State Budget 2024: Local community funding in infrastructure, roads, western Sydney Aerotropolis
From major hospital upgrades to improved public transport hubs, more cash for affordable housing and police stations – here is what the budget means for your local community.
Central Sydney
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From major hospital upgrades to improved public transport hubs, more cash for affordable housing and police stations – here is what the budget means for your local community.
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be injected into the western Sydney Aerotropolis city centre, with a slew of construction projects forecast in the NSW Budget.
A massive new research facility earmarked for the Bradfield city centre, first announced in 2022, has secured $19 million in funding, while an advanced manufacturing and research centre, set to be completed in 2028 has received a $79 million cash injection.
More than $300 million in taxpayer funds were allocated to advancing “major works” in the soon-to-be-constructed, greenfield city at Badgerys Creek Creek.
With about 2.73 million people living in western Sydney, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the region, over the past four decades, has been subject to “significant transformation” and is the “engine room of the NSW economy” which is set to complement the new Western Sydney International Airport.
“We know that new and established communities need infrastructure and services to properly connect and support families, jobs and recreation in the area,” he said.
“For too long investment in this vital community infrastructure has not kept pace with the continued growth in the region.”
TRANSPORT
WESTERN SYDNEY
The NSW Government has allocated more than $21 billion for public transport projects which includes $13.4 billion, over four years, for the delivery of the Sydney Metro West, connecting Greater Parramatta with the Sydney CBD.
The line will include metro stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
The new Western Sydney Airport Metro, which will connect the new Western Sydney International Airport to St Marys and the rest of Sydney, with six new metro stations, will see the NSW Government distribute $5.5 billion to the project.
About $327.1 million, jointly funded by the NSW and Australian government, will be injected into buses and new services to connect Campbelltown, Liverpool and Penrith to the new Western Sydney Airport.
Roughly $2.1 billion is provisioned to deliver stage two of the Parramatta Light Rail project, which was revealed several weeks before the budget.
Mr Mookhey said it will “build better, connected communities in Sydney’s growing west”.
He said the funding “paves the way to start construction on this essential project” and its investment will “unlock development potential and deliver frequent and reliable public transport options for residents in fast-growing suburbs” such as Wentworth Point.
“The 12 kilometre alignment would link the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Ryadlmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point with 14 news stops, and 8.5 kilometres of new walking and cycling paths,” he said.
The construction will be phased and will start “later this year” on a new 320-metre public and active transport bridge over Parramatta River, between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.
EASTERN SYDNEY
With the NSW Government aiming to make the state a “better place to live”, upgrading the city’s transport network has seen an injection of $62.9 billion through the Transport capital program.
The Sydney Metro City and Southwest project has seen $1.2 billion allocated to extend the North West line from Chatswood, under Sydney Harbour, through new CBD stations and southwest to Bankstown.
The line will include stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross (North Sydney), Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, new platforms at Central and Sydenham stations, and ten upgraded stations between Marrickville and Bankstown.
REGIONAL NSW
$10m has been committed for the Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan to determine options to upgrade and rebuild infrastructure along the South Coast Line and $5m will kickstart planning for the Narooma Bridge.
An additional $1.2b will be splashed over four years to replace the ageing XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains and deliver a modernised regional rail fleet.
A further $973.8m over four years has been injected into the delivery of a new state of the art Mariyung Fleet to provide a “new level of comfort and convenience” for travellers between Sydney, The Central Coast and Newcastle, the Blue Mountains and the South Coast.
The Fixing Country Rail Program has benefited from $66.2m over four years to deliver a highly functional transport network for moving freight in and out of regional areas.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING
WESTERN SYDNEY
With the delivery of further housing in western Sydney, Mr Mookhey said it will help relieve the high cost of pricing with the NSW Government announcing a five-year local government housing targets to rebalance growth.
“These fairer targets will enable more housing to be built around established infrastructure, in places that are connected to work and transport, and in communities that already have schools and hospitals,” he said.
It has seen the NSW Government inject billions for better roads, transport and other important infrastructure projects to “support the growth of housing” in western Sydney.
This will see $62m injected to support the delivery of 6000 homes to be built across the Greater Macarthur, Greater Penrith, Eastern Creek and the western Sydney Aerotropolis.
It will be possible by “continuing conservation activities under the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan” as part of a total additional capital and recurrent investment of $137.9m.
The NSW Government will buy $17.2m worth of land, over the next four years, in the northwest growth area of Sydney to deliver 475 new homes in the region.
