The words "Shoalhaven bridge" were uttered by Treasurer Scott Morrison during his third budget speech on Tuesday night, but that's as far as the Illawarra/South Coast mentions went in this year's Commonwealth cash splash.
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The "better days ahead" flagged by Mr Morrison as he delivered last year's financial blueprint were missing from the 2018-19 budget papers - at least when it came to federal funding for Illawarra-specific projects.
There was little in the kitty for the region, despite the continuation of a 10-year, $75 billion infrastructure plan aimed at "busting congestion in our cities, making rural roads safer and getting our products to market", and amid a new multibillion-dollar initiative related to key road corridors.
The new Nowra bridge - listed among a "national pipeline" of major projects and to be built in a Liberal-held marginal electorate - was, as expected, the beneficiary of some pre-election cash.
As revealed exclusively by the Mercury last week, $155 million was allocated in this year's budget for the third Shoalhaven River crossing. The federal funding covers half the bridge's estimated $310 million cost, with the NSW government required to provide the rest. About 300 jobs are expected to be created by the project.
The federal bridge cash formed part of a $1.5 billion 2018/19 budget spend on projects the government dubbed "priority regional and urban infrastructure" in NSW.
The lion's share of NSW funding - $971 million - went to the already-announced Pacific Highway bypass of Coffs Harbour, with $400 million set aside for the previously-flagged duplication of the Port Botany freight rail line.
This year's budget also included a new Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative, which will see $3.5 billion spent on "key road freight corridors in regional Australia" over the next 10 years.
The initiative would "increase network reliability and connectivity", the budget papers said, and also bolster productivity by "connecting major agricultural and resource areas with our cities and ports". However, the Princes Highway south of Nowra did not rate a mention.
Last week, Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis flagged a study into the strategic importance of that section of road was under way. A Fairfax Media campaign, dubbed Fix it Now, has called for an 80/20 funding split between the federal and state governments for upgrades along the dangerous stretch of highway.
The budget papers said corridors for ROSI funding would be identifed "through analysis of network performance and consultation with stakeholders". Those stakeholders include the heavy vehicle industry and state and territory governments. Works to be funded could include addressing safety hazards, increasing road quality to allow for high-capacity freight and bridge upgrades.
Just over $2 billion was allocated under the ROSI initiative in this budget - the majority of which, $1.5 billion, went to northern Australia. An extra $100 million was allocated to the Barton Highway corridor connecting NSW and the ACT. The funding has been earmarked specifically for regional corridors in Northern Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and connections between NSW and the ACT.
In terms of other transport infrastructure, the Illawarra's long-awaited - and unfinished - freight rail line went begging. There was no mention of the Maldon-Dombarton line within the hundreds of pages that made up the financial documents, despite a 2018/19 budget allocation of $7.9 billion for rail projects across the country.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra Regional Airport - where passenger flights were reintroduced last year - could be in line for an upgrade as part of a $50 million spend to enhance security screening at 64 regional airports. No airports were listed in the budget papers.
Among the big winners in this year's budget were Illawarra workers.
The region's low and middle income earners will be up to $530 better off after Mr Morrison announced a seven-year plan to make personal income tax "lower, fairer and simpler".
Workers earning up to $37,000 will have their taxed reduced by up to $200. Those pocketing more than $37,000 will have their tax lowered by up to a maximum of $530, while people with incomes between $48,000 and $90,000 will get the maximum tax relief of $530.
"For middle income households with both parents working on average wages, this will boost their ‘kitchen table’ budget by more than $1000 every year," Mr Morrison said.
The top threshold for the 32.5 per cent tax bracket will rise from $87,000 to $90,000 from July 1.
On the education front, some of the University of Wollongong's 34,000 enrolled students will benefit from the government's plan to make it easier to access finanical assistance for tertiary education.
From January 1, the $150,000 parental income cut-off test threshold for access to youth allowance will be increased to $160,000 for regional students.
The new $160,000 cut-off will then increase by $10,000 for each extra child in a family.
Elsewhere, small businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million will be able to instantly write-off purchases of up to $20,000.
Older members of the community will be supported by the government increasing the number of home care places by 14,000 over four years. There will also be $83 million spent on mental health services in residential aged care facilities.
Budget help for mature workers
A new "Entrepreneurship Facilitator" will be based in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven from next year as part of a new federal government initiative aimed at giving older Australians the practical help they need to stay in the workforce.
The initiative, dubbed More Choices for a Longer Life - jobs and skills for mature age Australians, will also encourage older workers to share their skills and experience with younger workers, the government said.
As part of the initiative, facilitators will encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment among older Australians.
The Entrepreneurship Facilitator positions were introduced as part of the 2016/17 budget, but have been expanded this year. Twenty new facilitators will be employed as part of the $17.7 million expansion, 10 of whom will be located in regional areas.
According to the budget papers, the facilitators' roles would be to deliver services to everyone within a region, with a primary focus on mature-age people, given the previously-announced positions were focussed on youth.
"Just because you are getting older does not mean you should have to surrender your dignity or your choices," Treasurer Scott Morrison said in his budget speech on Tuesday night.
"We’re living longer. It’s a good thing. We want to preserve and increase the choices of older Australians."
AT A GLANCE
Roads
- $155 million for a new Shoalhaven River crossing at Nowra
- No mention of funding for the Princes Highway south of Nowra, despite the government establishing a Roads of Strategic Importance initiative. The initiative will see $3.5 billion spent over the next 10 years to upgrade "key routes to improve access for businesses and communities to essential services, markets and employment opportunities".
Rail
- Despite a $7.9 billion budget spend on rail infrastructure, the Maldon-Dombarton line didn't rate a mention. The money went everywhere expect NSW, with projects here getting $450 million - $400 million to duplicate a section of the Port Botany freight rail line and build and Cabramatta passing loop, and $50 towards a business case for the Western Sydney Airport north-south rail link.
Infrastructure
- The Illawarra Regional Airport could be in line for an upgrade, with $50.1 million in this year's budget to enhance security screening at 64 regional airports. However, no specific airports were mentioned in the budget papers.
Business
- Illawarra small businesses will benefit from the government's decision to extend the instant asset write-off for businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million for purchases of up to $20,000.
Arts
- $1.5 million to the Shoalhaven-based Bundanon Trust - a wholly-owned Australian government company limited by guarantee, established in 1993 to own and manage the properties and art collection donated by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd "as a means of a gift to the nation".
Education
- Some of the University of Wollongong's 34,000 enrolled students will benefit from the government's plan to make it easier to access finanical assistance for tertiary education. From January 1, the $150,000 parental income cut-off test threshold for access to youth allowance will be increased to $160,000 for regional students.
- The new $160,000 cut-off will then increase by $10,000 for each extra child in a family.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
