Funding for a $15 million Courthouse, and cash for a comprehensive masterplan to refurbish the city hospital were among the highlights of the record $151 million Northern Tablelands share of the State Budget brought down yesterday.

Walcha Council’s long awaited $1.2 million to seal Topdale Rd got the go ahead along with $2.4 million for road widening on the Gwydir Highway west of Delungra.

There was also allocation of $526,000 for a new police station at Tenterfield.

The Glen Innes Fire Brigade will receive a new $400,000 fire engine and Bingara’s $2.1 million water treatment plant has been fully funded.

MP Richard Torbay welcomed the funding for the electorate and the continuation of the Community Building Partnership funding which will deliver $400,000 for local community projects.

Other funding includes

* $37.5 million for roads maintenance and traffic and transport management.

* A major new facility for training in film, screen, hospitality and fitness at Armidale TAFE.

* $14.4 million for social housing.

* $9.2 million in phase one of construction on the Copeton Dam safety upgrade.

* $5.9 million for the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities.

* $24.7 million for the Private Vehicle Conveyance Scheme to subsidise cost of parents driving children to school in remote areas.

* $1.9 million for rail maintenance.

* $295,000 in subsidies to assist with the cost of two emergency response vehicles each for the Deepwater and Guyra SES and one each for Tenterfield, Tingha, Yetman and Bingara.

* $300,000 for an office fitout for the Community Offender Service at Glen Innes and $250,000 for additional offender accommodation at the Glen Innes Correctional Centre.

* More than $2 million for school maintenance and upgrade projects.

* $130,000 for the operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage at Narwon Village and Summervale Aboriginal communities.

* $100,000 for emergency bores for Glen Innes water supply.

* $68,000 to extend 10 hour night shifts for nurses at the Walcha Health Service.

© 2010 Armidale Express

<< Back