The state budget for 2017-18 has allocated over six million dollars for upgrades to roads around Lithgow, says State MP Paul Toole.
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State budget announcements were made by treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday, June 20.
In his overview of the budget he stated that $73 billion will be spent over four years on infrastructure.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole told the Lithgow Mercury over six million dollars will be spent on upgrades to roads around the Lithgow region, including:
- Continued funding “in the the millions” for safety works along the Great Western Highway between Forty Bends and Hartley Valley.
- $2.2 million for road works on the Great Western Highway at Marrangaroo.
- $2.5 million to continue upgrades to the Castlereagh Highway.
- $400,000 for works on McKane’s Bridge.
“The government is governing for tomorrow, and our financial strength allows us to invest into matters that are important to our local communities,” Mr Toole said.
“We’ve already seen the announcement of a daily express train service central through to Lithgow, which will be happening later this year and one of the big winners is roads.”
Mr Toole said Lithgow would also remain in the Resources for Regions program, which makes money available to councils in regions that may be adversely impacted by mining activity. The program recently funded Portland’s new waste and water management facility.
“It’s a big pot of money for councils to apply for. I’ll be informing the community once again when these programs are open so Lithgow continues to get a good slice of the funding.”
Mr Toole said he would be announcing further programs relevant to Lithgow in coming weeks.
Kids’ sport rebate
The budget has allocated $207 million into the Active Kids Rebate, which will allow families to access up to $100 per child per school year to go towards membership fees for sporting clubs.
“Families are the big winners in this year’s budget. Parents in NSW will be eligible for a $100 rebate to cover sporting club fees including swimming lessons for every school-aged child,” Mr Toole said.
“It’s about getting children back playing sport and making sport more accessible to deliver back to families who have barriers to a healthy lifestyle.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said every family with children in school will be able to access the rebate from early next year.
Stamp duty exemptions broadened
From July 1 stamp duty will be waived for first home buyers purchasing new or existing properties for up to $650,000. For those buying homes from $650,000-$800,000 stamp duty will be discounted.
“This a great way of getting people to move out of the city and into communities like Lithgow where they can buy affordable housing to help them get into the housing market,” Mr Toole said.
Highlights for the Central West include:
- $110.7 million for an additional 250 beds at the Bathurst Correctional Facility
- $43.5 million in 2017-18 to continue the investments in Dubbo Hospital
- $8.0 million in 2017-18 towards building a new hospital at Mudgee with an estimated total cost of $70.2 million
- $7.5 million in 2017-18 on the Visitor Experience program at Taronga Western Plains Zoo