Communities in the Murray and Wagga Wagga electorates have seen major wins in the 2020-21 NSW Budget with local NSW Nationals MP Wes Fang confirming investments in healthcare, transport, police and critical infrastructure across the region.
Mr Fang said this budget was delivering vital funding thanks to the community working together with the NSW Nationals in the state government to get these important projects over the line.
“I am pleased that the 2020-2021 budget confirms $2 million for the Rural Health Infrastructure Program in Deniliquin and Leeton, $1.4 million for the Deniliquin Emergency Department Upgrade, over $13 million to continue the Griffith Hospital redevelopment, $29 million for the Tumut Hospital redevelopment, $41 million for the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Redevelopment and a further $3 million for the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital car park, ensuring our communities have access to the same world-class health services and facilities as those in the city,” Mr Fang said.
“The NSW Nationals in the state government are delivering over $48 million for transport in Murray including the continuation of construction of the new Murray River Bridge between Echuca and Moama and the intersection upgrade of the Cobb Highway and Link Road. We are also delivering over $10 million in transport funding for Wagga Wagga which includes upgrading Dunns Road, planning for the replacement of Marshall’s Creek Bridge, continuing plans to upgrade the Olympic Highway and construction of shared pathways as part of our Active Travel Plan.
“This investment will ensure better and safer outcomes for residents, whether transporting food and fibre, travelling for leisure or fitness, or driving home after a long day at work.
“This budget also delivers $500,000 towards the new police station in Moama in order to provide the best resources possible to protect the community, and confirmation of more than $32 million in funding for the new Estella Primary School, ensuring quality education options for our kids, so they don’t have to leave home or travel to a metropolitan area to get the education they deserve.
“Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to apply for digital vouchers worth $1500 to help pay for government fees and charges as part of the Government’s COVID-19 stimulus and recovery plan in the 2020-21 NSW Budget.
“Small businesses have had to deal with a lot this year and it’s important that we support them to keep their lights on and their doors open. When we help businesses, we keep people in jobs which will help us build a better NSW.
Residents will be given $100 worth of digital vouchers that can be used at eateries and on arts and tourism attractions across NSW as part of a flagship $500 million program to help business, stimulate the state’s economy and support local jobs. Every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total – with the program designed to encourage people to spend multiple times to support their local businesses. Two vouchers can be used for eating in at venues such as restaurants, cafes, clubs and other food service venues, and two vouchers can be used for entertainment and recreation, such as cultural institutions, performing arts, cinemas, and amusement parks.
“Regional communities face unique challenges and we have had an incredibly tough few years with drought, bushfires and now COVID, but today’s budget ensures vital funding for this incredible region and its communities which make it one of the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family,” Mr Fang said.
Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals John Barilaro said the NSW Nationals in the state government were boosting the transformational Regional Growth Fund with a further $300 million, bringing the fund’s total to $2 billion, to continue delivering grass roots projects across the regions.
“To aid recovery and resilience across regional NSW we are also investing $639.2 million in bushfire recovery activities, $217.2 million in COVID-19 support and a further $88 million to help farmers rebound from drought,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Essential funding will also continue for programs with a dedicated focus on social, economic and industry recovery, to provide stimulus, restore destroyed structures, retain existing jobs, maintain production, strengthen supply chains and develop industry sustainability.
“Today’s budget is about bridging the city/bush divide and this record funding will deliver legacy projects and significant benefit to regional communities for generations to come, because we know that the regions are unparalleled and there is nowhere else we’d rather be.”
For more information about the NSW Government’s 2020-21 Budget, please go to budget.nsw.gov.au.
