The 2024-25 NSW Budget prioritises building better communities - ensuring we make the necessary investments in infrastructure, education and health services to improve the lives and wellbeing of all communities in the Illawarra and the South Coast.
Increasing access to health services
1. $21.3 million to support the Waminda Birth Centre and Community Hub, the first Aboriginal owned and midwifery-led free standing birth centre in Australia.
2. An additional $60 million towards Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services, which includes building the new Warrawong Community Health Centre bringing total to $771.9 million.
3. An additional $70 million towards new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital bringing the total to $330 million.
4. Continuation of the $20 million for the Batemans Bay Community Health Centre.
5. Continuation of the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment.
6. Continuation of the $21.9 million Wollongong Hospital package and the $7.5 million Milton Ulladulla Hospital upgrades.
7. $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours, with six ED Short Stay Unit treatment spaces to be added at Wollongong Hospital.
8. $171.4 million to establish three additional virtual care services through the Single Front Door.
9. $250 million for a Critical Asset Maintenance Program to address hospital and health facility maintenance backlogs across the state.
10. Building Key Worker Accommodation as part of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.
Delivering vital housing, transport and infrastructure investments
1. $390 million investment to build a new Mount Ousley Interchange in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
2. Continuation of the $20 million feasibility study for Bulli Bypass.
3. $164 million for major construction of Jervis Bay Road Intersection (joint federal funding).
4. $10 million for Illawarra Rail Resilience plan to determine options to upgrade and rebuild infrastructure along the South Coast Line.
5. $10 million for planning for Mt Ousley Safety and Reliability Improvement works.
6. $7.7 million to continue planning for Milton Ulladulla bypass (joint federal funding).
7. $6.5 million to continue planning and assessments to update Picton Road between Nepean River and M1 Princes Motorway (joint federal funding).
8. 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.
9. $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.
10. $5 million for the BlueScope Surplus Land Masterplan, preparing for the creation of a jobs centre for the State within the Illawarra.
11. $500,000 to investigate the transport infrastructure needed to support the redevelopment of BlueScope's surplus lands.
12. $19.9 million to Wollongong Council for the construction of the Cleveland Road upgrade which will support the delivery of 3,000 to 5,000 new homes in the region by connecting the West Dapto Urban Release Area to both the Princes Highway and the M1 Motorway.
13. $5 million for Landcom to deliver an additional 10 new homes at the South Coast Build to Rent project in Bombaderry, increasing the project to 60 new homes with 20% as affordable housing.
Funding education opportunities and upgrades for the future
1. $300 million to upgrade schools, including Moruya, Bomaderry and Dapto high schools.
2. $1.2 million to upgrade Vincentia High School and $2.5 million to upgrade Milton Public School.
3. Planning underway for a new high school at Flinders and a new primary school at West Dapto, with funding for a new preschool and primary school at Calderwood confirmed.
4. Announced 100 new public preschools for NSW with ten in the Illawarra and the South Coast.
5. 826 teachers and 620 school support staff who were temporary now made permanent across the Illawarra and South Coast.
6. $83.1 million to retain expert TAFE NSW teachers across the state.
7. $190.2 million to undertake urgent repairs at TAFE NSW campuses.
8. $16.3 million to continue fully subsidised training for all apprentices and trainees in NSW.
9. Our share of record $1b investment in school maintenance.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park:
"The Minns Labor Government has handed down a budget with a foundation for better, more reliable healthcare services, a comprehensive plan to invest in and rebuild public education, and to build better, well connected communities for the Illawarra and the South Coast.
"The Illawarra and the South Coast continue to be regions of priority investment for the Minns Labor Government after many years of underfunding from the previous government.
"Our emergency departments and hospitals face significant challenges, so we are making the necessary investments across a range of strategically important areas to relieve that pressure and provide more alternatives for the community.
"By investing in critical health infrastructure such as increased funding for Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment and the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, we will deliver on our promise to provide better healthcare in these growing communities, so patients can access the best medical treatments close to home."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:
"The Minns Labor Government is investing in exciting projects to build a better Wollongong as part of its plan for a better NSW.
"The mix of projects and investments will help to improve services, support investment and job creation, and improve our public spaces now and into the future."
Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:
"The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deliver on our election commitments for the people of the Illawarra. The new Shellharbour Hospital is on track, with an additional $60 million in this year's budget and planning works are continuing on road upgrades, including south-facing entry and exit ramps on the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto.
"I am delighted that planning works for new schools at West Dapto and Flinders are progressing as part the Minns Labor Government's $1.4 billion regional school building program. Our fast-growing area needs additional public schools and we are committed to deliver these for our local communities."
Quotes attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:
"I'm very pleased to see ongoing commitment in this budget towards significant upgrades to schools across the South Coast electorate.
"The Minns Labor Government's $21.3 million investment in Waminda's Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub marks a significant step towards ensuring culturally safe, holistic maternity care for Aboriginal women and their families in the South Coast region.
"It's important the upgrades at Milton Ulladulla Hospital continue to move ahead as it is a key regional hospital in the southern Shoalhaven, providing vital healthcare services close to home."
Quotes attributable to Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart:
"After more than ten years of neglect by the former Liberal National government, this vital investment into the Illawarra and South Coast prioritises our healthcare services, improves our critical transport infrastructure and creates jobs for our region .
"I am super proud of a being a part of the Minns Labor Government that invests in the future of people of Heathcote and NSW. This budget reflects a commitment to strengthening our local communities and is a testament to how crucial the Illawarra and South Coast is to our State Government."
Quotes attributable to Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland:
"The Minns Labor Government has invested in generational health infrastructure with the funding for a new level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, the Batemans Bay Community Health Centre, and investment in essential rural health worker accommodation.
"With the upgrades to Moruya High School and job security for TAFE NSW teachers, the Minns Labor Government is standing up for New South Wales and creating better communities in the Bega electorate."
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Kiama Sarah Kaine MLC:
"Following 12 years of Liberal National neglect of the educational needs of families in Kiama, the inclusion of full funding for Calderwood Primary School in this budget demonstrates the Minns Labor Government is committed to delivering world class education to children across the state, and is a real win for the Kiama community.
"This budget provides the building blocks for a better Kiama, providing new or continuing funding for critical infrastructure such as the Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment, and South Coast Build to Rent project."
