Nambucca, Kempsey and Bellingen Shire residents won't have to wait for those big ticket items that were promised in the lead up to the NSW election in March.
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Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey has announced a community-driven 2019 NSW Budget, which will see Nambucca Shire receive not only $13.7 million for works at the new $73 million Macksville Hospital but also the $8 million for the Valla Industrial Estate ($3 million of which was a surprise announcement during the campaign) and the $8 million for constructing the new Nambucca TAFE Connected Learning Centre.
The Bowraville community will also receive $3 million to a Sport and Youth Hub at the Bowraville Recreational Club.
Kempsey Shire will receive $10 million to transform the Verge Street Fields at Kempsey into a Regional Sports Hub and a further $20 million for upgrades to Maria River Road and other local roads.
Further north the Bellingen Shire $9.9 million has been allocated for the construction of sewer systems for the Mylestom, Raleigh and Repton communities and $50 million for upgrades to the much-travelled Waterfall Way.
"These projects and initiatives reflect the needs of the people of our region," Mrs Pavey said.
"We are delivering key infrastructure projects as a priority. I want to see our region continue to develop, grow and improve, and this budget provides for everyone across the board."
Nambucca Shire mayor Rhonda Hoban said the funding was welcome news and she looked forward to receiving the deeds.
"This is good news because it means we can start preparing tender documents and planning for the capital works that council will be involved in," Cr Hoban said.
"I was concerned these promises might be rolled out across the government's four year term, which makes it very difficult to plan within the council's framework."
She said the council also looked forward to working with NSW TAFE and the community to assist in finding a site for the proposed new campus.
Further to her budget comments, Mrs Pavey also encouraged councils to apply for funding to improve the regional road network.
"They should apply for their share of NSW Government's two regional road infrastructure programs - the $500 million Fixing Local Roads program to assist in the repair, maintenance and sealing of local roads, and the $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program to replace the worst timber bridges."
The projected surplus for the 2018-19 budget is $802 million, demonstrating that despite challenging economic conditions, the NSW Government has managed the economy very well.
Other state-wide announcements include:
- . Over the next four years $400 million will be spent to significantly improve data services throughout the regions. The Connect Regional NSW program will revolutionise the way we live in the regions by building data hubs and investing in backhaul to improve internet connectivity.
- . An Emergency Drought Relief package, bringing the total funding to more than $1.8 billion across the state, to further support farmers and regional communities.
- . $1.7 billion for emergency services agencies, including Fire and Rescue NSW, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service and the Office of Emergency Management, to ensure optimum response to disasters and accidents across the State.
- . $1.1 billion over four years to support around 900,000 low income households to manage cost of living pressures through energy rebates.
- . $65.4 million over four years to support the roll-out of 300,000 solar panel and battery systems for households under the Empowering Homes Program.
- . $30 million for the Regional Community Energy Program to fund community projects in regional NSW to improve reliability and affordability.
- . Education funding for 2,300 new early childhood education places, 4,600 more teachers, 190 new and upgraded schools, before and after school care and $500 million for better facilities in non-government schools.
- . An unprecedented boost to frontline health services will deliver better quality healthcare, funding an historic 8,300 additional nurses, midwives, doctors and medical and support staff, 45 per cent of which will be located in regional NSW.