Mixed reaction to State Budget

The State Budget, handed down on June 18, has met a mixed reception on the Central Coast, with Labor MPs saying it lays the groundwork for a brighter future for the region, and Liberal Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch claiming the Government has abandoned Coasties amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the Budget invested in structural reform across the region, investing in essential services while getting the state back on track.

“The Budget focuses on rebuilding the services that our community relies on most, including investments in our education infrastructure, upgrading our major roads, providing more homes and investing in our healthcare system,” she said.

She highlighted confirmation of $3M (as part of $40M over four years) for continued planning of the Gosford bypass, and $13.6M for improvement works at Blackwall Rd and McMasters Rd, Woy Woy, as major roadwork wins.

Member for The Entrance David Mehan added to the list a $1.8M allocation (as part of a total $65.5M commitment by the State and Federal Governments) towards upgrades at the Central Coast Hwy and Tumbi Rd intersection.

Member for Wyong David Harris said the Budget also included $216.3M for continued planning and early works for upgrade of the Pacific Hwy through Wyong CBD.

And Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley highlighted $3.7M for the delivery of a program of minor works to improve active and public transport infrastructure, safety and urban design along the Scenic Dr corridor at Budgewoi.

The MPs said education was another big winner, with $1.4M allocated for school upgrades on the Central Coast including at Central Mangrove Public School, Umina Beach Public School and Killarney Vale Public School.

There are to be two new public preschools in the region and 778 Central Coast-based education staff are to be made permanent.

To address the social housing shortage, the Budget delivers $3.38M for upgrades to social housing properties in the Gosford electorate, $4.56M for homes in The Entrance electorate and $2.5M for social housing in the Swansea electorate.

Mehan also highlighted a $6.4M commitment for stage one of the Wyong Hospital redevelopment.

The MPs said the Central Coast would benefit from statewide initiatives including: an increased road safety budget across the state; funding to deliver more than 21,000 affordable and market homes across NSW; an $8.4M investment in the work of the Rental Commissioner to protect the interests of tenants; a statewide $480.7M Emergency Department Relief Package; a commitment of $83.1M over the next four years to retain expert TAFE NSW teachers; and $189.5M over four years to provide job security for hundreds of firefighters statewide.

“This Budget is about building better communities for NSW by prioritising housing supply, and essential infrastructure,” Tesch said.

“There is a lot more to do, however we are focused on building a better NSW for everyone in our community.”

Mehan said the Budget reflected a “comprehensive approach” to address key community needs in health, education, transport, and local infrastructure.

“Despite economic challenges and record state debt, the Budget reflects a commitment to supporting the people of the Central Coast to navigate and overcome these challenges effectively,” he said.

But Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the Budget “is even worse than the 2023/24 Budget” with the Government appearing to willingly abandon the people of the Central Coast during a cost-of-living crisis.

He said it was lacking in detail and full of “blanket statements across the board and reannouncement after announcement of previously funded projects”.

“As part of the 2024/25 Budget, public schools across the Terrigal electorate will receive no new funding for school upgrades, no new funding for any childcare centres as part of the Minns Government’s promise for 100 new public preschools and no cost-of-living relief measures for struggling households,” he said.

Crouch also criticised a lack of any funding commitment for the development of the new TAFE building on the site of the former Gosford council chambers.

“The only funding for infrastructure (in the Terrigal electorate) is $11.037M to continue planning for the upgrade of Avoca Dr, which is only as a result of my long and hard campaign for our community,” he said.

Crouch said no funding had been included for: the continuation of the upgrade of the Central Coast Hwy from Wamberal to Bateau Bay; a new ambulance station at Kincumber; the upgrade of Shelly Beach Rd at Empire Bay; an upgrade of the Terrigal Police Station; or the redevelopment of the Macmasters Beach Rural Fire Service Station.

Terry Collins