NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it’s handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

New relief measures include:

• $100 off private vehicle registration and $80 for motorcycles, worth $450 million across 4.4 million vehicles (excluding caravans and trailers).
• $557.1 million through the Home Energy Saver program: $15,000 interest-free loans and $4,000 discounts to install energy-efficient appliances and cut power bills over time.
• A $1,000 cost-of-living payment for more than 120,000 NSW Government employees.

Healthier North Coast communities

The government says health is the largest single commitment in this budget, with a historic $10.3 billion increase in health which will recruit 9,000 more health workers and fund around 2,900 more planned surgeries.

In addition to this, $11.9 billion is being spent on hospital infrastructure statewide, $3 billion is invested in regional hospitals and health facilities over the next four years, including $20 million for a maternity unit at the Grafton Base Hospital.

Ongoing health expenditure includes:

• The $265 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital redevelopment.
• The $263.8 million Grafton Hospital redevelopment.
• Expanded midwifery service at Lismore Base Hospital with a dedicated team of five midwives.
• The $13 million for new Lismore Ambulance Station.
• $3.4 million to rebuild Mullumbimby Ambulance Station.

The government says dozens of nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives on the North Coast will receive the largest pay rise in more than twenty years, backed by $2.9 billion in this budget.

Schools

This latest budget invests $2.3 billion in new and upgraded schools for regional NSW. On the North Coast, this includes new funding for community open space for Pottsville High School, including initial sporting facilities, plus the ongoing delivery of:

• The Lennox Head Public School relocation and upgrades at Casino High School as part of the High Potential and Gifted Education School Partnership Program.
• Progressing crucial school infrastructure across the region, including four public preschools under construction, building on the 13 regional schools completed since 2024 and seven schools under construction.
• Ongoing delivery of the government’s 100 public preschools commitment, including at Bowraville Central School and Lennox Head, Tacking Point and Wollonbar public schools.

Transport

The government says this budget invests 25 per cent of roads and transport capital funding in 2026-27 in Regional NSW, including:

• $1.8 million in 2026-27 to upgrade the M1 Pacific Highway and Oxley Highway intersection.
• $10.5 million grant in 2026-27 to Bellingen Shire Council to deliver upgrades to Summervilles and Gordonville roads, improving safety, strengthening freight access and building the resilience of these key regional routes.
• $30 million to plan upgrades to the M1 Pacific Motorway from Tweed Heads to Byron Bay (in partnership with the Australian Government).
• $47.5 million to finalise planning and commencing construction on the Pacific Highway Harrington Road Intersection upgrade (NSW and Australian Government funded).
• $227.3 million to continue Coffs Harbour bypass (NSW and Australian Government funded).
• $22.1 million to continue works along Waterfall Way including flood immunity projects to improve reliability and safety.

Safer communities

Domestic and family violence is disproportionately represented in rural and regional areas. The government’s response is a record $184.1 million investment in frontline domestic and family violence services, helping thousands more women, children and people impacted by violence access specialist support and stay safe.

This is a 50 per cent increase over four years to 2029-30.

In the North Coast this Budget also delivers $28.0 million in 2026-27 to continue the Regional Police Station program for the Northern Rivers and $4.5 million to support three North Coast homelessness service centres.

Disaster recovery

This budget continues to invest in the long-term recovery, safety, and future readiness of North Coast communities, delivering more than $546 million to restore North Coast roads and other essential public assets damaged by natural disasters out of a statewide spend of $910 million, as well as $241.1 million over two years to 2027-28 to continue the Resilient Homes Program in the Northern Rivers to enable flood tolerance for existing homes.

The government says it is also backing regional communities and safeguarding local food security, the environment and jobs by delivering $7 million to rebuild and deliver the NSW cattle tick program to protect the livestock industry, plus $5 million for river health and hydrologic restoration across the Richmond, Evans, Brunswick, and Tweed catchments.

Ongoing delivery expenses include:

• $140.0 million for the establishment of the Great Koala National Park, $5.0 million for downstream businesses impacted by the moratorium on timber harvesting as well as worker support and industry compensation.
• $6.0 million for small businesses and tourism operators to make the most of the opportunities of the Great Koala National Park region.
• $4.1 million to advance the Northern Rivers Regional Cold Storage and Distribution Facility to improve supply chain efficiency and food security.
• $1.5 million to continue the NSW Gateway and Tweed Heads Regional City CBD Revitalisation project providing streetscaping, infrastructure, placemaking and CBD activations.

Feeling the pinch

Minister for North Coast, Janelle Saffin said. ‘North Coast families are feeling the pinch right now. As the treasurer made clear, this budget is about delivering relief today alongside generational reform for tomorrow.

‘For the North Coast, that means a massive investment in our most vital essential service – building and upgrading local schools, restoring local roads after disasters, and delivering major health infrastructure like the redevelopments at Grafton, Port Macquarie, and Lismore.’

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said, ‘The NSW government is delivering a significant and coordinated investment across the Northern Rivers to strengthen regional economies, protect the environment and support local communities into the future.

‘From major biosecurity programs to critical river health and hydrologic restoration works we are taking practical action to protect both primary industries and natural assets. We are also investing in people and skills, creating pathways to employment and economic growth for the region.’

Provest responds to 2026-27 NSW budget

Nationals member for Tweed Geoff Provest says the reality for Tweed residents is that there is little in the budget to address the region’s pressing infrastructure and service demands, with no significant new funding announcements for major local priorities.

He acknowledges:

• $30 million dollars has been allocated to plan upgrades to the M1 Pacific Motorway from Tweed Heads to Byron Bay.
• $321,000 for 12 school crossing supervisors.
• $4.5 million for the Resilient Homes program.
• Parents of 3-year-olds in long day care will be supported with fee relief until the end of 2027.
• $2.3 million for Social Housing upgrades.
• Over $1 million dollars for continuing works and upgrades to Cobaki and Kings Forest Substations.

‘The NSW Budget makes provision for a community open space as part of the Pottsville High School development, yet no funding figure has been attached to the project,’ said Mr Provest.

‘Without a clear financial commitment, it is difficult to see how this announcement will deliver the substantial benefits that the Tweed community was hoping to see from this year’s budget.’

The NSW Nationals say they will bring back the Regional Seniors Travel card if successful at the March 2027 election.

Although Mr Provest says he welcomes the $7 million commitment to the NSW Cattle Tick Program, he suggests the budget fails to deliver the level of investment needed to address the region’s growing infrastructure, health, housing and transport challenges.

‘North Coast residents deserve a fair share of funding and greater recognition of the pressures facing regional communities,’ he said.