Snowy Hydro windfall should fund Wagga's roads and internet

But, in Wagga, as in other centres, the big question remains: Where will the money go?

Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey and Committee 4 Wagga CEO, Alan Johnston, said the funding needs to be used to set the city up for the future. 

Earlier this year, it was announced rural and regional NSW would receive the entirety of the Snowy Hydro $4.154 billion acquisition and the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro recently announced the five priority areas for the funding. 

Mr Barilaro said water security, rail and road passenger connectivity, freight linkages, digital connectivity and special activation precincts are the key priorities for investment. 

Mr Johnston said when considering projects to fund, the government needs to embrace “smart cities”. 

“By the time things get built, now is the past and it's no longer adequate,” he said. 

“Now is the time start planning for the projected growth and fund that. This money won't last forever and it needs to be for what we need down the track.” 

Mr Johnston said in line with setting up for the future, poor internet connectivity needs to be addressed as part of the target “digital connectivity”. 

“We really do need to exceed the internet capacity,” he said. 

“It needs to be better than it is now and better than what NBN can offer. It has to be a quantum leap of a difference.” 

Mr Johnston said this is necessary to attract industrial developments and new businesses. 

Cr Conkey said fixing roads may not be “sexy”, but it’s a crucial project that hits the target of rail and road passenger connectivity. 

“We have massive problems, not just in Wagga, with our maintenance backlog,” he said. 

“Our roads are in a deplorable condition.”

Cr Conkey said there is a $9 million shortfall in revenue, despite Mr Barilaro saying there are funds available. 

“We don't believe those funds are sufficient,” he said. 

“We’re not saying all of the money, but some of it." 

Committee 4 Wagga CEO, Alan Johnston, also raised the roads as an issue that needed fixing. 

Cr Conkey said he hopes to see the ‘Southern Lights’ project funded which aims to upgrade 7000+ Essential Energy owned streetlights.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said.

“We are looking at a cost in excess of $200 million but they have $4.154 billion and that's an ongoing saving and we have to reduce our dependence on power,” he said. 

Premier Berejiklian said in the coming months more information about projects and other investment priorities will be revealed. 

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