Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams said the infrastructure funding commitment to the Port Macquarie electorate is an important step toward getting these projects underway.

The first stage of the redevelopment of Hastings Secondary College's Port Macquarie campus has secured $18.5 million as well as $500,000 to design a new PCYC.

This is part of a $2.1 billion 2021-22 budget allocation, including funding to deliver 44 new and upgraded schools.

"The redevelopment of Hastings Secondary College is welcome news and I'm looking forward to working alongside the school community as this critical project evolves," Mrs Williams said.

Detailed design for stage 1 of the upgrade at the Port Macquarie campus, which includes a new TAS building, refurbished learning spaces in one building and associated landscaping has progressed and a complying development certificate has been received for the works.

Stage 2 will include a new Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) building, refurbishment of two buildings, external works, and a new school entrance.

Stage 3 includes the shared multi-purpose facility with PCYC which is subject to further approvals.

Read more: How Oxley fared in the 2021 NSW Budget

Construction on the duplication of Ocean Drive can get moving with $30.8 million allocated to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to commence the works. This is a part payment from the $60 million in funding received by council from the state government for the major arterial road project.

And additional $1.1 million has been allocated to upgrade the Hatch Road on the North Shore.

A new helipad at Port Macquarie Base Hospital has received $9.9 million while a further $3.8 million is set aside to further expand the hospital carpark reflects.

Social housing, amid an affordability and availability crisis, has also been targeted for the Port Macquarie electorate.

"There has been $5.7 million funded for much needed new social housing in Port Macquarie along with $109,000 to upgrade current social housing accommodation," Mrs Williams said.

"Overall this Budget reflects the needs of our growing community across the Port Macquarie electorate with funding commitments to support essential services including health, education, roads and social housing."

The construction of a new police station still needs to go out to tender. A site has not yet been announced.

The Budget does allocate $60 million, as part of a $107.9 million multipurpose police station program, to continue redeveloping metropolitan and regional police stations across NSW.

Other state-wide announcements which will also benefit the Port Macquarie electorate include:

Just three months after applications for the Regional Seniors Travel Card opened, the popular initiative has had more than 300,000 applications across regional NSW.

There has been keen response to year two of the trial of the $250 pre-paid Visa card, which benefited more than 337,500 seniors and their communities in 2020.

In the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area, of the 18,336 eligible applicants, 14,166 people applied which is a 77.26 per cent take up rate.

A record government investment in child and adolescent mental health will ensure thousands of children and teenagers across NSW have access to specialised care with 25 Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams included in the Budget.

The battle against the next drought begins, with the government announcing a combined $64 million in the 2021-22 Budget over four years for the 'Future Ready Regions' strategy that will help farmers and regional communities grow, thrive and plan for the future.

The NSW Government will direct $28 million into research and development and promoting new and emerging industries and technology to better prepare the state for future bushfires.

Hundreds more rough sleepers will be helped into housing and connected to tailored supports with the NSW Government announcing a $57 million expansion of the successful Together Home program over two years as part of the 2021-22 NSW Budget.

Free preschool is now a staple for NSW families with funding for community and mobile preschools announced. The new Start Strong Free Preschool program will commence from January 2022.

The new program replaces the current COVID-19 free preschool program, which will conclude at the end of this year, meaning that there will be continuous cost-of-living support for parents and carers.

Families will save up to $4,000 per year per child in preschool fees, easing cost of living pressures and helping with the balance of work and family life.

Hundreds of thousands of hard-working public sector workers will receive a significant wage increase of up to 2.5 per cent, which is forecast to cost approximately $2.7 billion over four years.

More pre-school aged children will be safer around water under a $44 million program providing a $100 voucher for swimming lessons available to every pre-school child aged three to six in NSW.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: