The Berejiklian Government’s final budget before the election has seen millions allocated to roads and hospital projects across the Illawarra.
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Here’s a quick overview:
ROADS
- $101 million in 2018-19 to begin construction of the Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade.
- $65.6 million to begin construction of the Albion Park Rail bypass.
- $15.3 million to continue planning for the new Nowra bridge over the Shoalhaven River.
- $8.8 million to develop a new Princes Highway safety program
- A further allocation of $4.7 million to continue planning M1 Princes Motorway improvements between Bulli Tops and Picton Road (joint state and federally-funded project)
- $3 million to continue planning M1 Princes Motorway interchange at the base of Mount Ousley.
- $30 million to continue to Batemans Bay bridge replacement.
- $8.8 million for further work on the realignment of the Princes Highway at Dignams Creek.
Read more: How the NSW Budget 2018 shafted Wollongong
RAIL
- $648.2 million towards the modernisation of rail infrastructure, delivering improvements on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line, T8 Airport and South Line, and South Coast Line customers.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- $10.3 million in additional money for WIN Stadium's northern grandstand and other works (total estimated cost of the project $18.1 million).
HEALTH
- $12.7 million to continue the Bulli Hospital Aged Care Centre of Excellence (the oustanding balance of the $37.1 million estimated total cost).
- $30 million to continue the Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment.
- $5.5 million to complete the Shoalhaven Hospital car park at Nowra.
POLICE / JUSTICE
- $70 million towards the completion of 360 new beds at the South Coast Correctional Centre
- $3.3 million to complete the Bay and Basin police station at Vincentia.
- $600,000 for heating, ventilation and air-condiitoning works at Nowra police station.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
- $3.8 million for Wollongong-based NSW State Emergency Service critical communications enhancement program - stay safe keep operational (total cost of project allocated in 2018-19).
- $1.3 million for Wollongong-based NSW State Emergency Service critical communications enhancement program - terminal refresh and change managment (total cost of project allocated in 2018-19).
- $130,000 to finalise cost of new SES headquarters in Wollongong
- $650,000 for land and new FRNSW station at Eden.
CULTURE
-$2.5 million to continue the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre – Infrastructure and Experience Invigoration project.
ENVIRONMENT
- $2.3 million to finalise the Great Southern Nature Walk - Wattamolla Visitor Precinct, in the Royal National Park.
- $1.4 million to continue Royal Coast Track improvements in the Royal National Park.
COST OF LIVING
- New Creative Kids Rebate gives families a $100 voucher per school aged child for extra-curricular activities such as music, drama, visual and performing arts, coding and language classes.
- Online "one-click energy switch" service through Service NSW to allow consumers to find and switch to the best energy deals.
- Service NSW cost of living service to make access to government rebates easier
- Reducing ten of the top state government-issued parking fines by 25 per cent.
- Drop in registration costs for caravans
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.
