THE state budget is in and Inverell and surrounding areas faired quite well.

Highlights for the area include $9.2 million for phase one construction on the Copeton Dam upgrade, more than $2 million for school maintenance and upgrades, subsidies for the cost of emergency response vehicles in Tingha and Yetman and $2.4 million to widen the Gwydir Highway west of Delungra.

As part of the $2 million for school maintenance and upgrades Ashford Central School will get a new science lab, canteen, admin area and toilet and library improvement.

Ashford Central School principal Mick Lewis said the work was long overdue and the budget was good news for the school.

"There wasn't sufficient space to house staff without everyone working on top of each other. It will be a much more professional environment," Mr Lewis said. "The science labs were out dated so with this money we will have state of the art labs," he said.

Ashford Central also received stimulus funding from the federal government with the Building Education Revolution (BER) program.

As part of the BER $850,000 was made available for work on the Memorial Hall.

"Once all of the upgrades are completed we will almost have a new school," Mr Lewis said.

Northern Tablelands MP Richard Torbay was pleased with the budget saying it was one of the highest amounts ever received by his electorate.

"I welcome the tax changes to stamp duty because I believe it will certainly benefit country areas and the building industry," Mr Torbay said referring to the decision to scrap stamp duty fees on the purchase of homes valued up to $600,000.

"I'm also pleased to see strong emphasis placed on emergency services," he said.

What did disappoint Mr Torbay was the lack of dollars in health capital expenditure across regional areas.

He felt there was not enough attention given to health in regional areas where it was really needed.

© 2010 Inverell Times

<< Back