MAYOR John Rosenbaum says last Tuesday’s State Budget contains “sweet bugger all” for Gloucester.
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The budget indentified no specific infrastructure projects for the Gloucester Shire in the coming financial year.
While council will be able to apply for funding through the $120 million Local Government Infrastructure backlog fund and the $135 million Bridges for the Bush initiative, Cr Rosenbaum said such programs were unlikely to greatly benefit Gloucester.
“We really got nothing whatsoever out of it. We know our regional roads are not up to standard and that we need more people to come here but the only way to do that is to have good roads and infrastructure,” he said.
More than $70 million has been allocated in the Budget for the Resources for Region program, which benefits communities where mining is prevalent, but Gloucester is not one of the areas that benefits from the program.
The Budget was also slammed by independent candidate for the Upper Hunter Lee Watts.
Ms Watts said there was $9 million was allocated for the electorate before the Budget for infrastructure which has been rebadged as new funding.
“Even though there has been a downturn in the mining economy, our electorate still remains a powerhouse for State revenue, but we get nothing out of it,” she said.
“I am sick of governments believing NSW stands for Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong, because that is where all the money goes.
“It just adds insult to injury when they rebadge money that has been long overdue for projects and then announce it as new funding.”
Cr Rosenbaum said it was time for the State
government to start reducing the burden on local councils and ratepayers.
“The State government needs to increase the net share of tax funding back into this community,” he said.
GLOUCESTER High’s ag farm is set to be revamped. A classroom at the school will also be refurbished.
“These upgrades will greatly improve the learning facilities at the school,” Upper Hunter MP George Souris said.
Funding for the works was approved in the recent State Budget.