The Hunter region has been a beneficiary of the State Budget, with funding commitments spanning health infrastructure, road upgrades, the energy transition, education and cost-of-living relief.
In health, the Budget allocates $82.2 million over the next 12 months to continue Stage 1 of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, including part of a recently announced $55 million to address project cost increases. More than $45 million will flow to the Cessnock Hospital Redevelopment over the next year, while $7.5 million has been committed for a new carpark at Maitland Hospital and more than $16 million for the Maitland Integrated Community and Community Mental Health Service at Metford. Muswellbrook Hospital will also see funding confirmed for its Stage 3 redevelopment.
Road infrastructure across the region will receive a significant investment, with $201 million for the M1 to Raymond Terrace extension, $94 million for the Singleton Bypass and $74 million for the Muswellbrook Bypass. Additional funding has also been committed for Nelson Bay Road, Hillsborough Road and the Speers Point intersection.
The Budget backs the Hunter’s energy transition with $2.2 billion for the Hunter Transmission Project, $59.6 million for the Newcastle Port Logistics Precinct and more than $16 million for the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
In education, new schools are planned for Huntlee and Chisholm as part of a $2.3 billion regional schools investment, alongside invstment for Muswellbrook TAFE.
Cost-of-living measures include a $100 reduction in vehicle registration, while the $557.1 million Home Energy Saver program will provide interest-free loans and discounts for energy-efficient home upgrades.
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell says it was nice to have funding confirmed to complete current projects, but insists he would have liked to see new projects as well.
“I’m afraid to say for the Upper Hunter, it’s the same goes,” he said.
“It’s great news that we’ve secured the funding to be able to finish all those projects like the Singleton Bypass, the Musselbrook Hospital is well underway, Musselbrook TAFE has secured the money to finish that particular project, which is great.
“There’s a lot of projects across the board that continue and therefore that’s great, but as for new? Yeah, there is nothing new.”
