Wauchope and hinterland has not been included for any major projects following the release of the 2019 state government budget.
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The story is slightly different across the Oxley electorate with $50 million set aside for upgrades to the Waterfall Way, $20m for the upgrade of Maria River Road - between Port Macquarie and Crescent Head - and other local roads and $10m to upgrade Kempsey's Verge Street oval.
Member for Oxley and Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey says funding is available to councils for regional road network upgrade.
"I encourage councils to apply for their share of NSW government's two regional road infrastructure programs," Mrs Pavey said.
"These include the $500 million fixing local roads program to assist in the repair, maintenance and sealing of local roads, and the $500 million fixing country bridges program to replace the worst timber bridges."
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says it will seek clarification on the state budget and its implications.
"The state budget has just been handed down and we will now seek clarity on the implications for council and our community," a council spokesperson said.
"Once we have worked through this we'll be in a position to understand the projects that the budget might impact and related priorities.
"When this is clear we'll be able to provide our community with the information you are seeking."
Work is continuing on the major upgrade at the Wauchope Public School.
The first sod was turned on the works in September 2018. The project will see 13 new classrooms and a covered multi-use outdoor area.
Once we have worked through this we'll be in a position to understand the projects that the budget might impact and related priorities.
- Council spokesperson
The works will allow the school to cater for 750 students.
At the time, Mrs Pavey said she was delighted that the project would go ahead.
"This will ensure that students and families in our local community have the very best when it comes to school facilities," she said.
Mrs Pavey said the contractors would do what they could to protect the timbers of the 100-year-old school building that is being dismantled, after the local history society was unable to find the money to preserve it.
Meanwhile the completed Wauchope Ambulance Station will be officially opened in the near future.
Work on that project started in June 2018.
Statewide projects include:
- A NSW digital driver licence (DDL) launch in the coming months, as the technology is rolled out.
- $1.1 billion over four years to support around 900,000 low income households to manage cost of living pressures through energy rebates.
- $65.4 million over four years to support the roll-out of 300,000 solar panel and battery systems for households under the Empowering Homes Program.
- Education funding for 2,300 new early childhood education places, 4,600 more teachers, 190 new and upgraded schools, before and after school care and $500 million for better facilities in non-government schools.
- Recruit 4600 more teachers; dedicate $88.4 million towards employing 100 additional school counsellors or psychologists and an additional 350 student support officers.
- Young people living in regional NSW with $50 million dedicated to youth programs and infrastructure in the 2019-20 NSW budget.
The projected surplus for the 2018-19 budget is $802 million.
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