Singleton Mayor Hits Back At Resources For Regions Cutback

BY HOLLY FISHLOCK

The NSW government has announced it will cut the Resources for Regions grant program, a move which has been heavily criticized by Singleton Mayor Sue Moore.

It comes after Singleton Council recently worked closely with the government to deliver positive changes to the program. 

Singleton and Muswellbrook account for a total of 43% of NSW's coal mining output, which amounted to over $18 billion in 2021. Because of this, more than $25 million has been given back to the Singleton local government area.

Cr Moore says Resources for Regions has delivered a fair return to the Singleton community for the unavoidable impacts of mining.

"The changed Resources for Regions program, changed three years ago, was hugely beneficial to Singleton residents and the local government area. We were able to support projects and programs, not just council projects," she said.

Cr Moore said she will continue to advocate for the program to continue, and is devastated to see it cut from Tuesday's budget.

"Projects that we've been able to support for the last three years will no longer be able to receive support... so I'm really concerned for what it's going to mean for those community programs that have no way of getting funding," she said.

However, Cr Moore says she is hopeful the introduction of the new $350 million Regional Development Trust Fund will continue to support communities in rural and regional NSW.

NSW Budget Delivers For Public Servants, Omits Hunter Park Proposal

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's concerns the Hunter is not reaping the rewards of it's major representation in NSW Cabinet, following the release of the state government's budget today.

The Newcastle Herald reports Sydney is mentioned 22 times in the overview of Labor's first budget in 13 years, but Newcastle and the Hunter are not mentioned once.

It's also understood no major funding has been committed for the major redevelopment being planned for Broadmeadow.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said during a media conference in Sydney today, planning for the Hunter Park project is ongoing, and confirmed the scandal surrounding former Minister for the Hunter Tim Crakanthorp, has not affected the government's commitment to it. 

Meantime, it seems public servants in the Hunter are the big winners of the budget, with funding confirmed for their wage increases.

The Minns government has set aside $3.6 billion to fund pay rises for nurses, paramedics, teachers, prison officers, police, and childcare workers, and will spend $572 million on making more than 1,000 pandemic nurses and midwives permanent.

It's expected the budget will spark backlash from the Opposition, with a number of Coalition-led initiatives being either scrapped or cut back, including the Active and Creative Kids Vouchers, which will be lowered, and the Regional Senior's Travel Card, which will be dumped. 

 

Image: NSW Government

 

2023 Budget Wrap-up

 BY EMILY WILLIAMS

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced the Federal budget for the year ahead, with energy and Medicare coming out on top.

Leading into Tuesday night's announcement, Hunter residents were most concerned about energy, housing and the cost-of-living crisis.

 Image: Facebook

These are some of the highlights from the 2023 budget:

CLEAN ENERGY

As the country continues its transition away from fossil fuels, the new budget includes a significant investment in clean energy.

A $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart Fund will be established to produce renewable hydrogen as part of the Government's bid to become a "renewable energy superpower".

ENERGY BILL RELIEF

5 million Australians will have a $500 reduction to their energy bills next year.

Those eligible will include pensioners, veterans, seniors and other concession card holders.

Recipients of Carer Allowance and Family Tax Benefits will also benefit from the scheme.

MEDICARE

A $5.7 billion investment in Medicare was announced, including a $3.5 billion incentive to triple bulk-billing for low income families.

The incentive will increase from $6.60 to $19.80.

This coming after the latest Clean Bill report revealed the Hunter had some of the lowest bulk-billing rates in New South Wales.

Vice-President of the Doctors Reform Society Dr Robert Marr praises the move.

"It's really important that people have access to GPs and it's important that Medicare bulk-billing be saved, and that's what the budget has done," he said.

RENTAL CRISIS

As the rental crisis continues to plague the Hunter, more than a million low-income earners will be eligible for rental assistance.

The Commonwealth Rent Assistance package will increase by $31 a fortnight for some recipients.

However, the changes have been criticised by Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize.

"Those who do get a small increase will find that it has been swallowed by surging rents," she said.

SINGLETON AND MUSWELLBROOK BYPASS

Although not mentioned in the budget, the Singleton and Muswellbrook bypasses will go ahead, Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi has confirmed.

