David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the 45th Parliament draws to a conclusion, I want to put on the record the record funding that has poured into the Lyne electorate over this 45th Parliament for roads and bridges; aged care—residential and home care; communication rollout of the NBN and mobile phone black spots; apprenticeships and training incentives; and record funding to all schools, both New South Wales government schools and independent schools. There has been record funding for New South Wales government hospitals in Taree, Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Maitland, and also massive increases in funding of aged care.

When I assumed responsibility for caring for the Lyne electorate, aged-care funding was only $90 million a year—and we have one of the oldest and most ageing demographics in the nation. That funding is now above $135 million annually. We've got capital works extensions occurring in Forster at Pacific Cape, a massive 144-bed complex. There are also grants of $8 million for expansion to Bundaleer in Wauchope; in Taree; in Largs; for Banyula Village in Old Bar; at Bushland Health seniors' living complex in Taree; in Hawks Nest; and we have just turned the sod on a brand-new nursing home and seniors complex in Gloucester.

The other day, I had the honour of announcing $8½ million for Bushland Health to start work on their $28 million vertical seniors' living complex on the banks of the mighty Manning River. This grant will fund public infrastructure which will allow this development to go ahead. Bushland Health's seniors living complex is the first cab out of the rank. There is a master plan for a $455 million residential, commercial and public space development which will be catalysed by this investment. There will be 180 jobs in the Bushland Health projects alone.

The Forster civic precinct commenced work some months ago, and I was very pleased to be there at the official sod-turning. A new library, public space, retail and community spaces in Forster will result. This is a massive growth in aged care across the electorate.

In roads, we've just announced $20 million for Clarence Town Road in the Dungog Shire. As well as the $5 million in heavy vehicle and safety productivity program for The Bucketts Way, we have just announced another $20 million for The Bucketts Way. And we've delivered 40 apprenticeships in the wage subsidy trial across the Lyne electorate.