THE government giveth and the government taketh away. The state budget is a case in point, where the money is very definitely targeted at metropolitan areas.
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Transport is one of the big winners in the city, with the announcement of a fully-funded Sydney metro project costing up to $12.5 billion, $1 billion for a new fleet of suburban trains and 3800 extra double decker bus services a week as part of a $108 million investment in new buses.
It’s in stark contrast to money being spent in the regions, according to the Minerals Council, which has revealed “Of all the major transport-related State Infrastructure Projects listed in the Budget Papers as either under way or due to commence over the next five years, $36 billion is listed for urban projects including trains, buses, ferries, light rail and roads, with just $900 million listed for transport projects in regional areas.”
There is, of course, some money for roads, including $10 million for the New England Highway, Scone Bypass and Rail Level Crossing and money, too, for planning for new sections of the Newell Highway, which put a smile on the face of Moree mayor Katrina Humphries.
Meantime, a modest 5 per cent increase in health spending has drawn the ire of the Australian Medical Association’s NSW president Brad Frankum, who said he’s worried it won’t be enough.
In our region, the Armidale hospital redevelopment gets $26 million, which is a nice little reward for all their pushing and shoving, because it seems that’s what it takes these days.
Fifteen million dollars in new money to extend the Mobile Black Spots program is another boost, but far short of what is needed to deliver a comparable service to the bush.
Gunnedah’s police station will also get a leg up, as part of a $57 million dollar package, it’ll be interesting to see how far that stretches.
And NSW Farmers has also welcomed $40 million dollars to reduce fire risks in national parks, but are disappointed by the budget as a whole.
They say this financial blueprint puts at risk the Department of Primary Industries’ aspiration of a 30 per cent boost in agriculture by 2020, so does that impact on jobs growth as well?
It would be great if services and infrastructure in regional areas were on par with what’s on offer in the city – hard to see it happening though.
Still, remember the words of Mark Twain who said: “Loyalty to country, always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it”.
