A Millicent not-for-profit community group headed by David Walshaw (pictured) was handed a significant task in the days before Christmas by a Federal Government agency.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has just invited applications for a permanent community radio licence.

The ACMA announcement means the Millicent community radio station 5THE-FM management committee and its chairman have to get their paperwork in order to transition from its current temporary licence to a permanent one.

5THE-FM was stripped of its licence over a year ago as the previous management breached certain governance and other licence conditions.

Mr Walshaw and the current management committee have been in control for the past 13 months and cleared debt, fundraised, secured sponsors and grants and rebuilt the membership and announcers numbers.

The application to ACMA must be lodged by February 14.

Mr Walshaw said the temporary licence was granted in November 2022.

“It is an exhaustive process to get back a permanent licence,” he said.

“We will be enlisting the support of our industry partners like the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and the South Australian Community Broadcasting Association.

“The station has to show to ACMA that we are meeting community requirements.

“Looking ahead, 5THE-FM plans to present ethnic programs again as well as sports broadcasts.”