NSW Budget – what’s in it for the Illawarra?
The NSW Government delivered its 2015-16 Budget at the end of last month with previously announced Illawarra road and health projects emerging as the big winners for the region.
The State Budget allocated funding for a number of new roads across the Illawarra including $140 million to continue construction of the Princes Highway Foxground and Berry bypass, $3 million of planning money for the Albion Park Rail bypass and $12 million to complete the realignment of the Princes Highway at Termeil Creek.
The M1 Princes Motorway (formerly F6 Freeway) shared in the money with $2.5 million to continue planning additional lanes between Picton Road and Bulli Tops and $0 million to investigate an interchange at the base of Mount Ousley.
The budget also earmarked $5 million for the “Gateway to the South” which includes the M1 extension and removal of pinch points.
Illawarra rail commuters will benefit from a 2015-16 Budget allocation of $94 million towards a new $2.8 billion Intercity Fleet which will deliver new state-of-the-art trains.
Local health services also enjoyed a big windfall in funding with $14.7 million going towards upgrading Bulli Hospital Aged Care Centre of Excellence to begin this financial year, $4.4 million to continue the development of Wollongong Hospital Elective Surgery Unit, almost $3 million in planning money for the Shellharbour Hospital upgrade, and a new ambulance station for Berry.
The State Emergency Service received a major boost with $7.3 million to be spent in 2015-16 on new headquarters in Wollongong and $0,000 allocated to kick-start a major refurbishment of the Wollongong Fire Station. The Fire station upgrade is due for completion in 2018 and will cost almost $5 million.
ROADS
- $3 million planning money for Albion Park Rail bypass
- $11.9 million to continue work on Princes Highway upgrade at Gerringong (Mount Pleasant to Toolijooa Road) *remaining money of the $340m
- $140 million for the Foxground and Berry bypass
- $4.5 million planning money for Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade
- $2.5 million planning money for Princes Motorway improvements (slow-vehicle climbing lanes) between Picton Road and Bulli Tops
- $0,000 planning money for interchange at the base of Mount Ousley
- $3 million planning money for Nowra bridge
- $5 million earmarked for “Gateway to the South” M1 Motorway (formerly F6 Freeway) extension
HEALTH
- $14.7 million for Bulli Hospital Aged Care Centre of Excellence
- $2.9 million planning money for Shellharbour hospital upgrade
- $4.2 million to complete Wollongong Hospital car park
- $4.4 million to complete Wollongong Hospital elective surgery unit
- $1.9 million to expand stimulant treatment program to the Illawarra/Shoalhaven
- Berry ambulance station one of four ambulance stations to share in $14.4 million
EMERGENCY SERVICES
- $0,000 for Wollongong Fire Station refurbishment
- $7.3 million for new SES headquarters in Wollongong
EDUCATION
- Upgrade projects at Keira High School, Illawarra Sports High School and Lakelands Public School
- Illawarra Institute one of seven new projects worth $17 million – to help students access online learning tools
JUSTICE
- $5.6 million to continue Wollongong courthouse upgrade (remaining money of $15m total cost)