The new Labor NSW Government has delivered more than $160M in Central Coast-specific funding in its first State Budget since being elected.
Handed down on September 19, the Budget sees health, education, transport and roads in the region come out as the big winners, with election promises for local projects confirmed.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said that managing finances responsibly and “redirecting wasteful spending”, the Government planned to rebuild essential services and reinvest in frontline workers to provide support when people on the Central Coast needed it the most.
“Health and education are huge employers on the Coast and they will get the pay rises they need and deserve to care for and educate our growing community,” Harris said.
“‘The big-ticket items we promised – the Gosford bypass and Pacific Hwy upgrades – will be delivered as well as the Gosford waterfront and more social housing.
“Smaller grants will be delivered to community organisations right across the Coast community, providing a major boost to essential services.”
Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the Budget showed that the Government was committed to providing for local communities on the Central Coast.
“These projects will have a major impact on local families, business and infrastructure; the benefits are huge,” she said.
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the former Liberal National Government had left the state’s finances in “a very poor state”.
“We are working hard to repair the Budget to meet our promises including the important commitment to rebuild our public service,” he said.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said despite inheriting “the largest debt in our state’s history”, the Government would keep its election commitments.
“I look forward to seeing the benefits of these commitments roll out to our local community in the coming months,” she said.
In the area of health, the north of the region will benefit from $9.275M to advance the $200M Wyong Hospital Redevelopment and $3.338M as part of the $6.4M Wyong Hospital Cancer Day Unit expansion.
In the field of education, the budget features $4.9M to provide new and upgraded facilities to deliver Animal Studies courses at Wyong TAFE and $50,000 for an upgrade at Porters Creek Public School.
It is in the area of transport and roads that the Central Coast will see the biggest Budget investment.
This includes: $23M to continue the upgrade and expansion of Tuggerah Station; $12M to start planning and design for Stage 4 of the Pacific Hwy Gosford bypass; $9.377M for a commuter carpark at Woy Woy; $7.9M to finalise planning and start pre-construction activities to improve traffic flow and safety on the Tumbi Rd intersection with the Central Coast Hwy; $7.057M for planning and $16M for the Wyong Town Centre as part of the $420M upgrade of the Pacific Hwy through Wyong; $5M to start construction on improvement works at Blackwall Rd and McMasters Rd; $4.8M for the $58.8M Mandalong Rd upgrade; $2M for planning of a shared coastal pathway connecting Lake Macquarie LGA to Central Coast LGA; $2M towards the Avoca Dr upgrade between Algona Ave and Joalah Rd; and $500,000 for active and public transport infrastructure, safety and urban design at Budgewoi.
Central Coast Council will receive; $5.72M from the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund (including pothole repair); $8M over four years for footpath improvement projects; and $1M to undertake a Carters Rd Lake Munmorah Traffic Study.
Central Coast rail passengers will also benefit from a $430M new state-of-the-art train fleet to improve intercity passenger services.
To help address the region’s housing crisis, almost $10M has been allocated to upgrade social housing at The Entrance, Gosford, Wyong and Terrigal.
A pre-election commitment of $8.5M for the Gosford Waterfront Revitalisation Plan has been confirmed.
In the area of sport, $3.8M will be spent over two years for improved access to soccer facilities and programs in the region and $1.3M has been allocated for the Halekulani Oval amenities renewal.
Other regional commitments include: $11M for the Centre for Australian Horticultural Market Access; $7.3M for the Warnervale Town Centre Water and Sewer; $6.854M for the Mardi Water Treatment Plant Upgrade; $5M for Peat Island Cultural Tourism Precinct activation; $650,000 for Darkinjung Mangrove Mountain Cultural Tourism Park; and $306,177 for Saratoga Sailing Club’s Security, Equity, Accessibility and Safety Project.
Local projects receiving funding include: $100,000 for court resurfacing at Empire Bay Tennis Club; $50,000 to Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary for a Koala Habitat Recovery project; $40,000 to the Wyong Netball Association; $60,000 to Wamberal Memorial Hall play space renewal; and $100,000 for Pelican Park at Woy Woy.
Source:
NSW Government