Parliamentary Secretary defends the NSW Budget

BY JESSICA ROUSE

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.

Scot MacDonald Image dailytelegraph.com.au

"Yes there's a long planning process for money at many of these larger projects but as we've seen with the light rail the early expenditure is  pretty small and modest in terms of planning but then you hit construction phase and you see the hundreds of millions of dollars flow and that's what will happen with the Maitland Hospital," said Scot MacDonald.

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."

NSW Budget 2017: What's in it for us?

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Berejiklian government are basking in the glory of a $4.5 billion dollar surplus after Treasurer Dominic Perrotet handed down his first budget yesterday which included millions of dollars in infrastructure and roads funding for the Hunter.

The region will see $49 million dollars for roads, more than $205 million for Newcastle's revitalisation projects and funding boosts for many projects which have already started.

The key highlights include:
- $206.1 million in 2017-18 for Newcastle Light Rail
- $29 million for the New England Highway, Scone Bypass and $23.4 million towards Cormorant Road, Industrial Drive to Stockton Bridge in 2017-18
- $12 million to widen rail underpass for New England Highway, Gowrie Gates
- $5 million for New England Highway, Belford to Golden Highway upgrade planning
- $5 million towards building new hospital at Maitland
- $13.1 million for continued work at Muswellbrook Hospital
- $101.7 million towards 400 beds at Cessnock Correctional Centre
- $75 million in total Restart NSW funding for the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund
- $43 million to remediate Newcastle BHP sites
- $11.8 million for Lower Hunter Freight Corridor

Treasurer Dominic Perrotet Image abc.net.au

But the budget is being labelled by local Labor MP's as "Sydney-centric" and even "mean" with claims many of the announcements aren't announcements at all, but re-announcements of funding and projects everyone already knew.

Newcastle saw $206 million for the light rail and revitalisation of the CBD, and just under $5 million for upgrades to the Hunter Street and Tighes Hill Tafe campuses, but MP Tim Crakanthorp has accused the government of simply recycling old promises.

"I think it's just smoke and mirrors which is what we've come to expect from the budget. It's a very Sydney focused budget from a Sydney-centric government. There are millions of dollars flowing into Sydney but critical infrastructure in Newcastle misses out. We're the second largest city in the state and we deserve better."

At the other end of town in Maitland, the new Lower Hunter Hospital only received $5 million towards what is a $450 million project with the completion date also pushed back to 2024, 13 years after it was promised.

MP Jenny Aitchison has labelled the government as having "no vision for the future" and says the people of Maitland have every right to feel let down by their government.

"They're boasting down here in Sydney about supposedly billions of dollars of surplus but they can only find $5 million for Maitland hospital and they're going to spend $500,000 on a couple of the schools in an electorate which is one of the fasted growing in the state. It's just not fair."

However, Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes has welcomed the news of key investments into roads, rail, education, health and business.

He sees the continuation of funding for Revitalising Newcastle as a massive win to improve travel through the city centre, connect key activity precincts and connect the inner city to the foreshore.

Businesses generally will benefit from the budget as well, largely due to the cutting of red tape across the sector including a $7.5 million investment in the Business Connect Program as well as $96 million to the Jobs for NSW initiative to encourage business investment and growth and stimulate the labour market.

"We're encouraged by the continuation of investment in projects like Maitland's hospital and the revitalisation of Newcastle as well as a number of key projects and programs that link into business. So the continued investment by the government in business connect programs and $96 million for Jobs for NSW initiatives," said Bob Hawes.