OVERVIEW: NEWCASTLE: The Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund has been topped up in the state budget with another $100 million from the Port of Newcastle lease proceeds, bringing to $1 billion the Coalition's total infrastructure commitments to the region. It also lifts the Hunter's share of the $1.6 billion net proceeds from the 98-year lease to $590 million. For more Hunter budget initiatives, click here.
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ILLAWARRA: Commuters could benefit from an extra $10 million from Restart NSW to advance a feasibility study for the Princes Motorway (F6) between Loftus and St Peters. The Illawarra will also see investment in medical facilities including $7.9 million for the $14.46 million Bulli Hospital aged/transitional care centre and $6.1 million to commence a new ambulatory care facility for Shellharbour Hospital. Full details here.
In the RIVERINA, the notorious Gocup Road has been allocated $5 million. Funds have also been allocated for ongoing redevelopment work at Wagga Base Hospital ($77.2 million) and the Wagga Courthouse upgrade ($15.2 million). Full story here.
The Minister for WESTERN NSW Kevin Humphries says there are good news stories for his region in the budget, including $44.6 million to continue works on the $91.3 million Stage 1 and 2 Dubbo Hospital redevelopment, $43.7 million to continue works on the Parkes and Forbes hospitals redevelopment project, $9.5 million to continue works on the $12.4 million Hillston MultiPurpose Service project and $8.2 million to continue works on the $12 million Peak Hill MultiPurpose Service project. Click here for full story.
In the CENTRAL WEST, there was no specific funding allocated for the Central West Jobs Plan that deputy Premier Andrew Stoner announced in May. Full details here.
On the SOUTH COAST, MP Shelley Hancock says disability services will receive a boost, with $150,000 for commencement of a five bed villa in Nowra and $200,000 for the completion of a five bedroom group home. More details here. There were big infrastructure winners too. Full story here.
On the MID-NORTH COAST, the State Budget has delivered around $105 million for projects in the Port Macquarie electorate, including $73 million to start work on the dual carriageway upgrade of the Pacific Highway between the Oxley Highway and Kundabung. Full story here.
In the NORTHERN TABLELANDS, budget highlights include $7.5 million for the replacement of a bridge at Boggabri, $6.6 million for an upgrade of the Tamworth TAFE Campus and $6 million for phase 1 of the Keepit Dam upgrade. Further details here.
In ARMIDALE, the state government has promised to fast-track the hospital project. The hospital will share in $50 million of funding for regional health infrastructure, along with Grafton, Macksville, Byron Bay, Manning and Lismore. More here.
In the SOUTHERN TABLELANDS & HIGHLANDS, major roads, highways and bridges are set to be the focus of expenditure with additional amounts directed to schools and group homes. Details here and here.
John Hicks is a Professor of Economics, based in the School of Accounting and Finance at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. He is speaking to digital editor Chris Gordon about his thoughts on the state budget.
While describing the budget as "Sydney-centric", the NSW Farmers Association says drought-stricken farmers have not been overlooked. Click here for more.
Meanwhile, the Treasurer says funding for an oncology unit in MORUYA is the centrepiece of budget funding in his home electorate of Bega. Full story here.
RELATED COVERAGE: Budget 2014, winners and losers
12.36PM: In a move to protect pensioners and seniors, the 2014-15 NSW budget includes an additional $107 million to continue concessions that were cut in the Federal Budget.
Minister for Ageing John Ajaka said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government had committed one year’s worth of additional funding to ensure the state’s pensioners and seniors would not bear the brunt of harsh cuts to concessions while representations were made to the Federal Government.
12.31PM: Infrastructure funding will include $5 million over two years for a second motor racing circuit at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, $3 million over two years to upgrade the Lithgow Aquatic Centre and funding for sporting organisations to make their programs accessible to people with a disability.