"Which is great news for the residents of the Hunter," he said.

These projects have expected completion dates of 2026 and 2027; however, this is weather dependent.

Hunter Housing Providers Call for More Investment into Rent Assistance and Dwellings Ahead of Federal Budget Release

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Hunter-based community housing provider is calling on the Federal Government to make a serious commitment to end the housing crisis felt across the Hunter and Australia when it delivers it's budget tonight. 

Recent data out of Communities and Justice NSW indicates the expected wait time for a one bedroom studio in Newcastle is between two and five years. 

Two, three, and four bedroom properties have a wait list between five and ten years. 

As of June last year, there were more than 1,700 applicants on the waitlist for social housing in Newcastle, with 111 in high need of a home. 

Home in Place Executive Manager of Business and Public Affairs, Martin Kennedy, said they're hoping to see a commitment made to increase rent assistance, in a bid to ease pressure on the private rental market, and in turn, the social housing sector. 

"You can't allow something as fundamental as secure housing to be something that only well-off people can afford. Having that sort of arrangement is completely corrosive to society and to the economy, and that's the direction we're headed in," he said. 

"It's incredibly important that we put this right." 

The organisation is also hoping the budget will include a boost to the Housing Australia Future Fund. 

Mr Kennedy said it's obvious more houses need to be built in order to cater for a growing number of struggling Hunter residents. 

"The current level of 30,000 dwellings is better than nothing, but it would be good to see it increased." 

Hunter Volunteer Centre calling for lifeline after missing out in budget

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Volunteer Centre could soon close its doors, after failing to secure a lifeline in the latest Federal Budget.

More than half of the National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres are slated to shut or reduce services, because of a more than $3 million funding gap.

The network says 27 of its centres, which help to recruit and support volunteers in the community, are likely to cut their services or close entirely by the end of the financial year.

Local organisations and programs have already been struggling to find hands for a number of roles since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hunter Volunteer Centre CEO Tony Ross says the loss of the centre will only exacerbate the issue. 

"If you remove Volunteer Resource Centres out of the community, where do people go?" he said.

"It's potentially fair to say, some people find their own way to a volunteering opportunity, but my concern is what happens if that's not a positive experience? Where do those people then turn to?"

"And for those that aren't aware of what volunteering opportunities do exist, where do they go?"

The funding arrangement was initially changed under the former Coalition Government, prioritising online recruitment resources rather than face-to-face services.

Mr Ross says the funding remains the same, but he's not convinced the move has been successful.

In the meantime, he's approached Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, in the hopes she'll take the issue to Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth.

"We're just hoping obviously Labor sees the light, or sees what I would argue is the stupidity of taking community-based funding away from community," Mr Ross said.

"With all the investment the current government is giving to volunteering, it just seems an unusual position to take."

Hunter projects make the cut in budget overhaul

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Labor says its new budget is a show of confidence in the Hunter, with key infrastructure projects here to stay despite the Treasurer's financial overhaul.

Jim Chalmers told Parliament on Tuesday night, the Federal Government's latest blueprint is carefully designed to make savings, while addressing cost-of-living concerns and boosting the country's productivity.

$100 million in funding for hydrogen projects at the Port of Newcastle, $55 million for a new terminal at Newcastle Airport, and $500 million to investigate high-speed rail from Sydney to Newcastle have all made the cut.

At the University of Newcastle, $16 million is being spent on a new clean energy research centre, as well as funding for 967 more university places for teachers, nurses, and engineers over the next two years.

$28.7 million has been allocated to revive GP Access After Hours services across the region, and money's also been put aside for an election commitment to develop Urgent Care clinics to help ease the pressure on the Hunter's hospitals.

The price of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been slashed, meaning savings as much as $12.50 a script for more than 3.5 million people by January.

Works are set to go ahead on the New England Highway bypass at Muswellbrook, and $10 million's also been allocated to upgrade the Muswellbrook town centre.

Labor's also set to follow through with a commitment to upgrade Mandalong Road at Morisset, and there's $10 million each toward a mine grouting fund for Lake Macquarie and to dredge the Swansea Channel.

