State Budget

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-102811

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

State Budget

Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE (BegaMinister for Transport and Infrastructure) (17:28:59):

— This evening I will talk about a number of initiatives in the Bega electorate. In doing so, I thank the Treasurer for his work on the budget that, in essence, resulted in the Bega electorate being funded to a level never seen before. This year $250 million worth of infrastructure is being allocated to this country electorate. My community remembers the 16 long years of Labor it had to endure when Labor did not feel the need to fund anything of importance to the community. I will touch on some of those issues.

For years Labor has run down the TAFE system in Bega. Labor tried to tell the community that TAFE is closing; it tried to attack TAFE in an unacceptable way and basically misled the community about the Government's commitment to TAFE. I am pleased to confirm that in this year's budget $8.5 million has been committed to a new community learning centre in Bega. This will enable the delivery of an education precinct that will incorporate the University of Wollongong access centre, Bega High School and the new TAFE precinct. More than likely we will see a sod turning next month and the erection of a building over the next six months, which will facilitate courses being offered, in particular to young people seeking vocational education. That is a wonderful outcome.

People will be blown away when they see the new Bega TAFE. I think it will change lives; it will certainly reduce the number of people having to leave the area to undertake courses at other TAFE campuses. The $8.5 million investment means that this is a new and innovative approach to the delivery of TAFE courses. It is certainly a slap down to the Labor Party, which thought it was its right to attack Bega TAFE and the TAFE system on the far South Coast over recent years. Also incorporated in this $258 million budget are major investments for a new fire station at Eden and, importantly, the new bridge at Batemans Bay. Recently the Premier visited and confirmed $26 million for a new indoor aquatic centre for Batemans Bay. This facility will incorporate a number of water bodies, including a learn-to-swim pool, a warm water pool for seniors and people with disabilities, a lap pool, a kiddies pool and a water park for tourists.

As part of the new investment, $8 million will go to the performing arts, and I pay tribute to Jeannie Brewer from PerFex and Carolyn and Jackie Hardie for their work on the indoor aquatic centre. Recently the Deputy Premier and I were pleased to announce funding for the Twyford Hall Theatre, a 200-seat theatre in the heart of Merimbula that will be a regional facility to enable our performing arts to expand and give those with the skills an opportunity to develop their craft through this wonderful new theatre. The budget enables us to come back to the community on a number of other initiatives that are of importance, including Bundian Way and Pambula Hospital, where further assessments are currently underway to establish the needs of those who will benefit from those two important developments.

For the benefit of members, Bundian Way is incredible because of what it will mean for our local Aboriginal people. A special walking track from the ocean to Mount Kosciuszko will be built for the local Aboriginal community. This year's budget has not happened by accident; it has come about through the Government's hard work and financial management. In particular, the poles and wires transaction has given us the head room to invest back into the regions—in particular, Bega TAFE, the new ambulance station at Eden, the airport upgrade, the port upgrade at Eden and the new swimming pool and bridge at Batemans Bay. It is all very exciting.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:33:56):

I congratulate the outstanding member for Bega on the record spending in his electorate. From the beach to the bush, from Sydney to regional and rural New South Wales, we are seeing record funding across the State, particularly in rural and regional New South Wales—building for tomorrow but delivering for today. We have record spending across a number of projects, such as $8.5 billion to upgrade Bega TAFE and $250 million for a fire station, bridge upgrades, the indoor aquatic centre and performing arts. These are projects that Labor neglected for 16 years. The member for Bega is an outstanding member of Parliament. I am biased because I am his Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr Jihad Dib:

And a good one.

Mr MARK COURE:

And a good one. I thank the member for Bega for his outstanding efforts on this budget and over the past seven years in government.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Greg Aplin):

Order! I remind the member for Rockdale that he is on three calls to order.