Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald has defended claims the NSW government's 2017-18 budget is simply a "re-announcement" of already announced projects.
The budget is being criticised for announcing big spending on projects they'd already committed to including the Newcastle revitalisation projects, and various road upgrade works.
Scot MacDonald says there's no point in announcing funding for new projects while big projects are still underway - the important thing is current projects are funded and the government can and will continue to fund them.
"We do have to get these projects done first, you can't pile projects on top of projects without getting the footwork done and the substantial works done. So we're getting on with those major projects whether it be the Maitland hospital or whether it be the light rail."
The budget revealed what many believe to be a meagre amount for the yet to be built Maitland hospital with only $5 million allocated to go towards the $450 million project which has left local MP's to question whether it will ever be finished.
The government say they make no apologies for doing projects properly, unlike when Labor was in power and a hospital was rushed to be completed, leading to sewerage overflows and water leaking into surgeries. They say you either have the Labor way with sub-standard work, or you have a properly planned project which delivers a good product in the end.
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| Scot MacDonald Image dailytelegraph.com.au |
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper is welcoming the government's funding for numerous projects and he says while it may be the case the government can afford to inject funding into projects so they can continue, the whole Hunter region has missed out on more funding which it deserves.
"I think the region has been short changed. It is a good budget overall, there's been a massive spend on infrastructure, there have been some fantastic new contributions into services around policing, nursing but for the region, I think considering what we do in the Lower Hunter, we're being very much overlooked."
The Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange has been a hot topic throughout the region and was allocated $1.7 million for a revised strategic business case for all stages of the proposed project in yesterday's budget.
Greg Piper is welcoming the funding because he says the plan really does need revising as there is a definite discrepancy between what council think the Pennant Street Bridge stage of the project will cost and what the government was being advised it would cost
"I'm very frustrated as I'm sure many other people are just tired of hearing about the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange, it's been going on so long. Though I am pleased that they have actually gone ahead and set aside funds to actually go back and prepare that business case."
