Major funding announcements will affect southeastern NSW. Photo: MDRX/Wikimedia Commons.
Hospitals, air ambulances, and essential infrastructure in southeast NSW have received major funding in this year’s State Budget.
The government is keen to promote its reduction of the $15.3 billion budget deficit since coming to power in 2023. It is now projecting a surplus by the 2027/28 financial year.
So what does this mean for the region?
The government has highlighted several major investments, including in health, transport, primary industries and education.
Key funding commitments in southeast NSW include:
- $581.6 million for hospital and health centres in Goulburn, Moruya, Batemans Bay, Bombala, and Cooma
- $1.8 million for the Women’s and Family Maternity Care Centre at Yass
- $101.1 million for Barton Highway road safety
- $21.2 million for pavement surface upgrades on the Hume Highway at Marulan
- $48 million for upgrades to the Goulburn and Bega police stations
- $2 million for the Moss Vale Fire Station upgrade
- $18.1 million for the Yass Water Security Treatment Plant
- $193 million for the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct in the Monaro.
Large-scale investments in the region include $101 million for the Barton Highway in the Goulburn electorate and $158 million for ambulance helicopter bases, with one in the Bega electorate.
The Monaro region is one of the big winners, securing hundreds of millions in funding. Member for Monaro Steve Whan said the budget was a big win for the region.
“There’s a number of things in the budget and all out the amount that we’re going to be spending on capital projects over the next financial year is over $210 million in the Monaro electorate,” he said.
One of the major gains, according to Mr Whan, is the progress that will be made on the Bombala Multi-Purpose Service.
“I think one of the key things that’s outlined in the budget is our ongoing commitment to the construction of the extension of Bombala Hospital,” he said.
“Now, there’s $27 million out of the $40 million project, which we expect to spend over next year and it means we should be finishing the planning and actually getting on with construction over the next financial year. I think it’s really important for the people of Bombala.”
The Monaro electorate has seen a significant amount of state and federal investment in recent years as the home of the Snowy Hydro Scheme and through the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct. Mr Whan said this budget showed the government’s commitment to regional Australians and it wasn’t just the Snowies that benefitted.
“We made a commitment to upgrade the Spotlight roundabout to a signalised intersection that’s proving to be a hell of a lot more expensive than I would have expected,” he said.
“It’s now running $34 million, but rather than saying this is too much, I’m really pleased that the roads minister’s actually found that money in the budget for it.”
In Bega, commitments in health funding saw $158.8 million announced for Ambulance helicopter bases for regional and rural areas with a new base in Moruya, also the site of a $330 million hospital project.
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said he welcomed the funding.
“The expansion of the aeromedical network with three new regional bases is incredibly welcome news, strengthening a critical lifeline for communities across NSW,” he said.
“This funding is a direct investment in saving lives in Eurobodalla, Port Macquarie, and Wagga Wagga communities.”
There is also significant road funding. In the Goulburn region the government has committed $101 million for the Barton Highway, and $21 million for pavement surface upgrades of the Hume Highway at Marulan.
Funds have also been allocated to upgrade the Goulburn police station and hospital, and to complete a water treatment facility in Yass.
The government has promoted these commitments as restoring essential services, rebalancing public finances, and ensuring long-term growth.
The Opposition has slammed the budget – calling it a “brutal blow to regional NSW”, describing the predicted surplus as a fairy tale and highlighting that capital expenditure has decreased under Labor.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said her region was being left behind.
“It’s been very underwhelming, particularly for the Goulburn electorate, very disappointing and there is certainly no new infrastructure projects, which is really disappointing,” she said.
“I think what we’re seeing is a lot of spin from this government and the reality is certainly a lot more stark than what they’re presenting.”
Ms Tuckerman criticised the government, saying they were trying to take credit for completing projects started by the Coalition, and that the government was not creating anything new for the region.
“The clear message from the Labor Government is that regional and rural communities are getting left behind, and that’s typical Labor; they see their votes in the metro. And that’s where they focus.”
