NSW BUDGET INCLUDES TRANSPORT AND ROADS BOOST FOR EPPING

The Liberal & Nationals first Budget delivered today is about rebuilding New South Wales, including improved transport services and roads for the people of Epping, said Attorney General and Member for Epping Greg Smith.

“Rebuilding NSW means repairing what was left behind, improving services and building the infrastructure the people of NSW need,” Mr Smith said.

“As a government we are very conscious that if we don’t get expenses under control, there are no funds to fix the services people rely on every day.”

Mr Smith said the Budget delivers 900 more teachers, 2475 more nurses and 550 police officers and a record infrastructure investment to address the building backlog left by Labor.

Spending on hospitals and health capital works over the next four years is $4.7 billion – 50 per cent higher than over the last four years.

“Locally we are delivering on our promise to fast-track the North West Rail Link, with $264 million invested in 2011-12 to develop the 23 km link between Epping and Rouse Hill.

“We are also purchasing 261 new buses, worth $118.8 million, and delivering bus priority for Epping commuters.”

Additional expenditure in the Epping electorate includes:

-       Karonga School Upgrade in Epping to be completed in 2012

-       Marsfield bridge - $1.5 m allocated in 2011-12 to construct shared bridge at Epping Road

-       M2 Motorway - $1 million allocated in 2011-12 towards the upgrade between Windsor Road and Lane Cove Road

-       Bus priority –

o      Epping Road - $330,000 allocated in 2011-12 for between Crimea Road and Pembroke Street

o      Epping - $225,000 allocated in 2011-12 for between Bridge Street and Beecroft Road

-       Boost in funding for Community Transport to local services including those provided by Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community Transport and Ryde-Hunters Hill Community Transport

“The Budget also includes a five-year $2 billion program for disability services, which is the largest funding commitment to disability services made in the nation’s history."

“Locally this means $236 million for disability services in the Northern Sydney local planning area, including $9 million in new funds."