The budget also includes additional investments which Mr Mookhey said will support housing supply and accessibility, including $450m for a ‘Key Worker Build to Rent Program’ to be delivered by Landcom across metropolitan areas across NSW.
The state’s planning system will be bolstered by $253.7m to “deliver additional state-led rezoning to support housing supply in western Sydney”.
In a win for Penrith Panthers fans, Mr Mookhey said the $309m redevelopment of Penrith Stadium will “turn it into a world-class suburban sport, entertainment, and community venue”.
The Sydney International Regatta Centre will have $3.6m injected to replace the electronic timing system which enables the venue to continue hosting competitive regattas, including international events.
EASTERN SYDNEY - JOBS AND TOURISM
As part of the NSW Government’s commitment to jobs and tourism, $300.1m funding, with $269.6m in the next four years, has been allocated to Ultimo Powerhouse Museum to continue its heritage revitalisation.“This will ensure fit for purpose spaces that will deliver a dynamic applied arts and applied sciences program, presenting exhibitions that showcase the Powerhouse Collection and attract international exhibitions and programs that support the visitor and creative industries,” Mr Mookhey said.
REGIONAL NSW
As the housing crisis continues to grip regional NSW, a $70m interest free debt financing and $82.5m from NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s is touted to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private homes.
“The NSW Government is committed to improving housing supply to drive down the cost of renting and make home ownership more affordable,” Mr Mookhey said.
The Yass Valley Water Treatment Plant will receive a $6.6m cash injection to improve the quality of drinking water to support up to 1,580 new dwelling in Murrumbateman and Yass while an additional $85m will deliver tens of thousands of new homes to Wagga Wagga and Tweed Heads.
The Illawarra region can expect a cash injection of $5m for developer Landcom to deliver ten build-to-rent houses in Bomaderry to the already committed 60 dwellings worth $35m.
The future-proofing of homes in flood-prone areas will be fitted with house raisings, repairs, retrofits and voluntary buybacks and receive a $40m cash injection for the Central West Housing Program.
In an effort to attract and retail regional government workers $119.9m will go towards transforming office hubs in Dubbo and Coffs Harbour into modern and efficient spaces.
The Orange Agricultural Institute will also receive a $4.8m cash splash to upgrade the administration buildings, the state emergency centre, sheds and glasshouses following damages caused by a natural disaster.
The Dubbo Taronga Western Plains Zoo will receive multimillion-dollar upgrades, including $2.9m to upgrade the visitor experience and $19.1m for the new Serengeti Plains Visitor Experience and Eco- Accommodation Tourism Infrastructure Project.
ROADS
WESTERN SYDNEY
The NSW Government has delivered $5.2 billion over four years for better roads across western Sydney “to accommodate population and employment growth”, including $1 billion in 2024-25 to connect people and communities with the new airport and Bradfield City Centre.
Mr Mookhey said it “supports the delivery of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis” which is set to become a thriving economic centre.
The government’s ‘Connecting Sydney Roads’ program will aim to address bottlenecks, reconnecting communities and improve safety for road users.
This will include $18.3m for the Picton Bypass to provide an alternate route for heavy vehicles, “by linking Thirlmere and Tahmoor with the Hume Motorway via Picton Rd and ultimately reduce traffic congestion.
The Hill Rd Upgrade, costing $120.3m, is due to support future development growth in the Carter Street Precinct and connect Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Newington and Lidcombe while giving people access to Parramatta Rd and the M4 Motorway off ramp to Hill Rd.
Stage one of the Mamre Rd upgrade is expected to deliver a four-lane divided road spanning 3.8km of Mamre Rd between the M4 Motorway, St Clair and Erskine Park Rd.
The upgrade’s second stage will widen between Erskine Park Rd and Kerrs Rd.
A $280m upgrade of the Prospect Highway will duplicate the bridges over the M4 Motorway and Great Western Highway and include a four-lane divided road, new traffic lights, installing kerbside bus lanes, modifying intersections to provide a roundabout and a new two-way link road.
A key corridor in providing access to Western Sydney International Airport, with $800m jointly funded by the NSW and Australian Governments, will see an upgrade to Elizabeth Drive to provide safety improvements for road users.
Memorial Ave at Old Windsor Rd towards Windsor Rd will expand to four lanes and will allow a future widening to six lanes.
Richmond Rd will also be widened over a 2.2km section from the M7 to Townson Rd and will also include a new off-ramp bridge.
A 3.4km section of Garfield Rd, between Piccadilly Street, Riverstone and Windsor Road, Box Hill is expected to improve safety and accessibility for the newly established communities of Grantham Farm and Box Hill.
