Grants have been awarded in round four of allocations for the Regional Australia Development Fund; some local governments are celebrating their success while others feel left out.

Grants cover a myriad of projects around the country. They provide vital funding for initiatives to help the environment, fix sports grounds, hospitals and airports, create tourism opportunities, encourage regional community engagement and much more.

The Broken Hill City Council may be a little disgruntled at missing out, they had asked for funds to assist in a $15 million film studio project. Broken Hill Mayor Wincen Cuy says he has seen the projects that were successful and none have the significance to the local economy like the film studio; "We're actually trying to change the economy and the diversification of our economy with this project... this project to us meant a diversification away from mining into our future. I don't believe the people who assessed this took that into consideration whatsoever."

Victoria’s Gippsland Council are annoyed at missing out on a grant this round for their $30 million pool project, they had asked for $15 million from the Federal Government. Councillor Dale Harriman said he believed the money had been funnelled into metropolitan areas, saying "we are very, very disappointed that funding meant for regional and rural Australia has gone to city centres".

North Queensland’s dangerously well-known Bruce Highway has missed out on funding, though it was allocated millions in the recent State budget.

Applications are on now for Round Five of the Regional Development Australia Fund, a list of successful Round Four projects is also available at the Department’s website.