Federal budget 2017: 'Better days ahead' a catch-cry we can relate to

Better days are ahead, Treasurer Scott Morrison said four times during his budget speech on Tuesday night.

For the Illawarra's sake, let's hope so.

Budget 2017-18 was, again, a let down for the region - particularly when it came to specific infrastructure projects.

 Read more: South Coast winners and losers in federal budget

Searching for a number of terms - like 'Illawarra', 'Wollongong', 'Maldon-Dombarton' - in electronic versions of the budget papers repeatedly delivered a 'no results found' response. 

It was certainly a disappointment, but we can't say we're surprised. 

While there was some loose change tossed around for previously-promised road projects or those already under way, one project did pop up out of nowhere.

Read more: What the budget means for you and your family

Funnily enough, the Far North Collector Road project is in Nowra - the home base of the region's only Liberal MP, Ann Sudmalis. 

The nearby Princes Highway went begging, continuing the Commonwealth's failure to come to table. The region's parliamentary secretary, and state Liberal MP, Gareth Ward has long advocated for his federal counterparts to help fix the road.

The Gerringong bypass has opened, so has part of the Berry bypass and planning work on the Albion Park Rail bypass is under way. 

The state wants the Commonwealth's help, but it's simply not getting it. 

Take the Albion Park Rail bypass as an example. A breakdown of key NSW projects, listed in a budget media statement from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, and Minister for Urban Affairs, Paul Fletcher, included that very project.

Under the heading "Regional Road Freight Corridor - Princes Highway", the narrative spoke of the APR bypass and told a story of "total Australian government funding 2013-14 to 2020-21" of just $52.5 million.

Compare that to the NSW government's commitment of $550 million. The project might be a little while off, and we understand planning takes time, but something's got to give. 

The APR bypass is just one part of the Princes Highway upgrade puzzle.

The budget wasn't all bad news, though. The region's small businesses will be smiling again, after the ability to instantly write off assets was extended for another 12 months. 

Here's hoping our region also reaps the benefits of the $472 million Regional Growth Fund and those doing it tough when it comes to access to housing get the support they need.