12.27PM: Freight also gets a boost in the state budget, with $77 million (including $46 million from NSW) to support productivity and safety for road freight in country NSW, including extending the ‘Bridges for the Bush’ program to upgrade or replace critical bridges, and building and upgrading truck rest areas.
There's $44 million to maintain and upgrade grain rail lines in country NSW and $6 million to commence a program of rail infrastructure upgrades at key sites on the Country Regional Network to improve freight train loading rates for grain.
12.21PM: The NSW Government has committed $5.5 billion to build and maintain critical road, maritime and freight infrastructure as part of the 2014-15 NSW budget.
Included in that funding is $185 million to continue upgrading the Princes Highway to a four lane, divided road, including $80 million for the Foxground and Berry Bypass and $76.5 million for the Gerringong Upgrade, plus maintenance funding for the Princes Highway of $52 million.
There is also $69 million for major road upgrades in country NSW, including constructing the second stage of the Moree Bypass, additional overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway, further safety works on the Barton Highway, replacing the Tangaratta Bridge and its approaches on the Oxley Highway, further upgrades to Gocup Road, and planning the upgrade at Bolivia Hill on the New England Highway.
NOON UPDATE: NSW Treasurer and Bega MP Andrew Constance has delivered a $10 million boost to Eden’s economy in his first state budget.
The $10 million will go towards making Snug Cove a safe harbour by building a wave attenuator, as the first stage of a larger marina project for the Port of Eden. Full story here.
MONDAY: THE NSW Government hands down its 2014-15 budget on Tuesday - the last before the state election next March.
Budgets, of course, are normally focused squarely on Treasurers, but in NSW this year Sydney Morning Herald State Political Editor Sean Nicholls says it's different. His thoughts here.
And he says, fresh from blowing a $2 billion hole in NSW finances with cuts to school and hospital funding, federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has now helped consolidate a likely deficit next financial year. Full story here.
The former finance minister Andrew Constance will be the one delivering the budget speech in the Legislative Assembly at midday but the NSW budget will largely be Mike Baird's construction, which makes it a watershed moment for the new Premier.
We'll be following all the action - and reaction here - particularly in regards to its impact on regional NSW, so don't forget to check back throughout the day.
But, in typical political style, a number of budget initiatives have already been announced.
Here's what we know so far:
$7.2 million for Australian Museum revamp
$25 million for road upgrades for Northern Beaches Hospital
$5 million for feasibility study for tunnel under Military Road
$5 million for planning of $1 billion redevelopment of Westmead Hospital
$16 million to upgrade Parramatta Park
$20 million earmarked for roads infrastructure around Badgerys Creek airport site
But what's in it for regional NSW? Here's what we have to date:
TAMWORTH:The first dam to be built in western NSW since the Split Rock Dam near Barraba almost 30 years ago is part of a $1 billion regional infrastructure package. Click here for details.
The package will also include a new $110 million Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund. Australian Regional Tourism Network chairman David Sheldon says the announcement is a great follow-on from the two programs the government rolled out last year. More here.
In NEWCASTLE, Hunter Sports High School will be ‘‘virtually rebuilt’’ with an injection of more than $20 million to address the dilapidated condition it has remained in since sustaining damage in an earthquake. More here.
Novocastrians are also looking forward to seeing $150 million in funding for construction of the final stage of the Newcastle inner-city bypass. Full story here.
The major talking point in the lead-up to the budget has been the proposed electricity privatisation plan, which could reap up to $15 billion to support projects including a second rail harbour crossing and infrastructure for a second Sydney airport.
Under the proposed plan, the state would lease 49 per cent of its "poles and wires" business to private operators, on a 99-year lease. The EDEN MAGNET is running a poll on the idea, have your say by clicking here.
In the NSW South-East, the BEGA DISTRICT NEWS and KIAMA INDEPENDENT have hit the streets to find out what people would like to see delivered.
And even before the Treasurer hands down his budget, GOULBURN MP Pru Goward has declared it will be great for regional NSW. Read her thoughts here.