What the 22/23 budget means for Sydney residents
Hospital upgrades are among projects set to benefit from a major cash splash in this year’s state budget. See what it means for you here
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Hundreds of millions of dollars in education funding will see major investments in western Sydney schools, as part of the NSW Government’s WestInvest fund.
A massive $478.2 million will see major upgrades at Austral Public, Condell Park High, Leppington Public, Parramatta East Public, Riverbank Public, Rouse Hill High, Schofields Public, Sir Joseph Banks High, and Telopea Public.
The multimillion-dollar investment in western Sydney education comes as Treasurer Matt Kean reveals an additional $1.2 billion in funding for schools across the state.
Meanwhile, 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”.
In Penrith, an $80.4 million fund has been secured for the Institute of Applied Technology for construction at the TAFE Nepean-Kingswood campus to provide specialised training in fields like construction, carpentry, electrical and plumbing.
In the city’s southwest, $70 million has been allocated for the new primary school in Edmondson Park for up to 1,000 students and will include 44 teaching and learning spaces, four support classrooms, and two preschool rooms.
While the Upgrade to Epping West Public School has also secured $34.8 million for the delivery of new classrooms and an administration facility, refurbishment and renovation work to existing buildings facilities.
In The Hills, $32.6 million has been allocated for the Samuel Gilbert Public School upgrade, aimed at delivering 25 additional new permanent learning spaces, a new library, a new hall with separate access for community use, new staff and administration facilities, the creation of a new connection to the existing campus, and removal of demountable classrooms.
The Treasurer also reaffirmed plans for the upgrade of Cumberland High School, designed to include 102 learning spaces including new wood workshops, sport and performance space, visual art spaces, new multi-purpose hall, new library, new multipurpose sports courts, new canteen and new and refurbished staff and administration facilities.
Funding amounts have not been confirmed for the project in the budget.
More than $22 million in funding has been allocated to upgrades at North Sydney Public.
KEAN BANK ROLLS BILLIONS IN HEALTH UPGRADES
Hospital upgrades, are among projects receiving a cash splash in the 2022-2023 NSW
Government budget.
NSW will establish Australia’s first Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre with $658 million dedicated to the Stage 1 redevelopment of the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick.
The funding will bring together world-leading clinical care, research and teaching together to deliver improved care models for sick and injured children across NSW.
A $619 million investment into the Children’s Hospital at Westmead will ensure it continues to be a world leader in providing paediatric services for children locally and across the state.
A whopping $1 billion investment will also fast-track the redevelopment of the Nepean Hospital to improve access to innovative, effective and welcoming health services for people in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
The Bankstown Hospital will also continue to receive a $1.3 billion investment previously announced to rebuild the hospital on a new site, transform the delivery of healthcare and meet the growing needs of southwest Sydney communities.
The Liverpool Hospital Health and Academic Precinct will also receive a further $126 million to create a hub for innovation and medical research in southwest Sydney, with increased hospital capacity to meet the growing Liverpool population’s needs.
A co-funded $150 million partnership between the Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney will comprise a state-of-the-art biomedical research complex spanning the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and university campuses.
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital redevelopment also received $750 million to expand RPA Virtual, new hospital buildings and refurbishment of existing spaces to create more adult inpatient beds, an expanded emergency department, intensive care unit, medical imaging services, operating theatres, and maternity, birthing and neonatal services.
An $82.5 million additional investment will complete the Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building project by fully fitting out the remaining eight operating theatres and associated recovery spaces, an ICU pod and an additional ward.
To the city’s south, an additional $26 million investment will meet demand for additional car parking resulting from the $385 million Stage 3 redevelopment of St George Hospital.
The funding will promote better patient experiences through co-located parking and health services within the ambulatory care and outpatient services building, improved access for those with limited mobility, and improved patient and staff safety particularly after hours.
Additional clinical services provided with a $632 million funding boost at Campbelltown Hospital’s Macarthur site will deliver enhanced paediatric and mental health capacity, improve pedestrian and vehicle access, and provide more local employment opportunities.
A $479 million funding boost for Ryde Hospital’s redevelopment will provide contemporary health services and facilities with an increased capacity, improve the patient experience and provide new models of care in a technologically innovative healthcare facility.
DISASTER RELIEF CONTINUES
In a much-needed boost for disaster-struck Sydney 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.
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.
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.
TRANSPORT PROJECTS SECURE ‘RECORD’ INVESTMENTS
An eye-watering $76.7 billion will be spent on transport and infrastructure projects across the state in the next four years, in an effort to make “journeys safer, easier and more reliable”.
“Integrated transport networks, including road, train, metro, bus, ferry, light rail,
cycling and walking, also play a critical role in driving economic growth and wellbeing,” the Treasurer said on Tuesday.
