Federal budget 2022: Hunter, Western Sydney get cash boost ahead of election

A pre-election cash boost has targeted several key NSW seats in Tuesday night’s federal budget. Here are the regions to watch.

A pre-election cash boost will target NSW with an injection of critical infrastructure and energy projects in marginal battle ground seats spanning from the Hunter to Western Sydney.

The vital Hunter Region will receive $750 million for transport and port infrastructure projects to turbocharge exports and help it embrace new industries.

Acknowledging the importance of the region to the nation’s economic future, the Hunter was described as one of four “key regions” at the frontier of our nation’s exports.

Budget papers say it is “poised for major growth at a scale that will boost our national prosperity.”

The funding is part of $7.1 billion over 11 years focused on building “next generation export hubs” in key regional economies.

Both major parties have identified the Hunter Region as one of the major battle zones of the upcoming election, taking in the seats of Paterson, Shortland and the Hunter electorate itself.

Miner’s like Yancoal's medium planning superintendent Rob McGrath will benefit from this year’s federal budget. Picture: Sue Graham

Amid the Coalition’s bid to steal Hunter from outgoing Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, $100 million will be spent on early works to make the Port of Newcastle “hydrogen ready” and $270m has been committed to building the New England Hwy Bypass to Muswellbrook.

The money will be spent “building on the region’s existing strengths and facilitating the development of new industries,” budget papers reveal.

It is understood the funding is part of a commitment made to the Nationals in order to secure the Coalition partner’s support for reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050.

An extra $3.6 billion has been committed to infrastructure projects across the state to make life easier for commuters and families, including almost $140 million for local road and community infrastructure projects.

New infrastructure spending includes $1 billion on faster rail between Sydney and Newcastle, set to help voters in Dobell. The funding is aimed at reducing congestion and improving travel times on the crucial commuter corridor.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Liberal candidate for Dobell Michael Feneley speak to the media during a visit to FMC Australia in Wyong, in the battle ground of Dobell earlier this month. Picture: AAP

Western Sydney battlegrounds will also benefit from funding, including $232.5 million for the Mulgoa Rd State 2 upgrade and an extra $65 million for an upgrade to the Hume Hwy intersection on the M5. Funding of $352 million for the Milton Ulladulla bypass has also been set aside as well as $336 million for the Pacific Hwy, Wyong Town Centre.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last night said the government’s infrastructure plan was a “vital part of our plan for a stronger future”.

He said the government’s $120 billion infrastructure pipeline had “already completed over 35,000 projects across the country”.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the $3.6 billion in additional infrastructure spending for NSW “will create thousands of jobs”.

The road and rail funding takes the total spending on NSW transport infrastructure since 2013 to $48.5 billion.

There is also extra money for the building of the Dungowan Dam to improve water security in the Tamworth region.

Rob McGrath pictured at home with wife Nicole and sons Will, 11, and Hugh, 8. Picture: Sue Graham

As a household with a foot in both of the Hunter’s major industries, the McGrath family will reap the rewards of the budget’s big spend into the regional NSW hub.

Mining worker Rob McGrath, winery employee wife Nicole and sons Will, 11, and Hugo, 8, live about 50 minutes from Newcastle’s CBD- right in the heart of the Hunter Region.

Mr McGrath said projects like the $1 billion fast railway line between Sydney and Newcastle would “rejuvenate” local tourism and infrastructure.

“Anything that supports better tourism would be great, my wife works for a winery so seeing that flow of tourists come back to the area somehow would be amazing … there used to be bus loads everywhere but not so much following Covid,” Mr McGrath said.

“But even for people commuting down to the Central Coast and Sydney it will be amazing too, it just gives Hunter people better access to get in and out of the area and the more people it can bring here, the better.”