Energy prices are expected to surge by 50 percent over the next two years, but there's no immediate relief on that front outside of investment in renewable and clean energy projects.

The Federal Government is also pledging to work with industry to build a million homes over the next ten years, with a focus on shortages in the regions.

University of Newcastle promised more spots in Labor budget

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Federal Government has allocated 967 additional university places to train teachers, nurses, and engineers at the University of Newcastle.

It's estimated to cost $28 million locally, part of a $485 million scheme to train 20,000 new students across the country.

The places will roll out over 2023 and 2024.

It's hoped the commitment will both level the playing field in terms of student equity, as well as help address staff shortages in critical sectors.

Hunter projects shorted in cash splash and coal royalties, MPs say

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter MPs have raised concern, the region's lost out when it comes to getting its fair share in the state's latest budget.

Treasurer Matt Kean handed down the spending figures on Tuesday afternoon, with big spending across the state amid an income of $810 million in coal royalties.

While NSW is still seeing a budget shortfall, there's backlash not enough of the mining money is being returned to the Hunter and the regions.

Both Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley have been left disappointed by the lack of investment in new housing stock across the electorates.

"This government loves to sell off three and four bedroom properties in ‘desirable’ suburbs, then use that money to build apartment blocks of one and two bedrooms on  cheaper land," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"These are usually away from the services and public transport connections that tenants need, however, and also see a net decrease in available bedrooms."

Hopes for a funding commitment on the possibility of a freight corridor from Fassifern to Hexham or a container terminal in Newcastle were also dashed.

Image credit: www.regional.nsw.gov.au

State budget continues spend on Hunter infrastructure

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's hope the Hunter economy could be bolstered by a swathe of commitments on infrastructure projects in the state's latest budget.

Matt Kean's handed down the spending on Tuesday, highlighting a $95 million spend on planning a fast rail link from Sydney to Newcastle, the first in a $274.5 million spend over four years on the initiative.

$37.8 million's been promised for the final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, as well as $19.8 for the Singleton Bypass and another $14.2 on the Muswellbrook Bypass.

$1.4 billion will be spent over the next four years to continue planning the M1 Extension to Raymond Terrace, with $117.9 million set aside to get construction started.

Health assets will also get a slice of the cash splash, with $89.4 million allocated to the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, and another almost $40 million on Maitland Hospital.

The Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone is also in line for a leg-up, with a $1.2 billion spend on a Transmission Acceleration Facility to link up the energy grid and spur investment in the sector.

More than $700 million spent on developing high-value future industries such as medical technology and the green economy is also expected to have positive repercussions locally. 

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean delivered his budget on Tuesday.

Big promises for Hunter schools in latest state budget

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter's welcoming a cash splash on local schools in the Treasurer's latest state budget.

Matt Kean handed down the spending commitments on Tuesday afternoon, with big focuses on families, women, as well as skills and emerging industries.

The Newcastle Education Campus project has been allocated $16.6 million in the next budget, although only $862,000 of last year's $5.6 million allocation was spent.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is welcoming the commitment for a much-needed update at Newcastle High School, but says he'll be keeping a close eye on the project to see the results.

Meanwhile, Hunter River High School will receive $5.6 million for major refurbishments, with Irrawang High School receiving a similar $5 million.

In Maitland, Gillieston Public School has been promised $1.7 million toward a major redevelopment, following lobbying by parents, carers, and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison, as well as a visit from a parliamentary committee and Upper House MP Mark Latham.

Ms Aitchison says it's a welcome move, but it's disappointing it's taken 12 years for the school to score a "drop in the bucket".

She says she's hoping to see more details on the extent and timeframe of the redevelopment works.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has raised concern Newcastle High School is in need of serious refurbishment.

Calls to Introduce Consent Classes in Hunter High Schools

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The NSW Government is facing calls to put forward $250,000 in funding toward an early intervention program discussing consent and healthy relationships in high schools across the Hunter and the State.

The issue was raised at a NSW Budget Estimates inquiry on Tuesday following reports of alarming rates of sexual assaults of students in Sydney.

Love Bites, a respectful relationships program offered by the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, requested the funding to help train more facilitators and expand efforts following increased demand from Sydney high schools.

