ANDERSON: “MORE WORK TO DO FOR OUR REGION”
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson says there’s more work to do for the region following the release of the 2026/27 NSW Budget.
Mr Anderson said the budget backed in his strong plan for the region, but Labor had missed the opportunity to fund important projects like more housing, planning money for a new school for Moore Creek, and a return of the Mobile Phone Blackspot program.
“It was critical that funding for important community projects were included in the budget, but there is more work to do to deliver on our strong plan for the future of the region,” Mr Anderson said.
“I have been fighting hard to deliver funding for several projects that were included in this budget, such as:
· $21m Nioka palliative care unit
· Funding to support the Tamworth Country Music Festival
· $35m ($54.4m) duplication of Goonoo Goonoo Road
· $26m University for Tamworth
· AVL facilities for Quirindi Courthouse
· Funding for the Tamworth High Potential and Gifted Education Partner School program
· $5m for the International Flight Training Tamworth facility
· Hillview Public preschool
· $1 million for Gunnedah Hospital
“We are a growing community with a growing population and growing pressure on essential services. We need the government to support that growth and there’s more work to do to ensure our voice is heard.
“My plan for our electorate will take more than this budget to deliver. There is more work to do - Labor have pulled infrastructure funding away from the regions and diverted it to the city, and that is unacceptable.
“That’s why the NSW Nationals have announced a 25% Regional Infrastructure Guarantee. The regions have 25% of the population. We deserve 25% of the state’s infrastructure budget. We will also bring back the popular $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card and deliver a $300m biosecurity plan to help farmers tackle exploding feral animal populations.
“With the budget now released, the work continues to get the services and funding our growing community needs.”