NSW Budget Highlights for the Riverina

The NSW State Government released the 2019-20 Budget this week, with large investments affecting our regional communities.

Highlights include:

$1.8 billion allocated to drought relief

$71.3 million in 2019-20 (as part of a $431.4 million project) for the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Redevelopment

$14.2 million in 2019-20 (as part of a $250 million project) for the Griffith Hospital Redevelopment

$3.5 million in 2019-20 (as part of a $50 million project) for the Tumut Hospital Redevelopment

5,000 extra nurses and midwives will be employed over the next four years, with 45% of those in regional areas

A new $250 Regional Seniors Transport Card was introduced

New funding of $113 million in 2019-20 from the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund to be spent on priority areas including:

·         $90 million ($400 million over four years) for the Regional Digital Connectivity Program, providing mobile black spot towers and data centres to improve internet connectivity, speeds and reliability in regional NSW

·         $20 million in 2019-20 to continue to investigate and plan for future Special Activation Precincts

·         $3 million in 2019-20 to progress sites identified in the International Air Freight Pre-Feasibility Study to improve connectivity in regional NSW

$22.9 million in 2019-20 as part of a $50 million investment to upgrade food and fibre research stations, including Wagga Wagga

$61.7 million over four years to construct eight new TAFE Connected Learning Centres in rural and regional locations, including at Hay and West Wyalong

$2.8 billion for the design, build and maintenance of the new Regional Rail Fleet to replace the aging NSW Regional rail fleet of XPT, Endeavour and Xplorer trains and build a new maintenance facility in Dubbo

$1.2 million allocated in 2019-20 for the upgrade and refurbishment of Griffith Court

New primary school in Wagga Wagga