Labor MP Trish Doyle, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, said communities should not have to resort to fundraising to help get these services off the ground.

"It's important that governments not only provide services to those issues, but that they also invest in primary prevention," Ms Doyle said.

"Let's pump some money into our schools, let's have our young people change this culture of violence and discuss what a healthy relationship looks like and what to do if you're in one that's not." 

New Premises for Newcastle Council Blowout Expected Costs by $10 Million

BY DAKOTA TAIT 

The City of Newcastle has announced they spent a total of $17.6 million on a relocation to newly leased premises at Stewart Avenue in Newcastle West - more than $10 million more than suggested by reports in late 2017.

The budget blowout include a $8.3 million office space allowing 450 staff members to work under the same roof, a $2 million Local Emergency Operations Centre, $3.2 million on a digital library, and $1 million on the Council Chamber.

Another $2.7 million was also paid to Graphite Projects for their work on all four of the project areas.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the relocation would create a better work environment, more efficient systems, and improved services for residents and ratepayers.

“Relocating our City Administration Centre to Newcastle West has provided our staff with a new fit-for-purpose office featuring modern amenities, a flexible design, community areas and meeting rooms to encourage better communication and collaborative decision-making,” Mr Bath said. 

“This space has been designed to double as the Council Chamber when meetings occur twice each month and is equipped with technology that allows for the community to directly participate in Council meetings without the need to leave their home."

Despite criticisms of the cost, Mr Bath said the City of Newcastle were "frugal" compared to nearby councils. 

“Lake Macquarie City Council is spending $17.8m on their fit-out, Mid Coast Council has budgeted $20m and Maitland’s project is budgeted at $28m,” Mr Bath said.  

“The $8.3m spent on our relocation is evidence of the frugal approach we have taken, while the move itself also allowed us to identify cost effective co-locatable opportunities such as the Digital Library and LEOC, which if built elsewhere would have come at a considerably larger expense.” 

Mr Bath also claimed that the sale of former Council properties would help raise funds for community assets and work toward the revitalisation of the Civic cultural precinct.

The Council's former Roundhouse site will reopen in early 2021 as the city’s first five-star hotel after being sold in late 2018 for $16.5 million (plus GST).  

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the relocation was in line with plans to shift the CBD west as part of the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan.  

“This area is rapidly transforming into Newcastle’s new CBD. We’re pleased to be part of this strategic shift, which is not only revitalising a long dormant part of the city but is also allowing new life to be injected into our civic cultural precinct and some of our most treasured community facilities,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“This is designed to provide the best value to our residents and a seamless experience for all community members."

https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/

Newcastle City Council Announces Budget Surplus

BY ALICE PEART

Newcastle City Council announced the 2019-20 budget today which forecasts a surplus of $11.95 million.

Although the budget represents the sixth consecutive surplus for Newcastle, this will be the first in a decade which does not rely on reserve funds.

Speaking to 2NURFM today Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said financial sustainability had been a particular focus of council over the past five years resulting in significant reserve funds now saved for future works in the city.

Forty per cent of works in the budget have been committed to environmental initiatives including the continuation of coastal revitalisation, improving recreational parks and new waste facilities.

These investments represent the single largest investment ever for environmental sustainability in Newcastle.

The Lord Mayor said of particular interest for her was the $12.35 million earmarked for an Organics Recycling Facility and another $6 million for a Recycling Recovery Center. 

The draft budget is now available to view on the City Council's website.

Health Research Receives Major Funding Boost

BY TIM MOORE

Newcastle's NSW Regional Health Partners will receive part of the federal government's $218 million investment into translational health research.

The money will be provided over the next ten years in order to guarantee long-term and sustainable impact from the important program.

Director of NSW Regional Health Partners, Professor Christine Jorm, said the research centre ensures that patients receive the benefits of biomedical research as efficiently as possible.

"Without [translational health]... research funding that supports our centre, those discoveries don't impact the lives of patients as soon as they should and not as strong as they could," she said.

Research is currently underway into child obesity reduction, immunisation rates and stroke treatment in rural areas.

Professor Jorm said the funding will go particularly towards fulfilling a need in palliative care research.

