A total $6.2 million has been allocated in the State budget towards a 10-bed drug rehabilitation centre for Goulburn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's an increase of $1.7m on the amount announced by Health Minister Brad Hazzard in the lead-up to the March state election.
The facility, pushed by a local drug action committee, will be located in Mandala House, behind the Bourke Street Health Service.
Also read
While it was more money than expected, the committee had lobbied for a 20-bed unit to meet "increasing demand."
Ms Tuckerman said she didn't have an explanation for the increase at this stage but would be meeting with Ministers, including Mr Hazzard over coming weeks.
A $10 million grant for Goulburn's Aquatic Centre upgrade was also confirmed in the budget. A total $7m of this will be allocated in 2019/20.
The money was announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in a whistle-stop tour before the March election.
The budget, handed down by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday, forecast an $802 million surplus and allocated $93 billion for overall infrastructure investment.
On the local front it confirmed an extra $30m for Goulburn Base Hospital's upgrade, announced in the election lead-up. Likewise, $2.5m was allocated for Crookwell Hospital's upgrade, in line with a pre-election promise.
There were few new funding commitments for Goulburn itself. However it did reveal $250,000 for a truckwash for the city. Late last year Goulburn Mulwaree Council handed back a $710,000 Fixing Country Truckwashes grant because it could no longer afford the estimated $1.5m project. This was due to the fact that Southern Meats was no longer happy for the council to discharge effluent from the truckwash into its treatment system. Operations director Matt O'Rourke explained that a new system would cost $600,000.
Budget documents showed that $25m had been set aside for Goulburn Police Station's upgrade. Mrs Tuckerman previously said it would be built on the current site but no further details have been released.
There's also money for Goulburn Railway Station's refurbishment, which was also announced previously.
On a broader front, $170m was allocated to the Drought Stimulus Package and $185m in on-farm Emergency Drought Relief measures including rebates.
Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman said "standard maintenance" would be undertaken on all local public schools as part of the budget. Elsewhere in the electorate, Yass High has received funding for a major upgrade and a new primary school will be built at Murrumbateman.
"There is also $8 million to partner with Foodbank to provide school breakfasts at an additional 500 schools, while these schools involved are yet to be identified there will be consultations with communities to determine the schools that need it most," she said.
The MP also talked up the broader health commitment, with an additional 8,300 nurses midwives, doctors and medical and support staff, 45 per cent of which would be located in regional NSW.
"This Budget is continuing to take the pressure off family budgets, building on existing measures such as transfer duty exemptions and the energy rebate," Ms Tuckerman said.
"I'm pleased to see new measures including a $50 weekly Opal fare cap, interest-free loans for rooftop solar to assist with energy bills and the additional $100 Active Kids Voucher for every school child each year.
"...In addition to it all, we are still working on the goal of creating 250,000 more jobs and strengthen our economy, the Budget continues to cut payroll tax allowing businesses to employ more people and increase wages, and 100,000 fee free VET and TAFE courses will build on last year's 100,000 free apprenticeships, to build the workforce of the future."
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.