The first Budget of the new Liberals & Nationals Government has delivered more than $1 billion to build and upgrade roads and health projects on the North Coast, the Minister for the North Coast Don Page said today.

“This Budget is about rebuilding NSW, which means repairing what was left behind, improving services, and building the infrastructure that the people of the North Coast and across NSW need,” Mr Page said.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is conscious that if we do not get expenses under control, there will be no funds to fix the essential services that NSW residents rely on every day.”

Mr Page said the Budget will deliver 900 more teachers, 2475 more nurses, and 550 police officers over four years – as well as a record infrastructure investment to address the building backlog left by Labor.

Mr Page said the North Coast will benefit from a $1 billion investment for the Pacific Highway, boosting the NSW Government commitment to the highway by 94 per cent from 2009 to 2014.

The North Coast projects which are included in the $1 billion investment for the Pacific Highway include:

- $190 million to continue construction of the jointly-funded dual carriageway upgrade between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga
- $135 million to continue construction of the jointly-funded dual carriageway upgrade at Banora Point
- $90 million to start the jointly-funded upgrade between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale
- $50 million for the jointly funded upgrade between Warrell Creek and Urunga
- $40 million for the jointly-funded upgrade between Woolgoolga and Ballina
- $32 million to complete construction of the dual carriageway Ballina bypass
- $32 million for the jointly-funded upgrade between the Oxley Highway and Kempsey
- $29 million to start the jointly-funded dual carriageway upgrade at Devils Pulpit
- $28 million to continue construction of the jointly-funded dual carriageway upgrade between Herons Creek and Stills Road
- $10.5 million to complete construction and landscaping of Alstonville bypass
An additional $200 million will also be spent to tackle black spots and reduce road congestion, Mr Page said.

Total spending on hospitals and health capital works across NSW over the next four years will be $4.7 billion – 50 per cent higher than over the last four years.

“On the North Coast, $16 million will be allocated this year on the Port Macquarie Hospital as part of a $110 million redevelopment, and $4 million will be spent this year in planning for Lismore Hospital Stage 3 project and Byron Bay Central Hospital,” Mr Page said.

“In Coffs Harbour, $41 million will be spent on a new courthouse and $19 million on a new police station, and $4 million will be spent on Tweed Heads police station.

“A new fire station will be built at Banora Point at a cost of $500,000, the fire station at Tea Gardens will be renovated at a cost of $793,000.

“Byron Bay ambulance station will be upgraded at a cost of $1.4 million.”

“An extra $12 million over four years will be invested in Community Transport including services in Tweed, Byron and Ballina.

“As per our election commitment, there will be $2 million spent to conduct a feasibility study into the reinstatement of train services on the Casino to Murwillumbah line, including the possibility of connecting to the Queensland rail system,” Mr Page said.

The NSW Government’s $70 million Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme will pay half of the interest on significant loans that councils on the North Coast and across NSW take out to pay for infrastructure projects such as roads, community halls, libraries, paths, parks, and water facilities, Mr Page said.

“It is anticipated that the $70 million in interest subsidies that the NSW Government will pay to councils will unlock about $1 billion in extra borrowings for infrastructure upgrades across NSW,” Mr Page said.

“The Budget also includes a five-year $2 billion program for disability services, which is the largest funding commitment to disability services in Australia’s history and which includes a $259,625 investment on a new five-bed group home in Mullumbimby for people with a disability.

“Community infrastructure will be boosted overall with an additional $35 million allocated over two years through an extension of the Community Building Partnership program.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals’ first Budget delivers on our election commitments and starts the process of rebuilding the State.”