Residents, MPs and MP-hopefuls have weighed in on the 2018/19 NSW state budget and its impact on the Southern Highlands.
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The feedback has been mixed - some were grateful for whatever came our way, but others were critical that key needs were overlooked.
Bowral Hospital will receive $15 million in state government funding for a new emergency department.
The investment builds upon $50 million investment in 2015/16 to redevelop the hospital and deliver a new building for clinical services.
Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell said he intended to campaign for further money for the hospital. “I’m confident with the health district that we have the balance right for the current needs. I still want to secure additional funding to make sure we keep up with the growth,” he said,
Public Health First chair Edna Carmichael said without further commitment to more funding the hospital will not be as large as it was when the project planning started in 2017. “$65 million to redevelop a busy country hospital compared to $2 billion to rebuild two Sydney sporting stadiums that are used by less than one per cent of the entire state’s population has to be questioned by every person living in rural and regional NSW. This government has got off cheaply,” she said. “Will the 2015 election promise of $50 million be backed up with a 2019 election promise of another $50 million to fund stage two? We can only hope so.” The state government has announced funding for 11 more train stations for upgrades including new lifts, ramps and footbridges of accessibility upgrades. Mittagong train station was named as a priority under the Transport Access Program, however Moss Vale train station was not.
Labor candidate for Goulburn Ursula Stephens called on the government to upgrade Moss Vale station.
“Moss Vale passengers are just as deserving of a lift as everyone else. If it’s good enough for Bowral and Mittagong Stations to have lifts and accessibility upgrades, then it’s good enough for Moss Vale,” she said.
Goulburn MP Pru Goward said she wanted to call for a review of the decision to exclude Moss Vale.
“It’s not eligible as the driveway is considered to provide disability access. I’m not sure that driveway is the right slope. I think it might be too steep,” she said.
Ms Goward said there were several highlights of the budget for families, including the Creative Kids Rebate and free apprenticeships.
From January 1 2019, parents will be access $100 vouchers for every school-aged child for extra curricular activities. There will also be 100,000 free apprenticeships as a part of a $285 million skills and training package.