Billions in budget boost to regional NSW to improve quality of life and business opportunities

The 2023–2024 NSW Budget includes $3.8 billion for regional health facilities, $1.4 billion for regional schools, and $1.8 billion in new investments to strengthen regional NSW.

The NSW Government is committed to supporting regional communities to thrive and to continue to be a great place to live, work and set down roots.

Helping regional communities thrive:

• $1.2 billion of targeted projects and grant programs that support councils, communities and businesses across regional NSW to enhance economic growth, social development, wellbeing and community amenity.
• $350 million for the Regional Development Fund to invest in the future needs of regional communities, aligned with the Australian Government Regional Investment Framework.
• $252.1 million for world class digital services and telecommunication pricing to rural and regional NSW.
• $6 million to support regional community newspapers to improve the long-term sustainability of regionally focused media.
• $5.2 million to establish the Regional Future Jobs and Investment Authorities to work with community leaders to transition away from a coal-based economy.

Reinvesting in regional essential services:

Health

• $438.6 million for 500 new regional paramedics to address the paramedic shortage and improve ambulance response times.
• Doubling of the incentive payments for healthcare workers moving to regional and remote areas from $10,000 to $20,000.
• $572.3 million to ensure 1112 nurses and midwives, whose positions were funded only temporarily until June 2024 will be made permanent, with hundreds of these positions in rural and regional NSW.
• $419.1 million to begin the introduction of Safe Staffing levels in NSW hospitals.

Education

• $1.4 billion over 4 years to deliver a massive pipeline of new and upgraded schools for regional NSW.
• $769.3 million to 2027 for 100 new preschools on public school sites where they are needed most across the state.
• $40 million to support not-for-profit early childhood education in high growth and regional communities, as well as a trial of more flexible service delivery models.
• Providing equal opportunities for rural and remote students through digital uplifts under the Rural Access Gap program.

Supporting resilient agricultural and regional industries:

• $5.5 million to appoint an independent Agriculture Commissioner to provide more protection for our farmland, ensure food security and a more prosperous agricultural industry.
• $10 million to establish the Good Neighbour Program to tackle weed and pest infestations between neighbouring public and private lands.
• $58.8 million to help Landcare address environmental degradation with interventions that improve and sustain agricultural productivity, environmental protection, resilience to natural disasters and community vitality.
• $2.2 million to re-engage a Dairy and Fresh Food Advocate to review supply chains, address food security issues, and be a voice for farmers.
• $77.2 million to support beekeepers, horticulture and industries affected by the varroa mite.
• $80 million to protect NSW from the march of red imported fire ants.
• $39 million partnership with the Australian Government, supporting sheep and goat farmers implement a mandatory individual electronic identification across NSW to provide traceability to protect primary producers from biosecurity risks.
• $13 million Feral Pig Control Program to reduce the number of feral pigs and protect primary producers and farming communities.
• $11.1 million for the Farm Business Resilience Program to help farms to prepare for and adapt to climate change.
• $10.2 million to support prawn fishers, farmers and businesses with targeted responses to white spot disease.
• $13.5 million to assist timber mills recovering from the Black Summer bushfires with the Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program.

Addressing regional housing pressure:

• $1.5 billion from the new Housing and Productivity Contribution to deliver enabling infrastructure in key growth areas, including the Central Coast, Lower Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.
• $100 million from the new Housing Infrastructure Fund to deliver infrastructure projects in regional NSW to unlock housing supply.
• Debt financing of $700 million to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private homes primarily in regional NSW.
• 60 million for Build to Rent trials in the South Coast and Northern Rivers.

Upgrading critical regional roads, rail and transport services:

• Continuing the $1.4 billion delivery of a new regional rail fleet.
• $390 million for the establishment of the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund to support regional councils in managing existing roads, particularly those damaged by natural disasters.
• $334.million for the establishment of the Regional Roads Fund to build new roads in rural and regional areas.
•  $333.9 million to replace ageing timber bridges through the Fixing Country Bridges program providing improvements to regional bus services and supporting councils through the Fixing Local Roads Program.
• $95.5 million for the Fixing Country Rail program to continue delivery of improved capacity and reliability on the regional rail network.
• $10 million to improve the network of heavy vehicle rest stops across regional NSW.

Supporting Regional NSW transition to a clean energy future:

• $1 billion in seed funding to create the NSW Energy Security Corporation, which will help deliver projects that provide affordable, accessible and reliable energy across NSW.
•  $804 million to accelerate the delivery of Renewable Energy Zones and other critical transmission projects.

Supporting disaster recovery and preparedness:

• $4 billion for targeted disaster recovery programs to support communities, regional councils, and businesses across NSW to recover, rebuild and prosper.
• $5 million to support the Two Rooms Project, helping flood survivors in Lismore get back into their homes.
• $3.3 million for a natural disaster detection system to protect communities in high-risk areas.

Ensuring water security:

• $222.4 million with the Australian Government for improvements to critical water supply infrastructure for Wilcannia, Eurobodalla and Cobar.
• $217.5 million to continue Safe and Secure Water Program initiatives, supporting regional towns dealing with water supply, quality and safety risks.
• $5 million contribution for the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative to improve water security and catchment health.
• Delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan commitments to support river health, access to water and better water efficiencies to minimise the impacts of Australian Government buybacks.