The NSW 2022/23 State Budget has been a disappointment with major projects overlooked for funding despite calls from local MP’s.  

The extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace is an important project for the region but has yet again been over looked by the Liberal Government with less than 10% of the overall funding provided. This funding will go towards yet more planning when the community need to get on with the job and build this extension.

It is not just major roads projects that have missed out on funding with the Government failing to fully fund the Lower hunter freight Corridor, which would provide a dedicated freight rail between Fassifern and Hexham.

The region also missed out on any substantial funding to support the upgrades and repairs of roads across the Hunter.

The most disappointing aspect of the budget is the failure of the Government to provide any meaningful investment in new social housing stock. Instead the usual funding to maintain properties in a liveable state was all that was provided.

Ms Yasmin Catley MP – Shadow Minister for the Hunter said ‘The Treasurer spoke about this budget being the roadmap to a better brighter future for NSW. If that is the case I have one question for the Treasurer why does that not extend to the Hunter?’

‘What we have seen is a budget that fails to address the housing crisis in our community and once again has ignored the communities pleas to fix our health system and restore funding to GP Access’.

‘The reality is despite the rhetoric this is a budget that confirms the Government has become stale and out of touch, and it does not have the solutions to the challenges facing our community’.