What does the budget mean for Sydney’s west?

People across Western Sydney are the big winners in the New South Wales Budget 2018 with billions of dollars being invested over the next four years for new facilities, upgrades and redevelopments in world-class hospitals.

More than $188 million will continue to be invested into Westmead Hospital, as well as $90 million for Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals.

The State Government has also set aside $75 million for the next stage of the Rouse Hill Public Hospital.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the construction boom will bring jobs to towns across the state.

“Our Government is committed to providing state-of-the-art health facilities for all of NSW,” he said.

Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard said a healthy economy means a healthy hospital system.

“The NSW Government’s record health funding ensures our nurses, doctors and other clinicians can continue to provide the best possible care, supported by the most modern equipment in the newest facilities,” he said.

More than $2.3 billion will be invested in capital, on top of almost $23 billion in recurrent spending over the coming year, taking the total health budget to more than $25 billion.

Mr Perrottet said the recurrent funding provides for almost half a million more emergency attendances, elective surgeries and non-admitted patient services.

“This record Budget will ensure patients across the state get world-class, timely care in our hospitals and health services no matter where they live,” he said.

Mr Perrottet also said the Budget also added 1,370 health staff, including 950 nurses and midwives, 300 medical practitioners and 120 allied health professionals – resulting in a record frontline clinical and clinical support staff of over 105,000.”

Mr Hazzard said this year’s Budget delivers on the Government’s 2015 election commitment to employ 360 new specialised nursing, midwifery and support positions and provide extra training positions for medical, allied and oral health.

“This Budget shows the Liberals and Nationals Government is committed to creating healthy communities and is delivering vital, world-class health services closer to home right across NSW,” he said.

The NSW Government is also pushing ahead with the Western Metro, reserving an initial $3 billion for the game changing project and investing $28 million in NSW Budget 2018 to accelerate the completion of the final business case to get on with the next stage.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that this project would be a legacy for generations of Sydney commuters.

“Sydney Metro West will be our city’s next big underground metro railway – a new, easy link between Sydney CBD and Parramatta – and we’re getting on with the job as quickly as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The funding will allow Sydney Metro to start:

• Designing new metro railway stations and precincts to get the best outcomes for customers and communities;
• The planning approvals process, continuing the community and industry consultation that has been taking place.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said that Sydney Metro West will be a landmark project and that the funding was a step towards this new link between the Sydney CBD and Parramatta.

“The Sydney CBD and Parramatta are two great economies and reserving this funding means we are bringing forward the work, subject to an accelerated business case, to better connect these two cities.” Mr Perrottet said.

Minister for Transport and Infrasturure Andrew Constance confirmed that Sydney Metro West will link the Sydney CBD with Parramatta and Westmead via The Bay Precinct and Sydney Olympic Park and that work was underway to determine other stations along the route.

“This massive investment in Sydney’s future will make it faster and easier to get around our great global city,” Mr Constance said.

Subject to the final business case the NSW Government intends to start construction on Sydney Metro West in the next term of Government.