RECORD $349.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE NORTHERN TABLELANDS: BUDGET

RECORD $349.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE NORTHERN TABLELANDS: BUDGET

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall is delighted with a record Budget for the region handed down today, with $349.52 million in capital expenditure over the next 12 months.

 

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

 

NEW hospitals in Moree and Glen Innes, school and road improvements and support for families have been funded in a record spending blitz in the 2021-22 NSW Budget today, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall overjoyed at yet another record funding allocation to continue regional development and local job creation.

 

The record capital spend of $349.52 million over the next 12 months, comes on the back of last year’s COVID-19 mini-budget which saw a record investment of $315.4 million in the electorate.

 

Mr Marshall said the delivery of today’s budget set a solid foundation for prosperity and growth beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“This is record-breaking funding – never before have we seen this level of capital funding secured in the Northern Tablelands, especially off the back of consecutive record budgets,” Mr Marshall said.

 

“While this Budget acknowledges the tough economic times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it also looks to the future and the provision of new and upgraded hospitals, schools, roads and public facilities that will encourage new people to relocate to our region.

 

“I’m thrilled to see the funding delivered for the promised Moree and Glen Innes Hospital redevelopments, ensuring we’ll see final planning completed and construction work starting in the next 12 months.

 

“This is a huge result for the Moree and Glen Innes communities, hot on the heels of successful redevelopments at Armidale and Inverell, to improve health services and medical practitioner numbers in the region.

 

“Today’s outcome is the result of our proactive local councils and their communities, working together to lobby government for a fair cut of the funding pie.

 

“Not only that, but our local councils have proven in the last year they are capable of standing up and successfully delivering worthwhile tax-payer funded projects which will create new business opportunities and encourage their communities to thrive.

 

“This budget really recognises the heavy lifting local businesses and households have done during the pandemic to keep our State free of the virus and rewards their efforts with a blueprint for future economic growth.

 

“Full credit goes to the community, they have earned this result today.”

 

Some of the key projects that have been funded in the Northern Tablelands includes the $80 million Moree District Hospital redevelopment, the $20 million Glen Innes District Hospital refurbishment and $4.7 million to complete the Inverell District Hospital redevelopment. $51.8 million for significant upgrades to the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree.

 

There’s also $10.4 million to build of the multi-purpose hall at Armidale Secondary College, part of a $7.9 billion new and upgraded schools investment over the next four years. The space will boast facilities for both the performing arts, indoor sports and school gatherings.

 

$11.32 million is allocated to early road works associated with the Moree Special Activation Precinct and Intermodal and $1.7 million to begin construction on the New England Rural Fire Service Control Centre at Armidale Airport.

 

Planning and pre-delivery works for the Moree Special Activation Precinct will progress next financial year, with the site sharing $50 million with the Snowy Mountains and Williamtown Special Activation Precincts.

 

Local councils in the electorate will also have the pressure eased on their contribution to road works with almost $32 million to be provided through grants for maintenance and upgrades. This surpasses last year’s Budget allocation of $29.4 million.

 

There will be $140.2 million in new roads and bridges funding for the Northern Tablelands, surpassing last year’s record allocation of $102.8 million.

 

Free preschool will now be a staple for NSW families, with funding confirmed in the 2021/22 NSW Budget for community and mobile preschools today. Start Strong Free Preschool, will commence from January 2022, saving up to $4,000 per year per child in preschool fees.

 

New parents will have access to additional high-quality perinatal support, with the State Government allocating funding for a new Regional Family Care Centre in Armidale and Tresillian 2U Mobile Van in Inverell, The services operated by Tresillian and Gidget Foundation Australia will support families with various early parenting challenges.

 

Planning to deliver jobs and development through the New England Renewable Energy Zone will progress, with the region sharing in a $380 million investment for the implementation of the State’s landmark Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. Funding will be spent over the next four years on transmission upgrades to support large scale renewable energy projects.

 

In a major boost to the environment a number of historic former mine sites in the electorate will undergo significant remediation through the $107.7 million Legacy Mines Program. The old silver and base metals Conrad Mine near Inverell and Ottery Arsenic and Tin Mine at Emmaville are two site already identified for rehabilitation.

 

More regional seniors than ever will benefit from the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card, with $246 million extending the program an additional two years and increasing the eligibility to those people of Age Pension age who receive either a Disability Pension or a Carers Payment from Services Australia.

 

“This record $349 million budget will help move our region forward – we deserve every single cent – and I’ll ensure we keep that momentum going across the next 12 months,” Mr Marshall said.

 

Some of the budget highlights for the Northern Tablelands include:

 

  • $80 million over the next two years for Moree District Hospital redevelopment;
  • $20 million over the next two years for Glen Innes District Hospital refurbishment;
  • $4.7 million for the completion of Inverell Hospital redevelopment;
  • $10.4 million to build the new multi-purpose hall at Armidale Secondary College.
  • $3.53 million for new and upgraded social housing in Moree, Boggabilla, Armidale and Inverell;
  • $2 million for upgrade works at Moree Railway Station;
  • $50 million for Special Activation Precinct planning and pre-delivery in Moree;
  • $3.1 million to expand the Moree water supply;
  • $5.77 million for Puddledock Dam pipeline, near Armidale;
  • $231,000 Bingara sewerage extension;
  • $4.13 to construct the Ashley water supply scheme;
  • $1.77 million to redevelop Saumarez Homestead at Armidale;
  • $6.12 million Boilerhouse Discovery Space at Armidale;
  • $3.3 million for Moree Intermodal north south rail link;
  • $1.7 million to start construction on new Fire Control Centre at Armidale;
  • $140 million to fund road upgrades across the Northern Tablelands, including:
    • $58.1 million to continue construction on the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree;
      • $3.2 million heavy duty pavement works at North Moree;
      • $3.3 million North Moree heavy duty pavement;
      • $3.3 million Narrabri to Moree heavy duty pavement;
    • $11.32 million for the construction of the western link road from the Moree Intermodel overpass to the Newell Highway.
    • $9 million for upgrades on Thunderbolts Way;
    • $1.97 million for Bingara Road;
    • $9.5 million for IB Bore Road sealing;
    • $14.5 million for ongoing improvements to Waterfall Way;
    • $5.5 million to continue the upgrade the Gwydir Highway at the Washpool, near Moree;
    • $1.07 million Tolleys Bridge construction;
    • $3.6 million for Yetman Road
    • $10.46 million for Carrigan Road sealing

 

 

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