Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke says funding announced in this week’s state budget will benefit a planned new ambulance station in Grenfell and young people wishing to take up apprenticeships.
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"Construction of new ambulance stations is in progress at Cootamundra, Cowra and Grenfell as part of the 122.1 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration Program," Ms Cooke said after Tuesday’s budget.
She also said she was thrilled to hear 100,000 apprenticeships will be fee free.
“With funding allocated for Connected Learning Centres in Grenfell and Narrandera this will make a huge difference ensuring TAFE is accessible to our students on the ground,” Ms Cooke said.
Ms Cooke said this people's Budget has an emphasis on health and education, which was a significant highlight for the Cootamundra electorate, as were the announcements on infrastructure investment.
"We need to make sure we look after everybody in our communities, and so I welcome the announcement of $25 billion being poured into our health system," she said.
"As well as the $8 billion being committed to capital investment over the next four years, we will see a huge boost to medical staffing, with the addition of 950 nurses and midwives, 300 medical practitioners and 120 allied health professionals.
"In addition, we will see a record $2.1 billion to help people living with mental illness, their families and carers, which will include early intervention and community mental health teams as well as community-based services and supports," she said.
The $200 million investment in preschool access will ensure access to all children in NSW to attend two years of preschool, saving families on average $825 a year, Ms Cooke said.
"It's so important that children get the best possible start to life and so I'm delighted that our little ones will be able to get their early learning and development off to a flying start," Ms Cooke said.
"As children move through the education system, they will benefit from unprecedented investment in air conditioning in their classrooms, as well as from this year's funding of 900 extra full-time equivalent teaching positions in NSW government schools.
"The maintenance of schools will also receive a $160 million spend which comes as part of a record $747 million investment.”
