Catering for the fast-growing West Dapto population was high on the list of Illawarra priorities in this years’ State Budget. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
NSW Labor’s latest budget holds firm to the government’s key election promises – but it adds precious few new commitments.
The majority of new announcements are funds for planning and feasibility studies, with little in the way of major shovel-ready projects for the Illawarra.
One bright spot for fast-growing communities in the south and west is the announcement of a new public primary school, with an attached public preschool, for Calderwood.
An additional $60m was announced for Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services, which includes building the Warrawong Community Health Centre – on the cards for the past five years.
Almost $20m went to Wollongong City Council for construction of the Cleveland Road upgrade to support the delivery of 3000 to 5000 new homes by connecting the West Dapto Urban Release Area to the Princes Highway and the M1 Motorway.
Unfortunately the government’s commitment to affordable housing falls well short of the region’s needs, according to CEO of the Housing Trust, Michele Adair.
“The NSW Government has committed to an additional 8600 homes over four years across the state,” she said.
“That’s three times as much as the Coalition government invested in their last three years in government, but with a current wait list across the state of 60,000 it’s still barely going to scratch the surface.”
Ms Adair said the only additional housing announced for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region was an extra 10 homes as part of the Landcom project at Bomaderry.
“It’s an embarrassing number given the housing crisis,” she said.
“We know there is no quick, cheap or easy fix, but this problem is only going to get more expensive.
“We urge the government to partner with the not-for-profit sector, use us to leverage additional borrowing power and tax breaks to deliver better value-for-money housing.”
Roads
$19.9 million to Wollongong Council for the construction of the Cleveland Road upgrade which will support the delivery of 3000 to 5000 new homes in the region by connecting the West Dapto Urban Release Area to both the Princes Highway and the M1 Motorway.
$390 million investment to build a new Mount Ousley Interchange in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
Planning for additional south-facing entry and exit ramps on the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto continues, with $1 million allocated in this year’s budget.
$10 million for planning for Mt Ousley safety and reliability improvement works.
Continuation of the $20 million feasibility study for Bulli Bypass.
Health
An additional $60 million for Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services, which includes building the new Warrawong Community Health Centre, bringing the total to $771.9 million.
Six Emergency Department Short Stay Unit treatment spaces to be added at Wollongong Hospital from a $70 million statewide commitment to expand emergency department short stay units, improve patient flow and reduce emergency department wait times.
Education
$300 million to upgrade schools, including Dapto high schools.
Funding for a new public primary school and attached preschool at Calderwood confirmed.
Ten new public preschools across the Illawarra and South Coast.
Planning underway for a new high school at Flinders and a new primary school at West Dapto.
Infrastructure
$2 million to masterplan a 32-hectare site at King Street Warrawong, to create parklands, recreation, culture, arts and heritage, tourism and entertainment facilities for open public space use.
$5 million for the BlueScope Surplus Land Masterplan, preparing for the creation of a jobs centre for the state within the Illawarra.
$10 million for Illawarra Rail Resilience plan to determine options to upgrade and rebuild infrastructure along the South Coast Line.
$500,000 to investigate the transport infrastructure needed to support the redevelopment of BlueScope’s surplus lands.
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