The NSW Government has today delivered its 2021-22 NSW Budget, which provides significant funding for the Central Coast community.
The NSW Government has today delivered its 2021-22 NSW Budget, which provides significant funding for the Central Coast community.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the Budget would help the Central Coast continue its recovery from COVID-19 by focusing on jobs.
“NSW’s approach is to lock down the virus, not lock down the State and this will continue,” Mr Crouch said.
“The best way to help the local economy bounce back from COVID-19 is to create new jobs and this will be achieved through the significant share of Budget funding being allocated to the Central Coast.
“However we know that many people are still doing it tough. That’s why the Budget provides cost of living support like free preschool and $100 Learn to Swim vouchers, which will help to take the pressure off families and individuals.”
Highlights from the 2021-22 NSW Budget for the Central Coast include:
– A 2.5 per cent pay increase for Central Coast Local Health District’s 8,000 staff, as well as thousands more public sector employees including Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and teachers.
– Paid special miscarriage and pre-term birth leave for all public sector employees.
– A new $100 Learn to Swim voucher for the families of every preschool-aged child.
– Additional Cost of Living Specialists at Service NSW to help families and individuals access cost of living support.
– Free preschool for the remainder of 2021 and all of 2022, saving families up to $4,000 per child per year.
– The extension of the Regional Seniors Travel Card in 2022 and 2023 for 40,000 Central Coast seniors.
– $3.4 million to construct a new, all-weather training surface at Gosford Racecourse.
– Funding for the Police Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) program to operate in the Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes Police Districts.
– The establishment of a new Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Team on the Central Coast.
– Waived stamp duty for local residents that purchase Electric Vehicles, and $3,000 rebates for local residents that purchase battery and hydrogen fuel cell Electric Vehicles.
– $356 million to phase out single-use plastics, increase recycling and help councils across NSW improve their waste collection.
– $318,250 to upgrade five local surf life saving clubs.
– $400,000 in additional funding for Central Coast-based P&Cs, community groups and not-for-profit organisations through an increase to the Community Building Partnership program.
– Access to a new $200 million Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund to re-turf ovals, install lighting and upgrade canteens at local sports grounds.
– $32.8 million to complete the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital.
– A new Hospital Security Package to improve staff safety at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals.
– The continuation of Patience Experience Officers at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals.
– A new program to convert existing paramedics to Intensive Care Paramedics.
– $27.8 million to continue the upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Lisarow.
– $6.6 million for Manns Road intersection upgrades at Narara Creek and Stockyard Place.
– $4 million to continue planning on the Wyong Town Centre Pacific Highway upgrade.
– $1.5 million to finalise planning and commence pre-construction activities on intersection improvements at Blackwall Road and Memorial Avenue, Woy Woy.
– $17.8 million for additional commuter car parking and accessibility upgrades at Tuggerah Station.
– $9.5 million for construction to begin on new lifts and accessibility upgrades at Point Clare Station.
– $3.1 million to continue construction of new lifts and accessibility upgrades at Lisarow Station.
– $1.6 million to continue construction of new lifts and accessibility upgrades at Narara Station.
– $1.5 million to continue construction of new lifts and accessibility upgrades at Niagara Park Station.
– $45 million to continue planning the Fast Rail program between Sydney, Canberra, Bomaderry, Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Central West.
– $10 million to transition the NSW bus fleet from diesel to zero emissions buses, including on the Central Coast.
– $28.1 million to progress the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway between Beresfield and Raymond Terrace.
– $16.1 million to complete construction of the new Porters Creek Public School at Warnervale.
– $830,000 to continue the upgrade of Brooke Avenue Public School at Killarney Vale.
– $881,000 for improvements to facilities at Gosford Court House.
– $879,000 to purchase and install energy efficient systems at Gosford Hospital.
– A new infrastructure contributions system to collect levies on Central Coast developments.
– Continued access to the $1,500 fees and charges rebate scheme for small businesses to cover the cost of government fees and charges.
– $8.1 million to upgrade and improve social housing across the Central Coast, and $3.1 million to construct new social housing in Gosford.
For more information, go to: www.budget.nsw.gov.au.