"In the coming year, we're doing a large set of work around end of life and palliative care, which are major areas of concern for the community and for commissions, where we haven't had the conversations we need to have yet about how we do those things," she said.

The Hunter-based centre is also looking to improve health services in regional Australia and will receive significant benefit from the ten-year funding scheme.

Hopeful Donations For Hunter Farmers

BY: ARIANA GATTI

Following a Maitland Council meeting held last night, members have agreed to allocate around $5,000 left-over from the end-of-financial-year budget toward deserving Hunter farmers.

Image Sourced: https://crackler.com.au/portfolio/maitland-city-council-branding/

The notice of motion which was proposed by Maitland Councillor, Philip Penfold, sat well with the rest of council and voted for the allocation of exactly where the funds will be distributed, up to the decision of the general manager.

Funding will be split up and allocated fairly to the farmers in areas still suffering from the results of drought.

Areas in the northern Hunter region, in particular, Merriwa and Muswellbrook, are being kept in mind firstly to receive some of the financial aid. 

Image Sourced: Simon McCarthy, Newcastle Herald - https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5218638/everybodys-looking-for-rain-drought-dries-out-the-hunter/

Cr Philip Penfold says more funding can be found elsewhere to help the suffering farmers.

"While $5,000 is only a modest contribution, I'd like to think that other Councils in the region would be able to contribute as well", he says.

The allocated money would be put to good use, as it would go towards providing enough food for livestock to survive and flourish, as well as maintain healthy living conditions for regional farmers.

Penfold says there have already been organisations getting behind causes like this and are willing to help out.

"We expect organisations, like Lions who have already done some great work to support our farmers, will receive some funding of their own to provide even more aid", he says.

Business Chamber Pleased with State Budget

BY OLIVIA WILSON-WHEELER

The Hunter Business Chamber is predicting yesterday's State Budget will be received positively by the business sector.

Bob Hawes, the Hunter Business Chamber's Chief Executive Officer says the budget has "tried to have application to all businesses across NSW... We're confident that that will provide a bit of a lift to the economy and some incentive for businesses to do more."

The main incentives the Chamber is citing include:

• Extension to the payroll tax threshold 
• $37 million to the Easy to Do Business program that sets up new operations.
• Increased TAFE and school funding
• 100,000 government subsidised apprenticeships across NSW
• $87.2 billion in infrastructure investment

"I wouldn't say it's a small business budget, I think that it's definitely a pre-election budget in terms of the government, we feel, has tried to appeal to every sector of the economy..." says Mr Hawes.

"It will indirectly help businesses right across the state even though there wasn't particular focus on projects or initiatives in the Hunter region."

According to Mr Hawes, residents and businesses have the responsibility to put forward projects to improve regional NSW.

"Our challenge is to make sure that we are on the front foot to propose well-supported projects and initiatives to attract funding from a number of general allocations that have been made in the budget."

Picture: Peter Lorimer 

State Budget 2018/19: What's in it for the Hunter?

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE AND JARROD MELMETH

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has today delivered the state government's $3.9 million surplus budget, with key education spending and infrastructure hits and misses for the Hunter.

In his speech to parliament today, the Treasurer praised our region's coal mining operations for raking in $111 million more royalties than expected.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said those royalties go on to finance wins for families like new statewide subsidies for 3-year-old children in childcare.

"The Hunter is proving its worth," Mr MacDonald said, "and [the government] is delivering across infrastructure and frontline services."

ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The major winner for Hunter roads was the New England Highway Scone Bypass, attracting $38 million for continued works.

More planning and design work will be carried out at the notorious Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow, with $17 million secured.

The intersection of the M1 Pacific Motorway at John Renshaw Drive and Weakleys Drive will continue to be upgraded with $16.3 million.

$48.1 million has been doled out for heavy vehicle safety and productivity and flood alleviation works on the Golden Highway at Muswellbrook.

The Rankin Park to Jesmond Inner City Bypass will undergo more planning and pre-construction work for $14.5 million.

Finally, $8.3 million has been committed to commence upgrades at Nelson Bay Road and plan for future improvements.

