. The meeting of the assessment panel is currently being rescheduled which will likely be early November dependent on the availability of our two Local State Members. Once the panel has met and come up with recommendations for funding they will then be taken to a Council meeting for ratification. Depending on final timing of the panel meeting an extraordinary Council meeting may be held to allow finalisation. Applications for the fund closed 7 weeks ago on August 19. The Stronger Communities Fund is a joint initiative between the NSW Government and Hilltops Council with grants of up to $50,000 available for incorporated not for profit community based organisations and Section 355 Committees of Council with up to $1 million available under the program. The residents of the twin towns will be expecting a majority share of the funding after Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson awarded $600,000 to the Young Showground in August and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward awarded the Boorowa Showground $1,000,000 dollars in April. Harden Murrumburrah has seen no such investment in their community infrastructure to this date under the Hilltops merger