Federal Budget 2024: Local community funding in infrastructure, roads, disaster recovery
From major road upgrades to green public transport hubs, more cash for high-speed rail and disaster recovery grants – here is what the budget means for your local community.
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Major investments in roads, infrastructure and disaster recovery cash injections are some of the key pillars of the Federal Budget, with the major projects in your community revealed.
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT
The multimillion-dollar Western Sydney International Airport is set to receive another $302.6 million over the next five years, to provide “critical border security and biosecurity functions” and regulatory oversight over the international airport’s operations.
The federal budget will provide $53.5 million annually from 2024 to allocate a total of $237.4 million for border agencies to fit out the passenger terminal and shared Commonwealth facilities, provide federal policing and detector dogs at the airport to support border security and biosecurity measures. As well as $13.0 million to support regulatory oversight functions and Commonwealth preparatory activities.
The government will also provide equity of an undisclosed amount to support WSA Co Limited’s completion of Stage One of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. The value has been left out due to commercial sensitivities.
Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
The Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour is warning the Federal Government of budget woes due to “the impact of the ongoing Mirvac development”, which is set to turn the iconic tourist destination into a construction zone until at least 2028, with hundreds of thousands less visitors forecast this year. Find out how much the government is set to spend to prop up the museum as a result here.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Western Sydney
Following through on their promise for greater infrastructure planning for the region, the government delivers $1.9 billion for projects in Western Sydney in addition to funding for the WSI. This includes:
•$500 million for the Mamre Road Stage 2 upgrade
•$400 million for Elizabeth Drive – priority sections upgrade
• $50 million to ensure completion of the Appin Road project
A final investment of $4.9 million will also be delivered through the Western Sydney City Deal, following on from last year’s $6.2 million.
“The Australian Government is providing funding to enhance capacity and improve transport infrastructure in Sydney’s western suburbs,” said federal budget officials in the 2024-25 budget.
North Sydney
Macquarie Park has been allocated $115 million for a bus depot to provide infrastructure for zero emission buses planned for the area. Department of Infrastructure officials were unable to provide comment on the number of buses the depot will hold.
Sydney
Qtopia Sydney Museum
Sydney’s Qtopia museum, located at the former Darlinghurst Police Station, is a dedicated space created for celebrating and educating on LGBTQIA+ history and culture. Funding for further upgrades to the centre have been announced with $1.5 million allocated in the federal budget.
ROADS
The government has surged funding across a series of road safety programs to address the increased number of crashes across Australia including the Roads to Recovery Program, Black Spot Program and the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program which merged the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity program with the Bridges Renewal Program.
Funding for safety works under the Black Spots Program is applied for and reviewed by a panel to go towards roads where serious crashes have taken place or are likely to occur. A total of $166.8 million has been allocated for dangerous roads in NSW from 2024-28, with$150 million to be provided across Australia each year.
The Roads to Recovery program is set to fund $946.9M to NSW from this year until 2028. The program provides funding for road construction and maintenance projects at a local level, with recipients allocating funds across a 5-year program cycle based on local priorities.
The Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) for projects to address current and emerging priorities in road infrastructure needs will receive $259.4 million over the next four years.
“Funding has increased substantially for the Roads to Recovery Program, progressively rising from $500 million to $1 billion per year and funding under the Black Spot Program will increase from the current commitment of $110 million to $150 million per year.” Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility and driver education is an important part of this,” she said.
The federal budget also allocated further funding to local councils to go towards road infrastructure through the Financial Assistance Grant program. With $291.7 million announced for councils across NSW in 2024-25 and totalling over $1.2 billion across the state in the next 4 years.
This grant program is paid through state governments to local governments, who determine the distribution of funds between councils.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
The federal government has continued their commitment to improving local Sydney waterways through the Urban Rivers and Catchments program which commenced in 2022-23. Over the next four years $16.1 million has been provided to the NSW government to allocate towards restoring natural habitats for aquatic species, improving water quality and community access to nature, open green space and biodiversity. Funding will be delivered across projects local government, water utilities and non-government organisation projects.
Regional
Taxpayers are set to be slugged a massive $55 million this year alone for the Federal Government’s High Speed Rail Authority to just deliver a “plan on how to develop” a high speed rail projects including the long-promised Newcastle to Sydney line.
The cash-splash will see the HRSA appoint a permanent chief executive, who was hired in December, and “develop a communications strategy” for the touted vision for high speed rail.
In the next financial year, budget papers confirmed the authority will be required to develop a business case for the Sydney to Newcastle section of the network, with the “proposed alignment, station locations, the type of train to be used, the estimated cost and timeframe for construction”.
