MORE than $114 million was allocated to major infrastructure projects in the Wagga electorate in this year's state budget, but only a fraction of that - $5 million for the Gocup Road - can be classified as new money.
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Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire said he was "very happy" with his share of the budget spoils, emphasising the importance of delivering on vital health, transport and law and order projects already under way.
"We are getting on with the job," Mr Maguire said.
"I did not expect any newer works, but I really wanted funding for Gocup Road and I am so pleased we have been able to move that project along."
The big ticket items to receive budget funding were:
– Wagga Base Hospital - $77 million draw down on the $282 million redevelopment;
– Kapooka bridge - $17 million (federal government to contribute $19.5 million and state government has previously allocated $4.8 million to the $39 million project);
– Wagga courthouse upgrade - $15.7 million ($1.78 million previously allocated);
– Gocup Road - $5 million to improve three kilometre section in Tumut Shire.
Mr Maguire said $37.47 million would be spent on road projects in the Wagga electorate in 2014-15, including the Kapooka bridge and associated 2.8 kilometre realignment of the Olympic Highway and more than $4 million for improvements to the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Some $4.6 million was committed to the expansion of mental health services at Wagga Base Hospital, but details of the spending were not available on Tuesday night.
"It's not about us wanting a nice road, it's about the long-term future."
- Trina Thomson
The funding for Gocup Road was welcomed by Tumut Shire Council, which has been battling for many years to upgrade the vital road that links the Hume and Snowy Mountains highways between Gundagai and Tumut.
Gocup Road is used by large numbers of heavy vehicles predominantly carrying timber and other goods to forestry mills in the Tumut valley.
"That road is such a critical piece of infrastructure," Tumut mayor Trina Thomson said.
"It's not about us wanting a nice road, it's about the long-term future."
Mr Maguire said Wagga residents would also benefit from the budget through more teachers, nurses and police officers.
Country Labor's Wagga branch secretary, Tim Kurylowicz, was not impressed with Wagga's slice of the budget pie.
"Mr Maguire is getting on with the job of sitting on his hands while our taxes are reallocated to Western Sydney," Mr Kurylowicz said.
"The $5 million Gocup commitment is just one more tokenistic pledge from a government that has no interest in building better infrastructure.
"This pittance won't fix the pot holes on Gocup road, let alone make it safe."
Mr Kurylowicz was also critical of planning for the base hospital and health funding.
"The Wagga Base Hospital will reach capacity by 2020, just three years after construction finishes," he said.
"I hope the Liberals have a 'stage four' up their sleeves because their investment to date isn't going to meet the shortfalls in health care in our region."
Elsewhere, the budget included $25 million across NSW to upgrade police properties "to address hazardous materials, compliance and safety to provide officers and staff with safe workplaces and housing" but it was not immediately clear if police houses at Ungarie and Barellan - vacated because of asbestos fears - would benefit.