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.