NSW Budget: north coast funding revealed

Healthcare, frontline workers, policing and flood recovery are among projects on the state’s north coast set to benefit from a major cash splash in this year’s state budget.

New ambulance stations, new police stations and flood recovery are among the north coast projects receiving a significant cash splash in the 2022-2023 NSW Government budget.

Regional healthcare is a major focus in the budget, with Grafton Base Hospital receiving $263.8 million for a redevelopment which will support timely access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes and experience by expanding the emergency department, adding critical care, medical and surgical beds and clinical support services.

The Grafton Base Hospital Ambulatory Care Centre.

The commitments also include $237 million for continuing works on Tweed Hospital and car park, $6.6 million for Stage 2 of the Manning Hospital, and the redevelopment of the Forster-Tuncurry Health facility.

Ongoing redevelopment at Lismore Hospital will get an additional $6.8 million dollar boost this financial year.

Another $1.8 billion was dedicated to recruit 2128 new NSW Ambulance staff and build 30 new ambulance stations.

A $2.4 billion investment over 10 years to increase the regional workforce will also include health training positions locally in rural areas, professional development for the rural workforce, and recruitment and retention incentives to support sustainable work supply.

Another $149.5 million will boost patient travel and accommodation assistance by improving access to timely health care and reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients.

The multimillion-dollar investment in health comes as Treasurer Matt Kean reveals an additional $1.2 billion in funding for schools across the state.

The Treasurer also forecast hundreds of millions of dollars in funding secured for “key education and skills projects” across the state.

A massive $139 million will be funded in the TAFE Asset Renewal Program, aimed at ensuring the “timely replacement of assets across TAFE campuses, enhancing student experience and creating modern learning spaces. The program will improve facilities, upgrade teaching equipment, and support overall sustainability of TAFE’s asset portfolio”.

Byron Bay Police Station is in line to be replaced with a newer facility.

Overall, a boost to frontline services will fund 10,148 more health staff which include 600 nurses, allied health professionals, doctors and support staff to support palliative care and 550 more police.

Byron Bay and Port Macquarie will also receive new police stations with the aid of a $52.7 million funding commitment.

Flood waters in Lismore on March 31, 2022. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

In a much-needed boost for disaster-struck north coast regions, the NSW government and federal government have jointly dedicated $3.5 billion to support communities impacted by floods.

In total, 61 local government areas were declared disaster zones following the February and March 2022 storms and floods.

The funding includes $350 million for immediate clean-up assistance for properties, other public, community and environmental assets, and waste disposal, plus $350 million to procure and manage medium-term housing to support people who cannot secure stable, ongoing accommodation due to the floods.

Floods devastated much of the north coast in February and March this year. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Another $285.2 million will be given to rental assistance support, temporary housing measures and a housing flood recovery service, along with $112.5 million to restore housing to a habitable condition.

In infrastructure, the Coffs Harbour Bypass has secured a total of $245.8 million this financial year for ongoing upgrades, with the project expected to be completed in 2026.

The project will receive a total of $1.4 billion over four years.

Preliminary works for the Coffs Harbour Bypass included relocating 1.4km of Essential Energy services, 2.5km of water mains and 11.8km of telecommunication cables.

An additional $173.8 million will fund 200 additional firefighters and 50 bushfire conservation staff.

A $70.9 million investment under the NSW Bushfire Inquiry will provide safety upgrades and new vehicles for bushfire fighting response, along with additional trucks for crews involved with hazard reduction works across the state and further funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

A $50 million spend on the Fire + Rescue NSW Fit for Purpose project will increase women’s participation in the FRNSW workforce and enhance workplace safety, including upgrades and installing new female bathrooms at fire stations across NSW.