$3.2 million dollars has been included for the new inpatient mental health unit which will double the number of mental health beds to 24, and enhance the care provided to all patients, including the capacity to provide care to the elderly and younger people.

There have been calls to expand the unit for more than a decade and to now see money on the table to enable work to start is wonderful. This budget also secures $3.2 million to finalise the completion of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital expansion with work to be carried out on the renal unit and pre-admission clinic.

The 2016-17 Budget also includes funding for roads with $168 million allocated to continue the upgrade of the Pacific Highway between the Oxley Highway and Kundabung.

More than $12 million has been assigned for major road programs including $6.2 million for pavement upgrades to the Pacific Highway, 10km south of Port Macquarie, with $4 million towards the continuing works on the replacement of Stingray Creek Bridge at North Haven.

A further $6.575 million for various road improvements which includes $1.1 million to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council for road maintenance projects; $440,000 for grants to council for the regional roads bridge renewal program; $3.3 million for specific and routine maintenance of state roads including patching and resurfacing works.

This year’s Budget invests a record $73.3 billion in infrastructure over four years — building the schools, hospitals, public transport and roads our communities need across NSW.

We are also investing record amounts on our essential services, meaning extra nurses, teachers and police. And we are easing the cost of living, through new low-income energy and gas rebates, and adding new concessions for seniors card holders.