TUESDAY'S State budget announcement revealed few surprises but the government is pitching its spending on infrastructure as a way to woo voters at the next election.
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The budget papers reveal revenue has fluctuated but the government has done well to control spending.
Ahead of the March election, it has unveiled a raft of spending measures across the State, including $60 billion for infrastructure over four years, much of it conditional on its ability to regain office and lease the electricity poles and wires.
Treasurer Andrew Constance said the net debt was down, expenditure was under control and the State retained its AAA credit rating.
He reported a budget surplus for 2013-14 stood at almost $1b, with a deficit of $283 million forecast in 2014/15.
"For these two years a $3.6b combined deficit was expected," he said.
"We now have a combined surplus of about $705m forecast in 2014-15.
"Across the forward estimates a further $4.5b in surpluses is projected.
"We are now in control of the NSW budget, it is no longer controlling us.
"We are in a powerful position; the government is living within its means."
However, he said federal funding cuts were not sustainable in the long term, particularly the National Health Reform agreement.
Premier Mike Baird welcomed the turnaround in fortunes, citing the Coalition's strong fiscal policies.
NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said drought-stricken farmers were not overlooked in the budget, with a commitment of an extra an $13m.
However, she was awaiting details of the drought assistance measures.
Ms Simson also praised the $1.3b total injection into various projects in the Departments of Primary Industries and Natural Resources, Land and Water.
"While it is good news the department's budget has not been cut, the focus for DPI and its key agency Local Land Services now needs to turn to the quality and flexibility of service delivery on the ground," she said.
Much of the big ticket items in roads, transport and health concentrate on the Sydney area, but some bones have been thrown to the rest of NSW.
The biggest regional spend allocation is almost $400m for the Pacific Highway, north of New-castle.
The government has pledged $1b in new funding for regional infrastructure projects.
The regional windfall came from the government's long-term lease of Ports Botany and Kembla, which brought the regional component under Restart NSW to a total of $2b, Deputy Premier and Regional Infrastructure and Services Minister Andrew Stoner announced on Tuesday.
"Through Restart NSW we will deliver an additional $940m in new funds for infrastructure projects on top of our record infrastructure spend," he said.
Mr Stoner said $87m had been allocated in 2014-15 for mining affected communities, from mining royalties under the Resources for Regions program.
"This brings the NSW government's total funding for the program over four years to $217m - in excess of our original commitment of $160m," Mr Stoner said.
The Water Security for Regions program will be boosted by $325m, "bringing the total outlay to $366m to fund infrastructure works, including dams, to secure water supplies and drought-proof regional communities," he said.
This includes the $1m commitment for a scoping and feasibility study into the construction of a new dam on the Belubula River, known as Needles Gap, near Canowindra in the Central West.
"We have worked hard to secure a once-in-a-generation investment in regional water infrastructure in this year's budget," Mr Stoner said.
Other projects include $39m for country town water and sewerage programs, $11m to combat noxious weeds, and $17m for planning on Murray Darling Basin water infrastructure.
Regional tourism infrastructure works will receive $110m, including expanding regional airports.
A new Regional Freight Pinch Point and Safety Program will invest in regional roads to improve key freight corridors, including Bells line of Road, Golden Highway, Kings Highway and Gocup Road, South Gundagai.
"We are also establishing a new $50m Western NSW Freight Productivity Program to seal, widen and deliver other improvement works on freight corridors such as the Cobb and Silver City Highways," Mr Stoner said.
The Princes Highway in the south will receive $179m, and the Great Western Highway in the Blue Mountains will gain $113m.
Bridges for the Bush will receive an ongoing $50m and $43m will go towards Hunter roads projects.
Local government will receive a total of $37.5m under the Fixing Country Roads program to allow higher mass vehicles access infrastructure such as livestock and grain handling facilities.
A new Grafton bridge has been allocated an additional $177m on top of $8m for planning to complete the second crossing of the Clarence River.
A bypass at Queanbeyan will receive $25m plus federal funding.
NSW Opposition leader John Robertson accused the government of underspending, particularly in health.
The government has pledged $50m to fast-track health infrastructure at Grafton, Macksville, Byron, Manning, Armidale and Lismore.
Continuing funding for existing hospital projects include $85m for Tamworth, $77m for Wagga Wagga, $72m for Bega, $44.6m for Dubbo, $44m for Parkes and Forbes, $35.1m for Kempsey, and $24.7m for Lismore.