The three projects at Richmond Rd, Garfield Rd and Memorial Ave will see a $603.3m investment by the NSW Government.
For private motorists a $60 weekly toll cap will cater more than 36,200 western Sydney residents who have claimed benefits at an average of $245 in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
EASTERN SYDNEY
As part of the Connecting Sydney Roads project, $72.4 million has been allocated for Wakehurst Parkway.
Work continues on the Warringah Freeway Upgrade with $2 billion distributed for surface roads, bridges and interchanges along four kilometres of the freeway corridor, which started in early 2022
The NSW Government has foreseen the continuation of the Western Harbour Tunnel to cost $4.2 billion over the next four years.
It will include the delivery of the first stage of tunnelling works for a new crossing of Sydney Harbour, including an initial construction of 1.7 kilometres of mainline tunnels from Rozelle to Birchgrove.
Mr Mookhey said the second package will include construction of northern tunnels from Birchgrove, through Sydney harbour and onto North Sydney.
The Sydney Gateway project, with an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, and $272.4m over the next four years, will provide a new route for about 10,000 trucks a day. It will divert trucks from local streets in Mascot by providing an alternate route and reducing travel times and congestion.
REGIONAL NSW
The upgrades to multiple roads and bypasses across regional NSW can expect a projected cash injection of more than $500m to bolster connectivity between people and communities.
An estimated $216.3m has been committed to continue the planning and early works for The Central Coast’s Wyong Town Centre and an additional $97m will fund the upgrade of Avoca Dr to deliver public transport access through Kincumber.
The planning and design for the Gosford Bypass can expect a $39.8m cash injection while an additional $38.9m will go towards the Tumbi Rd and Central Coast Highway intersection upgrade.
The central west can expect a total of $632m to continue the delivery of the Parkes bypass, the new Dubbo Bridge, flood solutions on the Newell Highway and the construction of the duplication of 1.1 km of the Great Western Highway through to Medlow Bath.
The Far West will also benefit from $28m to build a new heavy vehicle rest stop to combat driver fatigue while the Illawarra will have a cash splash of $97m to deliver a business case for the Nowra Bypass.
The regional roads funds are expected to bolster millions-worth of new roads with $39.8m committed for the planning and design of the Gosford Bypass and $18.9m to investigate the extension of Memorial Dr for a potential bypass of the Bulli town Centre.
The duplication of the Thornton rail bridge will benefit from a $14m cash injection and $18.5m will go towards upgrading signalising at the Yass, Bungendore, and Ellerton Drive roundabout intersection.
A $2.2b cash splash will continue improvements to the pacific highway corridor upgrade and $700m will kickstart construction for the Singleton bypass to improve traffic flow and motorist safety.
The construction of the Mount Ousley interchange will begin following a $390m cash splash to replace the existing intersection of the M1 Princes Motorway and Mount Ousley Rd and $232m over four years will finalise the construction of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass from Rankin Park to Jesmond.
“The new bypass will remove up to 30,000 vehicles each day from this route,” Mr Mookhey said.
The highly-anticipated Jervis Bay Rd intersection upgrade will provide a “safer and more reliable intersection” by widening road from two lanes to four and the construction of an overpass bridge over Jervis Bay Rd.
A total of $1b across four years will fund the construction of the Pacific Highway Corridor upgrade to widen the M1 to Raymond Terrace and Hexham Straight.
A $392m cash injection over four years will continue the planning and early work for the Muswellbrook bypass and planning for Goonoo Goonoo Rd in Tamworth, while $462.9m over four years will start construction for the bypass for Singleton to improve traffic flow.
The 8-kilometre project will bypass five sets of traffic lights and include a 1.8 km bridge over the Main Northern Railway, Doughboy Hollow and Hunter River flood plains.
HEALTH
WESTERN SYDNEY
Investment in health care is a “crucial” part of the NSW Government’s budget to accommodate the growing populations in western Sydney.
It has seen an estimated $480.7m for an Emergency Department Relief package to further ease pressure on NSW emergency departments.
A further $130.9m for a Family Start Package will provide early intervention programs to boost lifelong maternal and child health, including $40m to support vulnerable children and $15m for mor immunisation practitioners across local health districts.
In supporting community mental health and wellbeing, the NSW Government has put together a $111.8m package.
An additional $151m has been pitched by the government to deliver ongoing hospital redevelopments at Liverpool, Nepean and the Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead.
It brings the total investment to new and upgraded hospitals across western Sydney to more than $3.6 billion over four years.