Despite the investment, Hunter Labor MPs Sonia Hornery and Jodie Harrison are disappointed nothing has been set aside for the Glendale Transport Interchange.

"The budget announcements today have again shown a disproportionate level of spending in Sydney, leaving vital projects in Wallsend languishing for another year," Ms Hornery said, "this budget is not aimed at investing in, or growing, regions like ours."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald has defended the omission.

"The Glendale Interchange is ongoing," he said, "we gave planning money for that last year...that work is still ongoing because we've got to get it to a point where the state government and Lake Macquarie Council are happy.

"We're not there yet so that means continued planning and design work."

HEALTH

$23.5 million has been allocated towards the continued construction of the $470 million Maitland Hospital at Metford. While the project still remains on the ground, construction has been earmarked to begin in 2018/19. The budget papers detail a 2024 deadline for the hospital to be built.

Scone, Gloucester and Dungog hospitals will share $5 million as part of the Rural Health Infrastructure Program for upgrades and refurbishments to areas such as emergency departments, bathrooms, waiting areas, wards and treatment spaces.

John Hunter Hospital will also receive a share of $15 million in funding for planning of future expansion. This amount will be shared with Albury, Nepean and Sydney Children's Hospital at Westmead.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery believes while the John Hunter works have been mentioned by Treasurer Perrottet, it's unclear what funding will go towards the planning.

EDUCATION

As 2NURFM News has previously reported, the Hunter will share in a statewide $6 billion for public schools.

A new education precinct has been promised for Newcastle, with a new public school to be built and improvements to Newcastle High.

New permanent teaching spaces will be constructed at Callaghan College, while various upgrades will be done at Hunter Sports High and Bolwarra Public among others.

Financial support will be given to TAFE centres at Singleton and Scone, as well as $1.4 million for a customer service and industry development centre at Tighes Hill TAFE.

The Property Council of NSW have welcomed changes to vocational education which will see course fees waived for all new apprenticeships.

Hunter Regional Director, Anita Hugo said the move will "support a pipeline of skilled workers that will be needed to meet future demand...

"We look forward to the positive impact this will have on the Hunter's labour force," Ms Hugo said.

TRANSPORT

The possibility of bringing faster trains to Newcastle for the journey to Sydney will explored with a $6 million investigation, while $14 million will be spent on planning a new freight corridor stretching from Fassifern to Hexham, in a bid to ease blockages on the congested Adamstown railway gates.

$110 million will ensure the Newcastle Light Rail project is completed on time.

OTHER

Maximum security facilities are being increased at Cessnock Correctional Centre, with $105.3 million (half the project cost) to be spent on an additional 330 beds.

Tomaree Coastal walk at Port Stephens will be extended in a project costing $7.1 million over four years.

NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet. 

Labor Slam Federal Budget: What does it mean for the Hunter?

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Hunter's Federal Labor MPs have been left underwhelmed by the Turnbull government's 2018 Budget.

ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Of primary concern to Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon was the lack of spending on key infrastructure projects which he says have been put on the back-burner for too long.

Mr Fitzgibbon was hoping to see funding commitments for the Glendale Transport Interchange, M1 Link to Raymond Terrace, Singleton and Muswellbrook Bypasses and the proposed Cessnock Ring Road to link the town to the Hunter Expressway.

It looks as though the Hunter may, however, receive a slice of the $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance Initiative, marking $10 million across 10 years.

Federal Member for Lyne, David Gillespie (Nationals) said a bypass going into Coffs Harbour which will bypass the Big Banana is a win for Hunter motorists who'll be directly connected to Brisbane.

But Joel Fitzgibbon believes Mr Gillespie is kidding himself, labelling the lack of local road spends as disappointing.

"David Gillespie obviously doesn't know his geography very well if he thinks a bypass in Coffs Harbour is going to help our region..." he said.

PENSIONERS, AGED CARE AND WELFARE

Treasurer Scott Morrison touted benefits for elderly people staying in the workforce, with David Gillespie claiming there's plenty on the table for the Hunter's ageing residents.

Employers are set to receive a $10,000 wage subsidy if they employ seniors to work for them, while pensioners will be allowed to earn $300 a fortnight before they lose their benefits.

