BUDGET TO REBUILD NSW INCLUDES HEALTH, TRANSPORT AND DISABILITY SERVICES BOOST FOR LISMORE

BUDGET TO REBUILD NSW INCLUDES HEALTH, TRANSPORT AND DISABILITY SERVICES BOOST FOR LISMORE

Tuesday 6 September 2011

The Liberals & Nationals’ first Budget delivered today is about rebuilding New South Wales, including improved health, transport and disability services and roads for the people of Lismore, said Member for Lismore, Thomas George.

“Rebuilding NSW means repairing what was left behind, improving services and building the infrastructure the people of NSW need,” Mr George said.

"The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is very conscious that if we don’t get expenses under control, there are no funds to fix the services people rely on every day.”

Mr George said the Budget delivers an additional 900 teachers, 2475 nurses and 550 police officers and a record infrastructure investment to address the building backlog left by Labor.

Spending on hospitals and health capital works over the next four years is $4.7 billion – 50 per cent higher than over the last four years.

“Locally, $4 million has been allocated in this years budget to deliver plans for Stage 3 of Lismore Base Hospital."

“A feasibility study for North Coast Rail will go ahead at a cost of $2 million to look at reinstating services on the Casino to Murwillumbah line, including integration with the wider regional transport network.”

Additional expenditure in the Lismore electorate includes:

• Lismore regional cancer centre - $6.8 million to complete the centre in 2011-12
• Lismore fire and rescue - $295,000 allocated in 2011-12 for regional office
• Bridge upgrades –
• $1.2 million allocated in 2011-12 to repair bridge over Wilsons River on Bruxner Highway at Lismore
• $1.1 million allocated in 2011-12 to upgrade bridge over Clarence River at Tabulam
• $805,000 allocated in 2011-12 to repair Glebe Bridge over Richmond River at Coraki
• Kyogle High School upgrade to be completed in 2013
• Murwillumbah TAFE refurbishment - $2 million in 2011-12 and due to be completed in 2013
• Murwillumbah ambulance station - $1.9 million in 2011-12 and due to be completed in 2012

“The Budget also includes a five-year $2 billion program for disability services. Locally this means over $1 million in new disability facilities including five-bed co-located accommodation in Lismore for people with high support needs.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals’ first Budget delivers on our commitments and starts the process of rebuilding the State.”