It includes $1.3 billion to the new Bankstown Hospital, the Nepean Hospital and stage one and two of the Integrated Ambulatory Services to more than $1 billion.
Rouse Hill Hospital redevelopment was allocated $700m along with $619m for stage two of Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
The Fairfield Hospital redevelopment has seen $550m injected by the NSW Government and Canterbury Hospital, which is undergoing its first major redevelopment since 1998, estimated to cost $350m.
EASTERN SYDNEY
The NSW Government has committed $13.4 billion over the next four years for hospitals and health facilities across the state.
Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick will be allocated $658m for stage one of the Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre, however, $303.4m will be spent over the next four years.
It will be Australia’s first Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
The Ryde Hospital redevelopment will see an estimated total of $526.8 million to provide contemporary health facilities, including the significant expansion of the ambulatory care precinct.
About $411m will be provided to St George Hospital to bring together a range of areas, including the ambulatory, outpatient and community health services. Only $224.2m will be allocated over the next four years.
REGIONAL NSW
A $265m upgrade to Port Macquarie hospital will bolster existing emergency and maternity services for Mid North Coast families.
Mr Mookhey said the funds will kickstart the planning process to upgrade the maternity and special care unit to “meet current design standards, support contemporary service models, and meet staff and community expectations.”
“The project will also fund the refurbishment and expansion of the emergency department to address capacity issues and meet projected demand to 2036, in line with clinical service planning,” Mr Mookhey said.
Health workers are the winners in this year’s state budget with $200m committed to deliver “urgent” fit-for-purpose accommodation in an effort to “attract and retain” staff amid a lack of housing supply in regional NSW.
“Many regional areas are facing shortages of key health workers … there is an urgent need for the delivery of fit-for-purpose, accommodation for key health workers,” Mr Mookhey said.
A $431m cash injection will kickstart the construction of a multistorey carpark that will more than double the parking spaces at Wagga Wagga Base hospital by 900 spaces.
A specialised birth centre and community hub for First nation women and families will soon arrive to the south coast following a $21.3m cash splash.
A plethora of hospitals across regional NSW will also undergo multimillion-dollar upgrades, including:
– $835m to deliver an expansion of the John Hunter and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals to provide “additional capacity and purpose-built infrastructure” to communities
– A $781m cash splash will upgrade rehabilitation and aged care, mental health, outpatients, and palliative care services at the new Shellharbour Hospital
– $438m has been put aside for Shoalhaven Hospital to expand the ambulatory care precinct, surgical beds and operating suites, medical wards including aged care, increased emergency capacity, enhanced medical imaging, mental health and pathology services
– $244.2m over four years until 2027 to 2028 will deliver a new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital for communities access health services closer to home
– Grafton Base Hospital will undergo an expansion to the emergency department, including more beds following a $222.2m cash plash over four years
– A $76.4m committed over four years will kickstart the construction of new emergency department, operating theatres and medical imaging at Griffith Hospital
– Bathurst Hospital can expect a $189.3m over four years to “addresses constraints of the current infrastructure” and support the “implementation of contemporary models of care”
– The Cessnock hospital will undergo a revamp to deliver a “contemporary facility” to meet the current and future needs of the community following a $134m cash splash over four years
– A new $105m acute services building included in the Moree Hospital redevelopment will feature a new emergency department and operating theatre, medical imaging department, maternity and birthing suite, inpatient unit, and pathology department
– $90.9m across four years will deliver a new and modern Temora hospital under one roof and include inpatient care, maternity services, surgical services, community health and outpatient services
– $200.0m has been committed for stage one of the Wyong Hospital redevelopment and $6.4m towards the expansion of the hospital’s cancer day unit
– A new broken hill mental health unit worth $669m alongside a $12m upgrade to the Broken Hill Hospital emergency department
– $45m has been allocated to continue upgrades to Cowra hospital which is expected to be finalised by 2026
– An additional $500,000 cash injection has been promised to finalise the establishment of a residential eating disorders treatment centre in Charlestown
– Glen Innes, Goulburn, Grafton, Griffith, Gunnedah, Milton Ulladulla, Moree, Muswellbrook and Wyong hospitals will continue upgrades following a combined cash splash of more than $80m
EDUCATION
WESTERN SYDNEY
As part of improving western Sydney’s public education and to meet its rapid growth, the NSW Government has invested $3.6 billion for new and upgraded schools and said it will continue investing in new public preschools across the region.
It will include a new primary school and a new high school in Box Hill and further funding for upgrades at Austral Public School, Leppington Public School, Riverbank Public School, The Ponds High School and a multipurpose hall used by Yennora Public School and Verona School.