The second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail, as announced by Premier Dominic Perrottett in the lead up to the budget, will see $26.2 million secured this year, with a total of $372.5 million allocated over the next four years.
In the city’s northern beaches, $25 million has been secured this year, with a total of $340 million allocated over the next four years, for the upgrade and widening of 3.4km of Mona Vale Rd between McCarrs Creek Rd, Terrey Hills, and Powder Works Rd, Ingleside, from a two-lane undivided road to a four lane divided road.
A total of $150 million in funding has been allocated by the NSW Government over the next four years for safety and capacity improvements to the Wakehurst Parkway.
$40.0 million has been secured in the 2022-23 financial year.
The transport and infrastructure upgrades comes as no funding has been secured for the controversial Northern Beaches Link.
Government sources said while the project was “still a government policy” no funding had been allocated in the budget.
While back in Sydney’s West, $266 million has been secured over the next four years for the upgrade of Mulgoa Rd between Blaikie Rd and Union Rd to a divided six lane carriageway with medians and active transport facilities.
A total of $1.7 million has been allocated this financial year.
In Epping, the station bridge widening has secured $11.5 million this year, with $123.7 million over the next four years.
Ongoing calls for upgrades to New Line Rd at Cherrybrook and Dural have been answered, with Treasurer Matt Kean securing $34.4 million over the next four years to investigate options to upgrade New Line Rd over Pyes Creek to “ease congestion and allow for better traffic flow, improved safety and travel times for the growing population of Sydney’s northwest”.
Meanwhile $24 million has been secured over three years for the final stage of the Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Cycle Ramp also secured $21.2 million in funding.
Hundreds of million in funding will be spent on the “next generation” of the Opal ticketing system, in an effort to replace the “aging” infrastructure and ticketing systems.
$568M OPAL REVAMP
A massive $568.7 million will be spent over the next three years to upgrade the Opal system across the state’s expansive transport system, with $159.1 million secured in this financial year.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the multimillion-dollar investment would benefit customers by “delivering a connected and personalised ‘plan, book and pay’ experience across public and private modes of transport throughout Greater Sydney and outer Metro”.
“It is also an enabler for delivering an integrated and consistent ticketing experience for customers in regional New South Wales,” he said.
The next generation Opal system funding is part of a massive $21.3 billion Transport and Infrastructure fund secured for this financial year.
Budget papers reveal an eye-watering $76.6 billion over the next four years on Transport and Infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, a further $660.6 million will be allocated over the next four years to upgrade signalling and control systems expected to “expire” in some of the busiest parts of the rail network across the North Shore, City Circle, City area and Sydney Terminal.
A total of $108.2 million will be secured this financial year for the project.
AEROTROPOLIS BUDGET BOOM
The Western Sydney Airport Sydney Metro will see a massive $60 million invested over the next two years to develop a business case for the south-eastern extension of the project from the current southern terminus at the Aerotropolis to Glenfield.
Meanwhile, a further $95 million has been reserved for “hardship property acquisitions” along the corridor.
Sydney Metro has faced criticism over its compulsory acquisition process, which saw private land owners move to fight land value offers in the Land and Environment Court and persue reviews from the NSW Valuer General.
The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is also set to see hundreds of millions in funding secured for the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. The state-of-the-art centre, to be built in the Bradfield City Centre, will see $261.9 million in funding allocated by the NSW Government.
The project is expected to support industry, government and research institutions to collaborate, develop, scale up and commercialise advanced manufacturing technologies by providing specialist equipment and workspaces, and other services.
The Facility will “act as an advanced industry accelerator and be the focal point of the new Bradfield City Centre”, according to the Treasurer.
“It will expand on the facilities and equipment in Bradfield City Centre’s multi-purpose First Building,” he said. “The AMRF will be up to 15,500m2 of tenancy, technical and collaborative ecosystem spaces and house an additional $46.2 million in shared technical equipment - totalling $69.1 million over both projects.
“The AMRF will be an iconic shared-use facility that will attract emerging and advanced
industries to collaborate in the application of advanced manufacturing technologies and
processes.”
The Treasurer said the project was expected to establish Bradfield City Centre as an emerging Indo-Pacific Hub for advanced industries”.
ARTS AND SPORTS INVESTMENT
Meanwhile, the Sydney Opera House and Art Gallery of NSW is set to receive $37.9 million in funding to support “promoting high quality visitor experiences and collections management
A total of $21.7 million in funding will see the development of a masterplan to improve art educational spaces and an “arts education precinct” in Darlinghurst.
In Penrith, the Sydney International Regatta Centre will get a $3.6 million boost for the replacement of Electronic Timing System, while no identification of specific funding has been included for the redevelopment of the Penrith Panthers Stadium at Mulgoa Rd.
The project was expected to transform the stadium into a word-class suburban sport,
entertainment and community venue.
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