The Member for Tamworth has laid out a lengthy list of infrastructure and services demands for the state government ahead of next week’s NSW Budget, with everything from hospital upgrades and fire stations to a new school and mobile phone coverage on the wishlist.
The 2026/27 NSW Budget will be handed down on 24 June. Kevin Anderson said the Labor Government needed to match the investment the former Coalition administration had made in regional NSW, and flagged he would be watching closely to see whether the region’s needs were addressed.
“I have a strong plan for our region which involves investing in the essential services and infrastructure that people rely on,” Mr Anderson said.
“We are a growing community and need the services to match. I’ve been pushing hard on our behalf and it’s time for Labor to listen, to hear the concerns of regional NSW, and to act.”
Mr Anderson is calling on the government to retain existing funding commitments for three major projects: the $58.4 million Goonoo Goonoo Road upgrade, the $25 million Port Stephens Cutting, and the finalisation of $21 million for the Nioka Palliative Care Unit.
He is also pushing for new funding across a wide range of priorities, including renal and chemotherapy services as part of the Gunnedah Hospital upgrade, repairs to the Gunnedah Hospital helipad, health worker accommodation in Barraba, new fire stations for Werris Creek and Manilla, an extension of the PolAir Drone pilot program for police in Tamworth and Gunnedah, a major package to upgrade rural and regional roads, and a return of the Mobile Phone Blackspot Program.
Among the most significant new asks is planning money for a new school at Moore Creek, north of Tamworth, where Mr Anderson says population growth has outpaced public infrastructure. The suburb is projected to reach more than 10,000 residents in coming years, with housing developments continuing at pace alongside a supermarket and pub under construction, a doctor’s surgery, and a growing small business base.
“Public schools in East and North Tamworth are already bursting at the seams,” Mr Anderson said.
“Tamworth is a growing community, and Moore Creek is one of our fastest growing areas. We need a new school, and I’m continuing to call on the government to deliver.”
Mr Anderson said he had been working with council and the community to identify suitable land for the school.
He also raised the need for a new plan for Tamworth’s water security as part of his budget calls.
“This wish list meets the immediate needs of our community, and I’ll be calling on Labor to progress these projects in the 2026/27 NSW Budget.”
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