Of the 100 new public preschools in the state, more than half will be in western Sydney and will be rolled out by 2027.
Cambelltown has the highest amount of new preschools, while Fairfield LGA will include 10 new, Blacktown LGA will have nine, six for Cumberland LGA, six for Liverpool LGA, four for Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, two for the Parramatta LGA, and one for The Hills Shire LGA and Camden LGA.
EASTERN SYDNEY
To accommodate current and future growth in inner Sydney, the NSW Government has allocated $240,000 to upgrade Fort Street Public school to feature 24 classrooms.A $150,000, 13 month upgrade of Mosman High School saw 16 new classrooms and a new library constructed.
REGIONAL NSW
The NSW government has allocated more than $1.4b over four years to deliver critical education projects across regional NSW, including the highly anticipated expansion of Googong Public School, a site for a new primary and high school in Huntlee and the rebuilding of Willyama High School in Broken Hill.
The Central Coast can expect two new public preschools at Tuggerawong and Umina Beach public schools, alongside a total of $1.4m upgrades to Central Mangrove, Killarney Vale and Umina Beach public schools.
A new public school is coming to central west NSW at Parkes East public school and a new preschool at Eugowra community childcare as part of the government’s $17m grants program for early childhood places.
The Far West of regional Australia will benefit from three new public preschools at Bourke, Menindee Central and Morgan Street public schools alongside a $10m cash injection to “establish, expand or upgrade” early childhood and education care across Bourke, Broken Hill and Cobar.
A new primary school and high school are coming to the fast-growing Huntlee area and fourteen new public schools will open up in the Hunter Region alongside a $25m upgrade to the Hunter River high school.
The Illawarra-Shoalhaven region will benefit from ten new public preschools and a new primary school will be coming to Calderwood.
COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE
WESTERN SYDNEY
In supporting emergency services in the Hawkesbury LGA, $94.7m has been invested by the NSW Government.
A further $73.4m for Aboriginal Affairs NSW has been injected to establish Keeping Places as the sites of the former children’s homes across the state for the reconciliation with Stolen Generations survivors.
The NSW Government will continue $6m refurbishment at the Potts Hill police facility and the new Wentworthville Fire Station.
It will also expand fire and rescue services to Badgerys Creek and the Western Sydney Airport with $15.4m for a new fire station and appliances.
REGIONAL NSW
The Molong and Eugowra police stations will undergo a $1.1m worth of flood damage repair works while $40m has been committed for the ongoing construction of the NSW Police Dubbo Regional Education and Training Centre.
In the Far West, a $13.3 funding commitment by the state government will bolster efforts to upgrade the Bourke police station.
A combined $10.4m has been injected into the hunter region to deliver a new Dungog and Cessnock fire station, while $7.7m has been committed to build a new Charlestown fire station.
The $1.1m renovations for Molong and Eugowra Police Stations are expected to start this year and conclude next year for flood related upgrades.
ENVIRONMENT
WESTERN SYDNEY
The NSW Government has continued multiple projects, including $1.1 billion for the Upper South Creek Water Recycling Centre, which will be one of the most advanced water recycling facilities in the southern hemisphere.
The Richmond Water Recycling and Wastewater Treatment Plant Consolidation will also be continued with $193.3m injected.
In the Wollondilly LGA, the NSW Government has committed $342.3m for the Warragamba Environmental Flows Construction, $88.7m for the Picton Wastewater Management to support housing and growth and maintain local waterway health in the Picton area.
An estimated total of $46.3m has been allocated for the Upper Canal Replacement.
REGIONAL NSW
The NSW government has delivered a $362.3m funding commitment over four years to improve water security for regional communities and water quality across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The key projects include:
– A $281.6m cash splash over three years to improve river flow management, replace ageing infrastructure and support native fish populations in the Murrumbidgee and Murray regions
The pump stations along the Nyngan to Cobar pipeline will be replaced following a $34.7m funding commitment over three years
– A push for the Northern New South Wales Fish Passage to remove river constraints to boost native fish populations in Northern New South Wales will be kickstarted following a $23.7m cash splash
– A $22.3m cash injection in 2024-25 will bolster upgrades to water security in Wilcannia
$25m will fund critical recommendations from the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer independent Review into the 2023 Mass Fish Deaths in the Darling-Baaka River at Menindee.
– Pensioners and others experiencing financial hardship in the Far West will enjoy $5.3m in water rebates to maintain access to water and water-waste services
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