BUDGET 2025: MIXED-BAG FOR COOTAMUNDRA IN THIRD MINNS BUDGET

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

The NSW Budget has delivered a welcomed continuation of funding for major health infrastructure in the Cootamundra electorate but offers little else for regional communities.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said there is still no funding for vital health, water, or road infrastructure in towns like Cootamundra, Coolamon, Grenfell, Narrandera and Boorowa.

“With minimal investment in social housing, no new drought preparedness measures, and a continued lack of support for water infrastructure and major roads, the Minns Labor Government has once again overlooked the needs of rural and regional NSW,” said Ms Cooke.

2025-26 Budget allocations for the Cootamundra electorate include:

• $25.9 million of the $110.2 million committed towards the Coalition-announced  Cowra Hospital redevelopment;

• $14.6 million of the $95 million committed towards the Coalition-announced Temora Hospital redevelopment;

• $15.2 million for road approaches to bring the new Wallendbeen Bridge online;

• $3.3 million towards continued planning for the upgrade of the Sheahan Bridge;

• $1.8 million towards social housing;

• $700,000 towards an Aboriginal housing package;

• $129,000 towards 5 school crossing supervisors;

• Renewed commitment to build a preschool at Boorowa public;

• Commitment to support Tresillian’s Day Service Centre in Cowra and satellite services in Narrandera..

“Cowra Hospital is without a doubt the single biggest public infrastructure project for the Cootamundra electorate, and while we are well into that build, there is still a long way to go - so this year’s commitment by the NSW Government to continue that project is very much welcomed.”

“Unfortunately, we are yet to see any funding for new health infrastructure projects in Cootamundra, Coolamon and Grenfell, which are critical for the ongoing health and wellbeing of those communities.”

Other visionary projects, such as the raising of the Wyangala Dam, have again been excluded from Labor’s budget, while critical funding pools such as the Safe and Secure Water program will go a third year without any new money.

“In 2025, no community should have to shout from the roof-tops for such basic necessities so to see no money for critical water infrastructure in Narrandera and Boorowa is incredibly disappointing,” Ms Cooke said.

“We’ve also seen no funding to prepare NSW farmers and rural communities ahead of the next drought despite the warning signs Cootamundra residents experienced earlier this year.”

“For a budget said to focus on health and housing, the less then three million dollars our region received to boost our social housing will do very little to address the regional housing crisis.”

Despite the Government’s current focus on stamping out crime, Young, Cowra and Narrandera have again missed out on major police infrastructure funding.

While funding for Wallendbeen Bridge has brought hope that the much-anticipated project will soon be complete, no new funding has been announced for other significant road infrastructure projects, including the William Bradford Bridge.

“We were hoping to see a much greater investment in the road infrastructure structure that keeps our communities and our industries moving,” Ms Cooke said.

“We were hoping to see real vision for regional and rural NSW in this year’s budget, however, the Minns Labor Government continue to neglect these incredibly resilient communities.”