Major road improvements, school upgrades, and the redevelopment of the Shoalhaven Hospital are among the projects included in the NSW government's budget for 2021-22.
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Below is a rundown of where the South Coast can expect to see money flow.
HEALTH
The budget includes $11.7 million of funding to go toward beginning early construction works on the redevelopment of the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital which will expand into the adjacent Nowra Park.
The $11.7 million amount makes up part of the $438 million project which was committed by the NSW Government prior to the 2019 state election.
The COVID-19 response across the state will include $261.3 million for the vaccination roll-out; $200 million for pop-up clinics, testing and contact tracing; and $340 million for personal protective equipment.
Statewide, $109.5 million will be spent over four years on developing 25 child and adolescent mental health crisis teams, and $36.4 million will go towards 57 mental health response and recovery specialists in regional and rural areas.
An additional $14.3 million will go to the Eurobodalla Health Service Redevelopment which is expected to be completed in 2025 for a total cost of $200 million. The government's preferred site is south-east of Moruya.
ROADS AND TRANSPORT
The state government has committed $88 million to continue the transformation of the state and federally funded Princes Highway program from south of Nowra to the Victorian border.
This will include the continuation of planning on projects including the Milton Ulladulla Bypass, Jervis Bay to Sussex Inlet Upgrade, Jervis Bay Road Intersection and the state funded Moruya Bypass.
A further $72 million was included in the budget as ongoing funding for the Nowra Bridge replacement and another $61 million will go toward the completion of the Princes Highway Upgrade from Berry to Bomaderry.
Funding of $1.1 billion this coming year and $3.1 billion total over four years will go to more trains and services across the Sydney network, including those on the Illawarra, Airport and South Coast line.
A new fleet of trains that will service the South Coast, as well as the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Central Coast, will be commissioned with $1.3 billion over the next four years.
A $298 million investment over four years into the Fast Rail program will include the duplication of the train line between Berry and Gerringong.
EDUCATION
The NSW state budget delivers $5.27 million in funding for a new primary school at South Nowra/Worrigee.
Another $13.4 million will go toward beginning construction of the Budawang School which will be relocated to Milton.
A further $2.1 million will go to major upgrades of Bomaderry High School.
Across NSW, $196.6 million has been directed to rebuilding the NSW Curriculum over four years which the government have said will streamline and strengthen what is taught in schools.
The Start Strong free preschool program will continue in 2022 for eligible children.
There is also a learn-to-swim voucher program, worth $43.9 million over two years, that provides $100 swimming lesson vouchers for children aged 3 to 6 who are not yet in school.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
The first 25,000 people who buy a battery electric vehicles or fuel cell electric vehicles for less than $68,750 from September, could be eligible for a $3000 rebate.
The government will also introduce motor vehicle duty exemptions for eligible new and used zero and low emission vehicles, and increase the number of electric vehicle chargers.
The budget also includes $51.2 million for the Eurobodalla Southern water storage program which is part of the government's ongoing water management reform.
Water will be pumped from the Tuross River to the proposed water storage facility 30km south of Moruya.
RECREATION AND TOURISM
Councils in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven will share in $21 million in 2021-22 in Restart NSW funding for infrastructure, including $4.8 million for Shoalhaven Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure.
The $4.8 million amount makes up part of the state government's $5.3 million commitment and will be on top of $1.63 million from Shoalhaven City Council and $80,000 in-kind contribution from the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Shoalhaven Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure plan includes the following projects to be undertaken within the next two years:
- Plantation Point
- Palm Beach/Sanctuary Point
- St Georges Basin/Sanctuary Point - Basin Walk
- Sanctuary Point/Bherwerre Wetland
- Hyams Beach
- Ulladulla Headland and Warden Head Walking Trails
- Murramarang Coastal Walk Extension
Meanwhile, $2.8 million in funding will be directed the Murramarang South Coast Walk to continue improvements on the $3.6 million project.
DEVELOPMENT
The NSW government will introduce new legislation to parliament to reform the infrastructure contributions system.
The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Infrastructure Contributions) Bill 2021, if passed into law, will introduce a new system for collecting levies on development in the Illawarra.
JUSTICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergency services radios will be consolidated into one public safety network, with $5 million funding over the next year.
Across NSW, 246 paramedics will be trained to become intensive care paramedics with $34 million - 203 will be in regional areas.
There is funding to employ eight new magistrates across NSW, although the locations in which these new judicial officers will be based has not yet been determined.
The government will allow for wage increases of 2.5 per cent for public sector workers, including paramedics.
COMMUNITY
The South Coast will benefit from an additional $100,000, totalling $400,000 in Community Building Partnership Program funding for community projects.
The Regional Seniors Travel Card, which provides older people in regional NSW with $250 each year for transport costs, will continue for another two years.
More than $333 million will continue energy social programs, such as energy rebates and emergency vouchers.
There will be almost $34 million over four years for specialist domestic violence case management to be rolled out state wide through the Staying Home, Leaving Violence program.
The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme will be expanded to the tune of $41 million, including the digitisation of records.
BUSINESS
The government's small business fees and rebates scheme will continue until June 30 next year, allowing eligible small businesses to claim $1500 in rebates against certain government fees and charges.
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