“The increase in revenue from Government from $33.7 million in 2023–24 reflects the funding profile for the work associated with the development of the business case for the Sydney to Newcastle section of a high–speed rail network,” the budget papers stated.
“Total budgeted expenses for the HSRA in 2024–25 are $55.1 million, including $5.4 million in employee benefit expenses and $49.7 million in supplier expenses.
“Supplier expenses includes contracted services, consultancy, travel and other administrative costs.”
Here’s what you need to know about the federal budget in your community:
HEALTH
Yass
A birthing unit and maternity could soon become a reality for families in regional NSW after the Federal government committed a total of $4.9m to the project from 2024 to 2028.
The maternity care service aims to provide women with “greater access to maternity support services closer to home”, budget papers stated.
TRANSPORT
A total of $3.6m has been injected into NSW-based rail projects and $10.9m into major road projects from 2023 to 2028 in a bid to target “nationally significant projects that will improve the efficiency and safety” of Australia’s rail and road networks.
“Funding is provided for road construction projects and network maintenance, as well as transport development, innovation projects and grants to land transport research bodies,” budget papers stated.
The Regional Airports Program will be extended with a $40 million cash injection over three years from 2024-25 and the Remote Aerodrome Inspection Program would continue in a bid to “improve aviation safety and access at remote airstrips and regional airports”.
Councils across NSW have also been promised $386.2m worth of funding from 2023 to 2026 to deliver “priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies.”
Australian Capital Territory
Taxpayers will foot a $50m bill for the Federal Government to deliver a “plan” for stage 2B of the Canberra light rail in the ACT. An additional $27.1m cash injection will push for the duplication of William Hovell Dr.
Regional
A business case to “progress technical and environmental planning” for an intermodal terminal in Parkes has been promised following a $5m cash splash revealed in Federal government documents.
Newcastle
Newcastle will have $112m committed for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrance alongside $78.8m over three years from 2023-2024 for the high speed rail authority to develop a business case for the Sydney to Newcastle high speed rail corridor.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Institute of Sport will undergo a major revitalisation following a $259.7m funding boost over three years from 2024-2025, including $249.7m over three years from 2024–25 for the Australian Sports Commission to upgrade the Australian Institute of Sport.
An additional $10m over two years from 2024–25 will see the Bruce Precinct Masterplan come to life under a collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts and the ACT government.
The Australian War Memorial will also receive $8m in a bid to support the organisation’s “financial sustainability”.
A further cash-splash of $5.2m over four years from 2024-2025 will go towards the Canberra and Darwin symphony orchestras to support their “financial sustainability”.
Newcastle and Hunter region
The Federal Government has committed to spend $88m over three years in support of the Hunter region and the Port of Newcastle to become hydrogen ready.
TOURISM
Lightning Ridge
A new Australian Opal centre could be coming to Lightning Ridge with the Federal government committing $7.5m from 2024-2025 for a brand new international tourist attraction.
The centre has been touted as a “world hub for opal-related knowledge, certification, education, training, research, heritage, arts and travel,” according to budget papers.
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND WATER
Murrumbidgee River, NSW and ACT
The Australian Government will provide funding to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for activities to improve the health of the upper Murrumbidgee River.
The projects will address the decline in river health alongside science and monitoring activities thanks to a cash-splash of $19.3 million over the next four years.
Murray–Darling Basin Plan, NSW
Climate Change and Energy Department documents released in the budget revealed $217.3m over four years from 2024 to 2025 would bolster efforts to extend terminating funding for core water policy functions and provide resourcing for the delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
An additional $4m in 2024-2025 will fund a business case for the further development of the hydrological modelling platform behind the basin project and $600,000 would deliver the Murray Reconnected Floodplains project.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will benefit from a further $7.2m over five years from 2023 to 2024 to deliver new statutory responsibilities.
WATER SECURITY
The Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience program will receive $32m over four years from 2024-2025 to deliver “water saving projects and improve water security in the region”, budget documents revealed.
DISASTER FUNDING
Documents released in the federal budget reveal the Australian Government is expected to fork out an estimated $6.48m bill to “reimburse the states for costs incurred in relation to past disasters” in NSW.
“Revisions to the estimates since MYEFO are based on updated data received from the states,” budget documents state.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR NSW BUSHFIRE AND FLOODS
Following the 2019-2020 bushfires and 2022 floods, legal centres across NSW will receive a $9m cash injection from 2024 to 2026, according to documents released in the Federal Budget.
“This funding will help meet the increase in demand for legal assistance services to individuals, small businesses, and primary producers following these unprecedented natural disasters,” budget documents state.
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