The 2025-26 NSW Budget has been handed down by the Premier and Treasurer, and yet again it’s the same old story from Labor – no support for families doing it tough, no funding for major infrastructure projects across the region, and a lack of vision for the Central Coast.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the barebones budget would ensure the Central Coast continues to go backwards under Labor, despite being one of the fastest growing regions in the state.
“The people of the Central Coast are worse off under Chris Minns’ budget. I didn’t think it was possible, but this budget is even worse than last year’s – there’s no new major infrastructure spending and absolutely zero cost-of-living support.”
“We have seen only the bare minimum in funding for the upgrade of Avoca Drive, with just $3.4 million allocated for the upgrade in the 2025-26 financial year, ensuring that this congestion-busting project will take years just to get started.”
“We’ve also seen zero funding for the duplication of the Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay, which is in desperate need of an upgrade – the former government started the work, and the Minns Labor Government needs to get on with the job.”
“Despite the government claiming to deliver billions for TAFE, there is zero funding for the redevelopment of Gosford TAFE, which would provide nearly a billion dollars in economic activity for our region and hundreds of jobs,” said Mr Crouch.
Apart from the lack of funding for major infrastructure projects across the Central Coast, this year’s budget provides nothing for families doing it tough.
“Our community is being squeezed by financial pressures, and the Minns Labor Government has provided not one dollar in cost-of-living relief measures in this budget, compared to the former Liberal National Government.”
“Cost-of-living supports provided under the former Liberal-National Government were ripped away by this government, and to date they’ve put not one dollar into reinstating them to support those in our region doing it tough,” said Mr Crouch.
Important projects across the Central Coast not funded in this year’s Budget include:
- Redevelopment of the Gosford TAFE campus
- Central Coast Highway duplication between Wamberal and Bateau Bay
- Kincumber and Berkeley Vale Ambulance Stations
- No funding for a free public childcare centre in the Terrigal Electorate
- No funding for an upgrade of the Terrigal Police Station
- No major funding for school upgrades across the Central Coast
- No funding for sand nourishment to combat coastal erosion.