BUDGET | MPs REACTION
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The NSW government has delivered on its promises to the region in this year's state budget, Kiama MP Gareth Ward said yesterday.
Mr Ward said he was pleased with the continuation of funding for major capital projects such as the Princes Highway and Wollongong Hospital.
"In this state budget, we are spending $202 million on the Princes Highway, which represents the single largest investment in the history of the Princes Highway," Mr Ward said.
The $202 million investment includes $115 million for the continuing upgrade at Gerringong, $19 million towards the Foxground and Berry Bypass and $4 million towards building climbing lanes at Mount Ousley, as revealed in yesterday's Mercury.
Mr Ward said he was particularly pleased to have secured $1 million for the region in the state budget for further planning work on a possible Albion Park Rail bypass.
The budget for work on Princes Highway has been set at $202 million.Meantime, the $45.8 million allocated in this year's budget to continue work on the new elective surgery unit at Wollongong Hospital was also welcome news for patients and carers across the region.
"Plus we have seen funds allocated in this budget for the expansion of the car park at Wollongong Hospital," Mr Ward said.
"These 700 extra car parking spaces complement upgrades at train stations across the region including $5.7 million for 230 extra car parking spaces at Oak Flats station and $3 million for 40 new spaces at Kiama station.
"The government has also allocated $39 million to build Shell Cove station."
Mr Ward said as well as targeted funding for the region, Illawarra and South Coast residents would also benefit in statewide "structural changes" made in this year's budget.
"It's not just about hand-outs, it's also about things in the structure of the budget that are good for communities," he said.
"Things like increases in the payroll tax threshold ... and the continuation and extension of the first home buyers scheme.
"There's also been cuts from the back room to put more services on the front line - more nurses in our hospitals, more police on the streets, more teachers in schools - which benefits the whole of NSW including this region."
Wollongong MP Noreen Hay said the budget announcement was a "further insult" to the people of the Illawarra, while Keira MP Ryan Park said it was a "terrible budget for the region".
"I think community groups, business groups and residents will look very hard at this budget and say 'Why have we been treated like second-class citizens?'," he said.
Mr Park said while he welcomed funding for Wollongong Hospital, no funds had been allocated for the ailing Bulli Hospital.
"Bulli Hospital is desperately in need of an upgrade - the buildings are dilapidated and the services are not providing what they need to for the local community," he said.
"There's now no certainty that it can continue to remain open under this government."
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson was also concerned no funding had been delivered for the upgrade of Shellharbour Hospital.
"If the NSW government thinks throwing a few crumbs from this year's budget for the planning stage of the Albion Park Rail bypass is going to let it off the hook for its abject failure to invest in the upgrade of Shellharbour Hospital, it should think again," she said.
Mr Park was also disappointed road safety funding had been slashed in this year's budget: "Around $38 million has been cut from road safety funding which is particularly concerning for the people of the Illawarra because we are one of the largest commuter corridors in the country."
Mr Park would also have liked to see some specific targeted funding for projects such as the new library at Figtree High School.
