It was announced late last month Leeton Sire Council would receive $1 million from the federal government, which will aim to provide a boost for those suffering from the current drought.

It is also intended to provide short-term local employment and procurement, while also addressing any specific social or community needs.

NSW Business Chamber regional manager Andrew Cottrill was pleased to see Leeton shire included in the latest funding announcement, along with seven other additional local government areas across the state. 

"Communities and businesses in the Riverina-Murray region have been doing it tough, the effect the drought is having can't be overstated and extends beyond the farming and agriculture sector to businesses in these communities," he said. 

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"Surveys conducted by the NSW Business Chamber confirmed four in five businesses across regional NSW have been negatively affected by this drought.

"This isn't just bad news for farmers - it flows on to the entire community."

The Drought Communities Program, which is where the funding has been allocated from, is designed to support community infrastructure and other drought relief projects, for those towns that have been impacted by drought.

"Given the severity, length of the drought and impact on this community it is time for all levels of government to work more collaboratively to provide greater support and assistance to regional communities and businesses who are really doing it tough," Cottrill said.

"We welcome this announcement, but now it's time to extend and increase assistance to communities and businesses who have been ravaged by drought."

Much of NSW remains in drought despite some recent rain. Irrigators in the MIA also haven't seen a change in water allocations, remaining at 7 per cent of entitlement. 

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