The NSW budget contained no major surprises for Dubbo on Tuesday but farmers, health and transport were all given a mention.
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Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced the state would return a budget deficit of $7.9 billion after its sharpest economic fall in 80 years but would bounce back to a small surplus by 2024-25.
He forecast economic growth of 3.25 per cent for 2021-22 and unemployment to fall from an already better-than-predicted 5 per cent to 4.5 per cent by 2024-25.
Mr Perrottet outlined a $108.5 billion infrastructure spend across the next four years.
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One of the biggest projects included for Dubbo was the $27.9 million across four years for the expansion of the drug court program. It was announced last week.
Another $26.7 million has been earmarked for the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment stages one to four. The funding for the car park and Western Cancer Centre was announced in March.
The new Dubbo Bridge, commonly referred to as the River Street Bridge, will get $20 million to continue detailed design work, $36.4 million will go towards 40 new overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway and another $24.7 million will be spent on upgrades to the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road corridors.
Another $4.3 million has been announced to continue planing for a fast rail route to the Central West.
The Platypus Visitor and Education Facility at Taronga Western Plains Zoo was allocated $8 million.
Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said the budget showed a desire to help people, while remembering NSW was still recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic.
"There's $10.5 million this year as part of a $48 million, three-year program for a new office hub in Dubbo to attract and retain government workers in the region and an extra $100,000 for groups in our electorate to strengthen our communities by completing vital projects through the Community Building Partnerships program, taking our cut to $400,000 per year," he said.
"On a wider scale we're looking after our littlest learners and their families through the $150 million Start Strong Free Preschool Program, and providing $100 towards the cost of learn-to-swim programs that provide a vital life skill for our children.
Mr Perrottet also confirmed $1 billion for the Farm Innovation Fund, which provides a long term, low interest rate loan scheme for NSW farmers.
"Welcome rain has out an end to the drought but the pain is not forgotten," he said.
He said outside Dubbo last week he spoke to a sheep farmer who had spent $400,000 on feeding his stock through the drought.
"At the time his old shearing shed was on its last legs - 100-years-old, unsafe and in need of an upgrade. Borrowing more from the bank wasn't feasible. But then he secured a low interest low from our $1 billion Farm Innovation Fund, and it gave his business a new lease on life."
The storage shed was turned into a shearing shed.
Business NSW said the budget showed solid economic management and a commitment to spending.
Regional manager - Western NSW Vicki Seccombe praised extensions to the Payroll Tax threshold and rate of taxation, as well as spending on key transport infrastructure.
However, Ms Seccombe raised concerns about the lack of a COVID-19 vaccination roadmap.
"Skills and labour shortages and the loss of skilled migrants continue to be of major concern to our region's businesses and this is why Business NSW will continue its calls for a roadmap and timetable for the borders to open and stress the need for people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible," she said.
"A commitment from the state government of more than $260 million for vaccine distribution supports this important community measure.
"Our economic recovery cannot be fully optimised until we do so."
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