Kevin Anderson hoping for road and social housing funds in budget, but big-ticket items to wait

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has conceded there won't be any major funding for 'big projects' allocated next Tuesday, but he does expect to see 'decent' amounts allocated to a number of projects in the Tamworth electorate.

Mr Anderson said that doesn't mean things are not happening in the electorate, rather he said it indicates a number of projects are in their early stages.

The larger items on Mr Anderson's wish-list are related to the new Banskia mental health unit and Tamworth ambulance station, which he has been pushing to receive an allocation for.

But he said other big-ticket items, such as the new performing arts and cultural precinct, still require more detailed designs before lump sums of money can be designated to them.

A number of of smaller subjects remain high on Mr Anderson's list of priorities though, including housing.

"I want to see more money in the budget for social housing, particularly in our area," he said.

Additional funding he said could help him develop a social housing strategy in the city to help deal with the high-demand, low-supply pattern which is being seen currently.

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Mr Anderson is also focused on roads, especially the upgrade of Goonoo Goonoo and Werris Creek roads.

While he expects to see some money allocated to the completion of local projects, he predicts a fair amount of cash will go towards designs.

"It's funding that you need for planning, so when they talk about major projects and road projects you want to see enough funding come through to get that project either moving, continuing forward or completed," he said.

"So with the Gunnedah overpass, it was a $62 million project but we didn't see all of that money in the budget in one hit, what we saw was $10 million, then it was $5 million then it was $20 million and as you hit milestones, funding gets released."

Mr Anderson said the budget is a balancing act, so nothing receives less than it deserves due to another project.

"It's important to continue to keep a broad view, I don't believe in getting something at the expense of something else, 'if you get that then you miss out on that', I don't believe in that," he said.

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