From the Mayor's Desk: Record level of funding pouring into regional NSW

In every electorate in every corner of the state record levels of funding has been pouring into public infrastructure. The sale of poles and wires, skyrocketing stamp duty revenue, a multi-billion-dollar injection of money from the Snowy Hydro sale and good financial management has seen NSW full of cash.

There is no doubt the level of cash being held by the State Government is a good thing. Desperately needed infrastructure and services can finally start being delivered. I can certainly present a wishlist of projects that are needed here.

However, having available reserves can bring its own fair share of challenges.

Firstly, we must make sure that funds are applied to important projects that represent value for money and have true benefit. Some previous examples of government speed spending such as school halls, pink batts and stimulus cheques reveal the inadequacies of plans not thoroughly thought through.

We also must guard against politicising the allocation of funds and avoid even the perception of government cheques being written for projects in seats where they are trying to defend or win at the ballot box.

Western NSW has a huge amount of projects that need government funding. Our LGA has nearly 1500 kilometres of unsealed roads, some villages without water and sewage services and existing infrastructure like urban roads and water pipes are deteriorating.

Looking at the bigger picture our area of the state has a number of funding priorities:

This does not consider the extra funding needed for more regional front line services like police, health and education personnel.

We are already starting to see some questionable projects.  Take for example the insistence on building Dubbo’s third bridge at River Street. The community of Dubbo know that this 144 million dollar spend will do little to remedy the traffic congestion in West Dubbo during peak times.

As the Mayor, it is seriously concerning that towns along the Newell like Forbes and Parkes get bypasses but here in Dubbo, we are told it’s acceptable that the very same highway which is too dangerous for Forbes and Parkes can continue to go through Dubbo. Our council has in place viable bypass and ring-road solutions.

Now NSW is awash with funds it is more obvious than ever that the plan for a River Street Bridge needs to be put on the backburner while the state focusses on a Newell Highway bypass and realises the potential of council’s proposed ring road.

Re-routing the Newell from the zoo directly towards the airport and then back down to a larger flood-proof Troy Bridge will set our city up for generations of prosperity and growth.

This is not an extreme or revolutionary suggestion - it’s only a proposal that is afforded to other places along the Newell. With the State having record amount of funds available, there isn’t any serious reason why Dubbo has to be second best.

Frankly, if I see Dubbo missing out when other areas get treated better I will stand up and argue for a better outcome.

One only has to look at the brand new hospitals built on new sites in Bathurst and Orange while Dubbo has fought for the extensions to the Dubbo Hospital to include critical services such as the Integrated Cancer Centre.

As residents and taxpayers in regional NSW we all have an obligation to make sure that our tax money is spent wisely and that we get our fair share. Politicians dishing out money based on a quick electoral outcome as opposed to wise long term investments must come to an end.