CENTRAL Coast Council has welcomed the allocation of $188.3 million for Coast roads in the state budget, and it hopes to also earn a slice of the government’s $1 billion Regional Growth Roads Program.
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Among the road projects the government allocated funding for at the top of the Coast were the. -
- completion of upgrades to the Wyong Road intersections with the Pacific Highway and Tumbi Road;
- continuing construction on the M1 between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and on the Pacific Highway widening between Lisarow and Ourimbah;
- Warnervale Link Road - Albert Warner Drive to Pacific Highway (planning); and
- Pacific Highway in Wyong Town Centre (planning).
Council administrator Ian Reynolds said council was particularly pleased with the promise to allocate 30 per cent of infrastructure spending to the regions.
“The $6 billion injection is significant and recognises that regions like the Coast are attracting more people who are looking for a better lifestyle away from the big cities and require improved infrastructure to meet their growing needs,” Mr Reynolds.
‘Roads are a key priority for council because our community wants better roads and it is pleasing to see such a significant injection by the state government into roads here on the Coast.”
He said council would spend over $189 million of its budget on local roads next year. Money announced in the state budget would complement council’s funding and provide a better road network for the community.
The budget also detailed a $1 billion Regional Growth Roads Program to build new infrastructure in regional growth areas, targeting roads in the lower Hunter, Central Coast and the Illawarra.
And $500 million has also been allocated to the Fixing Country Roads program to improve local and regional roads managed by local government.
“Council will also be looking to get a slice of this $1 billion Regional Growth Roads Program to improve the Central Coast network even further,” Mr Reynolds said.
“The NSW budget’s projected surplus of $4.5 billion is six times council’s own budget and we will certainly be hoping and looking to see some of that funding flowing to the Central Coast particularly in even more funding for roads as well as our waterways and local environment.”
A further $2 million was allocated in the state budget to repair the coastal wall at The Entrance.
Council is currently working with the Department of Lands on delivering the project.
A full list of projects for the Central Coast can be found here.