Far West

Local government areas

Balranald, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Central Darling, Cobar, Walgett and Wentworth

Health

• Continued funding for the Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service and Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation to co-design, implement and evaluate culturally safe mental health care models.

Education

• 802 teachers receiving a pay rise.
• Three public preschools under construction and three schools under construction.
• $800,000 for allied health in rural and remote primary schools supporting developmentally vulnerable children, their families and educators.
• Ongoing delivery of the government’s 100 public preschools commitment, including at the Menindee Central School, Bourke Public School and Morgan Street Public School.
• Continued funding for Willyama High School rebuild.
• Continued funding for upgrades at Broken Hill High School as part of the High Potential and Gifted Education Partner School program.

Transport

• $600,000 in 2026–27 to local councils to seal the last 9.6 km of the missing link that connects the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri local government areas.

Continue to deliver over four years:

• $31.8 million for the development of upgrades to intersections of Hargraves Lane and Federation Street to the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh highways for a heavy-vehicle bypass route of Gilgandra.

Net zero transition, energy, environment and water

• $233.0 million over four years for Broken Hill water and wastewater services, including upgrades to maintain and replace ageing infrastructure.
• $24.0 million to continue works to deliver water security for Wilcannia.
• $10.4 million to provide cost subsidies for Essential Water customers.

Communities and justice

• $16.2 million to continue Bourke Police Station major upgrade.
• $9.0 million to continue the new Broken Hill fire station.

Primary industries and regional development

• $450,000 for the continuation of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program to strengthen the drought resilience of Central Darling Shire, Broken Hill and Far West communities, businesses and industries.

Continue to deliver:

• $5.8 million upgrade to the White Cliffs airstrip to improve safety and reliability for emergency and general aviation, and support more consistent all-weather access in a remote community context.
• $4.7 million Bourke Airport project for strengthening and pavement reseal of the runway, taxiways and apron to support aircraft with varied tyre pressures and increased loadbearing capacity.
• $2.0 million funding for subsidised passenger air travel for community and service providers in north-west NSW including Cobar, Bourke and Walgett.
• $731,000 to the Balranald Shire Visitor Economy Stimulation program to enhance tourism, boost economic growth and support jobs.