BIG budget spending on infrastructure is nothing new and neither is the timing of big-ticket projects for Western Sydney in the lead-up to an election.
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But the Coalition has secured a third of the Restart NSW money, supplied by public assets sales, injecting $1 billion for regional NSW's infrastructure.
"The 30 per cent of spending secured for regional infrastructure is enshrined in legislation," said Deputy Premier and Regional Infrastructure Minister Andrew Stoner.
"The Nationals are proud the budget is delivering what rural and regional people have been screaming out for."
Restart NSW's coffers are filled by public asset sales - most notably Ports Botany and Kembla.
The dividends it has delivered for NSW Infrastructure is complemented by some significant investment into country roads through Roads and Freight Minister Duncan Gay's portfolio.
Water infrastructure, roads and rail are the big winners in regional NSW from this budget.
Councils will receive $17.6m in new State funding but measures to address the $30m hit delivered by the federal budget to Federal Assistance Grants were absent (The Land, June 12, p6).
Western Sydney Minister and Premier Mike Baird pumped the coin into the key battleground for the coming State election, spread across a range of road and rail commuter projects.
NSW Farmers said it was a "Sydney-centric" budget.
"Rural and regional NSW look like their issues on the ground with roads and bridges have been given some attention in the budget," she said.
"The budget for roads, maritime and freight increased $400 million from last year...
"However, this investment is substantially below the $61.5 billion which has been committed to Sydney."
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
