RDA HUNTER WELCOMES 2014 STATE BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENTS

The NSW Government’s commitment to the Hunter getting its fair share is based on unified and strong advocacy.

RDA Hunter welcomes the State Government’s 2014/15 budget announcement of an additional $100 million for Hunter infrastructure from NSW Government’s major infrastructure fund ‘Restart NSW’.

The budget specifies $185.2 million spending on infrastructure projects from the Hunter Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF).

Budget announcements for the Hunter include:
• An allocation of $87 million for mining affected communities from Resources for Regions; five of
the Hunter’s eleven local government areas are eligible to apply
• Confirmation of commitments already made to duplicate the Tourle Street Bridge and access roads,
upgrade of the Scone level crossing and Gowrie Gates at Singleton;
• $50 million reserved for the Newcastle urban renewal initiatives;
• $392 million for road capital expenditure and maintenance including $150 million towards
completion of the Newcastle inner-city bypass;
• $25 million towards the relocation of the Newcastle University;
• $9.3 million for redevelopments of John Hunter Children’s Hospital paediatric and neonatal
intensive care units.

“RDA Hunter welcomes the opportunities this budget presents for the Hunter to strengthen its key infrastructure, boost productivity and create jobs,” said RDA Hunter Chair, Dr Gaye Hart AM.

“It is pleasing to see the Budget identifies that some of the $200 million allocated for a new Regional Freight Pinch Point and Safety Program will be spent on the Golden Highway which we identified as a priority project in the Hunter Economic Infrastructure Plan (HEIP).”

“As the region’s leading advocate, we are looking forward to presenting a strong business case for the Hunter to leverage further funds from ‘Restart NSW’, continued Dr Hart. “We will ramp up our efforts to ensure that the Hunter benefits from new sources of funding for regional NSW including:
• $110 million for regional tourism infrastructure works
• $50 million Western NSW Freight Productivity Program to seal, widen and deliver other improvement works on freight corridors; and
• $37.5 million for Fixing Country Roads, a program designed to improve regional roads managed by local government, especially roads to allow higher mass vehicles to operate.”

The Hunter is well-placed to capitalise on the State’s financial security to deliver benefits for the region’s growth and prosperity.

More information on the budget announcements can be found at www.budget.nsw.gov.au