Central Coast Council has welcomed the focus on regional infrastructure in the NSW Budget 2017-18 delivering major road and health service upgrades to the Coast.

$188.3 million has been allocated for Coast roads including:

• completing the upgrades at the Wyong Road intersections with the Pacific Highway and Tumbi Road
• commencing construction of the M1 Pacific Motorway widening between the Kariong interchange and the Somersby interchange
• continuing construction on the M1 between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and on the Pacific Highway widening between Lisarow and Ourimbah
• $1.5 million in improvements to the Empire Bay Drive, The Scenic Road and Cochrone Street intersection upgrade
• Warnervale Link Road - Albert Warner Drive to Pacific Highway (Planning)
• Pacific Highway in Wyong Town Centre (planning)

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said as a growing region, Council was particularly pleased with the promise to allocate 30 percent of infrastructure spending to the regions.

“The $6 billion injection is significant and recognises that regions like the Coast are attracting more people who are looking for a better lifestyle away from the big cities and require improved infrastructure to meet their growing needs,” Mr Reynolds.

‘Roads are a key priority for Council because our community wants better roads and it is pleasing to see such a significant injection by the State Government into roads here on the Coast.

‘Council will be spending over $189 million of our own budget on local roads next year which will complement this funding and provide a better road network for our community.’

The Budget details a $1 billion Regional Growth Roads Program to build new infrastructure in regional growth areas, targeting roads in the lower Hunter, Central Coast and the Illawarra.  $500 million has also been allocated to the Fixing Country Roads program to improve local and regional roads managed by local government.

‘Council will also be looking to get a slice of this $1 billion Regional Growth Roads Program to improve the Central Coast network even further,’ said Mr Reynolds.

‘The NSW Budget’s projected surplus of $4.5 billion is six times Council’s own budget and we will certainly be hoping and looking to see some of that funding flowing to the Central Coast particularly in even more funding for roads as well as our waterways and local environment.’

A further $2 million has also been allocated in the budget to repair the Coastal Wall at The Entrance, with Council currently working with the Department of Lands on delivering the project.

A full list of projects for the Central Coast can be found at myinfrastructure.planning.nsw.gov.au