However Shortland MP, Pat Conroy said its all "spin," citing a $700 million cut to hospitals among the disappointments.

"There are 22,000 pensioners in Shortland, we've got one of the oldest populations on average in the country," Mr Conroy said, "and if you're a new pensioner you're going to miss out on the energy supplement which is worth $500 per couple; you're going to have to work longer to the age of 70 and, if heaven forbid you get sick, there's going to be a longer wait list at hospitals."

The budget unveiled more than 14,000 extra home care places across the nation to be rolled out over the next four years at a cost of $1.6 billion dollars; but with 170,000 Australians living in aged care facilities, a Newcastle-based Elder Care Lawyer believes it's too little, too late.

Catherine Henry fears clinical standards are worsening, with mandated staff-to-patient ratios the only way to tackle the "woefully inadequate staffing arrangements" operating within the industry.

Meanwhile, Pat Conroy can't believe Scott Morrison didn't see fit to increase the NewStart allowance, saying unemployed people cannot get by on what is being offered.

NewStart is available for people aged over 22 and less than pension age who are seeking paid work and who meet an income and assets test.

Most people under the scheme can receive $269 a week, or $39 a day.

In the lead up to last night's budget revelation, pressure had mounted on the government to increase the allowance, after infamous comments were made by Liberal MP Julia Banks, who said she would be able to live off the amount.

However the Shortland MP believes current welfare arrangements are completely unrealistic given modern housing and utility costs.

"I met with a 62-year-old woman who gets $750 a fortnight from Centrelink as she's had a knee operation and can't work," Mr Conroy explained, "her rent is $700 a fortnight - how can you survive on that?"

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The University of Newcastle has missed out on key funding which will benefit 5000 regional universities.

$24.7 million each year, for the next five years, will go to Commonwealth Assisted places at the educational institutions, with Coffs Harbour once again coming ahead of the Hunter along with campuses at Moreton Bay and Launceston.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, has slammed the move as unbelievable, and claims modelling shows the Callaghan campus is set to lose $69 million in funding by 2021.

"I think this is part of a deal that the National Parties have done with the government around certain universities in the Murray Darling region," she said.

"The notion that you would not regard Newcastle University as a standout regional university is astonishing."

It comes at a time when caps to HECS loans and their earlier repayment is being stalled in the Senate.

Joel Fitzgibbon joined the chorus of opposition, saying the Hunter is facing a future skills shortage given the lack of money being spent on TAFE.

MP Sharon Claydon Calling To Reverse University Budget Cuts

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon is calling on the government to reverse damaging cuts to the University of Newcastle, ahead of tonight's budget announcement.

She says modelling indicates the University is set to lose $69-million-dollars between now and 2021.

Ms Claydon claims the cuts will affect the whole region.

"These cuts are damaging in every way imaginable, they are short-sighted in terms of skills development- they are just plain silly in terms of the additional kinds of burdens and costs that they're going to be trying to shift," she says.

Ms Claydon says despite the university's best efforts at mitigation, the cuts would soon start to bite.

"I applaud the university for protecting the student places from the cuts in 2018, but that is simply not going to be possible for the university to maintain."

Sharon Claydon MP

Newcastle Council Investigates Leaking of Budget Documents

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Newcastle City Council CEO, Jeremy Bath says that he will be investigating communications between councillors and The Newcastle Herald after the newspaper published details of the council's budget earlier this month.

The document outlined the potential cost of projects around Newcastle, and Bath is worried this will mean it will cost council millions more to complete the projects.

Bath believes the information should have been confidential and says that releasing the document to the media was a breach of trust.

However, independent councillor Kath Elliot says that the public has the right to know about what the council are doing with their money. 

"I think it's very important that the community has a good understanding of the council's finances, given that it's community money and that it's community facilities that we provide, and to have an investigation into a document which wasn't confidential seems to me to be a rather odd thing to do," she says.

Elliot believes the council should take a more open approach to running the city.

"I think it's absolutely imperative that we have open and transparent governance in Newcastle City Council and that does not appear to be happening at the moment," she says.

"The Labor Party campaigned an open and transparent governance, and for them to say now that they want to keep things a secret from the community who pay their rates is outrageous."