By NSW Premier Mike Baird @MikeBairdMP
The State Budget has been handed down and details how we’re providing record infrastructure and services and accelerating infrastructure projects that will change this state forever.
The hard work we’ve undertaken over the past four years has led to NSW being in the strong financial position we find ourselves in today. The underlying surplus for 2015-16 is estimated at more than $712 million – and surpluses are also forecast for the next few years ahead.
We’ll fund an average of $10 billion on infrastructure each year over the forward estimates and will deliver record services in health, education, transport, and family and community services.
Some of the highlights this year include:
– $72 million for the Westmead Hospital redevelopment
– $30 million for the Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital redevelopment
– $180 million for traffic clear ways and fixing notorious traffic pinch points
– $275 million in state and federal funding towards construction of NorthConnex
– $182 million for specialist homelessness services
– $42 million to start major road upgrades to support the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest
– $12 million for research into medical cannabis
– $40 million for a new Health Services Research Support Program
– $25 million for paediatric research facilities
– $11 million for the new Walsh Bay arts precinct
– $4 million to develop an Early Intervention Program for Countering Violent Extremism
– $2 million for the popular Tech Savvy Seniors program
After four years in government we are in control of the budget and have the strongest economy in the country – a great position to be in compared to where this state was not too long ago under Labor, which promised a long list of projects but had very little to show for it.
Our careful financial management has allowed us to maintain the state’s triple-A credit rating and I’m pleased to announce we’re in a position where we can bring forward almost $600 million to fast-track major transport, roads and hospital projects across the state.
We’re bringing forward this funding because we don’t want to wait any longer to deliver the critical infrastructure Sydney and NSW needs to keep moving.
The day after the Budget was handed down Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian, Transport Minister Andrew Constance and I headed out to Castle Hill to inspect progress on the $8 billion Sydney Metro Northwest, just one of the mega projects that will benefit from the almost $600 million cash injection.
The 36km long Sydney Metro Northwest, formerly the North West Rail Link, is ahead of schedule and expected to open in the first half of 2019 as the first stage of Sydney Metro.
Everyone is keen to see these types of projects take shape and we’re pleased to be in a position where we can fast-track their delivery.
