Budgewoi road gets $3.7M in budget

Roadworks in Budgewoi and Lake Munmorah along with sports oval lighting and the coastal walkway are among the projects funded  in the NSW Labor Government’s second Budget announced on June 18.

Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the Budged delivered critical investment in local roads, social housing and would take pressure off the cost of seeing a GP for families.

She said $3.7M had been allocated to commence the development and delivery of minor works to improve transport infrastructure, safety and urban design along the Scenic Dr corridor at Budgewoi.

“The NSW Government is continuing to fund critical infrastructure projects including $1M for planning works on Carters Rd at Lake Munmorah, $2M for planning of a Coastal Walkway connecting the Lake Macquarie and Central Coast local government areas, and $120,000 to upgrade lighting at Halekulani Oval,” Catley said.

There will be $300,000 to fund 12 school crossing supervisors across the electorate.

“This is a Budget that puts people first,” Catley said.

“We know one of the challenges on the Coast is families seeing their GP and we have invested in taking pressure off our GPs and incentivise bulk billing, a first in-the-nation scheme.

“The NSW Government is investing $188.8M in the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative to ease the cost of seeing a GP and reduce the strain on our emergency departments.

“The initiative will decrease the financial pressure on GP practices by waiving historical payroll tax liabilities for contractor GPs and provide an ongoing tax rebate to clinics that meet bulk-billing thresholds.”

Housing is at the centre of the 2024/25 Budget with a record investment of $5.1B to build 8,400 new social homes – which includes 2,200 replacement homes – and upgrades to 33,500 homes across NSW.

The NSW Government will prioritise at least half of the net 6,200 new homes for those fleeing domestic and family violence.

Catley said that in addition, $2.4M would be invested in the social housing stock of the Swansea electorate.

Swansea Channel remains a priority for the NSW Government with $3M allocated for future dredging works.

Funding has also been secured for restoration works at Reid’s Reserve, Swansea Heads.