Steve Whan
Member for Monaro
MEDIA REALEASE
Better services and more than $210 million in capital spending for Monaro in 2025/26
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
The 2025-26 budget continues the Minns Labor Government's work in rebuilding the core services we deliver to the people of Monaro, says Member for Monaro, Steve Whan.
Steve Whan said "At its heart is the success of our government's decision to lift the Liberal and Nationals draconian wages cap. This means essential workers staffing schools, hospitals and other critical services are now seeing real pay increases resulting in better retention.
"As I have said many times, there is no point having public building like hospitals and schools if there is no one staffing them. Unfortunately, the Nationals in Monaro proved they were more interested in cheque handovers and openings, rather than delivering services.
"This government has turned the tide on service delivery with reductions in teacher vacancies, fewer composite or combined classes and improvements in pay and retention across the whole Government sector.
"This has led to a shift in real wage growth for NSW - which will be the biggest help with cost-of-living pressures.
"While service delivery has been my main priority, I haven't forgotten key commitments to capital infrastructure, schools, roads, and hospitals."
The 2025/26 financial year is expected to see more than $210 million of our taxpayers' money spent in Monaro on key projects including:
- $58.2 million being spent in 2025-26 as part of the Bungendore High School project
- $46.1 million toward building Googong High School to be spent next financial year
- $33.1 million to build Jerrabomberra High School Stage 2
- Almost $2 million will be spent on planning for Googong Public School Stage 2
- $11.5 million to complete the roadworks at the Jindabyne Education Campus forgotten by the former government
- Bombala Hospital's expansion is still in the planning stage, but the budget has allocated $27.5 million, reflecting the expected progress on this $40 million project
- $14.7 million for the already announced intersection upgrade of Ellerton Drive and Bungendore Road (Spotlight intersection). This brings the total funding to $33.7 million to deliver an intersection solution that is capable of meeting long term, future usage.
- $4.4 million to continue upgrades on the Gaden Trout Hatchery
- Work continues on large components of the Snowy SAP, water and sewerage upgrades are in planning and the foreshore carpark upgrade is underway
- Our roads election commitments funding continues to upgrade bridges in conjunction with local councils at Rechs Creek, Briars Sharrow, and Cowbed Creek along with Tarago and Nerriga Roads.
"Outside the Monaro electorate, but important to many residents, this Budget seek wok continuing on the Joint State and Commonwealth upgrades of the Barton Highway (total $101.1 million over four years) along with $21.2 million for pavement improvements at Marulan.
"We know that when the Liberal Nationals were in Government, they racked up massive government debt with poorly planned spending only partially paid for by privatising some of our communities most important public assets.
"I am proud to be park of a Labor team that rejects this approach.
"This is a budget that takes responsibility delivers for people of Monaro, it is delivering real service improvements while reducing the budget deficit, lowers projected debt and without relying on privatisation of our assets."
