Our plan for regional NSW

Foreword

Regional communities in New South Wales have faced many challenges in recent years, from floods, drought and biosecurity threats, to cost-of-living pressures.

The 2025-26 Budget includes measures to help with these challenges.

Increased disaster funding, extending our rebuild of essential services, boosting primary industry and investing in regional economic growth are all part of our plan to support our regions as we build a better New South Wales.

Over the next four years, $4.2 billion of state and federal money will support disaster relief and recovery. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20.

We are boosting biosecurity with an additional $100 million to protect our farmers’ production, strengthen control and response programs, and defend our wonderful, unique natural environment for regional communities. We are also investing $41.2 million to modernise the State’s primary industries research and development program so our farmers have the future tools and knowledge to adapt and thrive.

This Budget includes $3.5 billion over four years for hospitals across regional New South Wales, including new funding for the Wollongong Hospital and Health Precinct, and the Forbes Hospital Operating Theatre Redevelopment.

Over the next four years, $2.1 billion will fund new and upgraded schools in regional New South Wales, ensuring every child has access to quality education facilities. The Government is also continuing to boost access to early learning through the delivery of 100 public preschools, with 49 to be built in the regions.

Upgrading roads and infrastructure is essential to improving safety, connectivity and economic opportunity across the State.

This Budget includes $2.8 billion over four years in road-safety funding, with a further $48 million to improve mobile coverage on major highways.

The Budget lays the foundation for our economic success in the regions through the investment and programs which will be unlocked by the new Investment Delivery Authority, the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, and the Future Jobs Investment Fund.

Whether it’s helping farmers adapt to biosecurity threats, rebuilding hospitals and schools, or laying the foundations for new industries and jobs – we’re backing our regions.

Because when the regions do well, New South Wales does well.