The Port Macquarie electorate will benefit from major project funding in the latest state budget announced last week.The inclusion of a public school at Lake Cathie, a multi-million dollar water treatment plant at Thrumster and ongoing funding allocations for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway and Port Macquarie Base Hospital are all projects for our electorate.Locally, more than $85.2 million have been allocated.Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, said she was particularly pleased that the Budget included the Lake Cathie Public School, with planning work already underway. “This is the only new school being built in regional NSW,” she said.“Under a new Building the State package to boost housing construction, a water reservoir will be built for the Thrumster release area and Sancrox employment area, accelerating the release of 4500 properties for the Port Macquarie region,” Mrs Williams said.   “This infrastructure announcement to stimulate the Port Macquarie housing and construction sector will be matched with additional incentives for both first home owners and new home buyers. “The First Home Owners Grant will more than double to $15,000 and a New Home Grant of $5000 will be welcome news and will re-invigorate our local housing market and the broader local economy,” Mrs Williams said.“The Budget builds better services, including more nurses, more police and more teachers throughout NSW,” Mrs Williams said.Other key projects include:n$10.7 million this year towards the $110 million upgrade of Port Macquarie Base Hospitaln$1.6 million for a new fire station for Port Macquarien$555,000 for approximately nine more nurses for the Mid-North Coast Local Health District n$1.5 million to construct new accommodation for people with disabilities in Port Macquarie.n$31 million have been allocated to complete construction of the dual carriageway upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Herons Creek and Stills Road, as well as to continue planning for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway between the Oxley Highway and Kempsey.n$8.6 will be spent on routine and minor roadworks maintenance as well as grants to Greater Taree City Council and Port Macquarie Hastings Council for roadworks projects.n$2.4 million for the construction of passing lanes on the Oxley Highway between the Pacific Highway and Wauchope.n$1.3 million for the ongoing planning for Stingray Creek BridgeHundreds of millions of dollars will be allocated towards infrastructure projects in the Oxley electorate as part of this year’s NSW Budget also.The centrepiece of this significant infrastructure investment here in Oxley is funding of $940 million to be injected into key Pacific Highway projects including the Frederickton to Eungai, Oxley Highway to Kempsey and Warrell Creek to Urunga upgrade.In addition, the NSW Government has committed $1.5 billion to complete the Pacific Highway duplication by 2016.“This is also a responsible budget for tough economic times,” said Deputy Premier and Local MP Andrew Stoner.“The Waterfall Way through Bellingen and Dorrigo will receive over $2 million in funding for resurfacing and further safety improvements and over $1 million towards safety improvements to the Oxley Highway west of Wauchope. A further $1 million has been allocated towards additional passing lanes on the Oxley Highway between Wauchope and the Pacific Highway.”$6.75 million have been announced for restoration works on the Bowraville Road in the Budget.Local councils in Oxley have also been provided funds for regional roads and a number of road safety initiatives and $400,000 towards repairing the pedestrian bridge over the Macleay River at Kempsey.Almost $100 million have also been announced on a State Emergency services package designed to help prepare for and respond to floods and storms across the state. Mr Stoner said first homebuyers will be up to $19,245 better off when they buy a new home under a new Building the State package to boost housing construction.
