Expanding the Regional Growth Fund
The NSW Government is continuing to invest in enhancing services and amenities in communities across regional New South Wales to maintain high living standards, making the great things about regional New South Wales even better.
The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) represents an unprecedented investment in the people and communities of regional New South Wales, with $2.0 billion worth of projects committed, delivering 2,700 projects to date.
Making the regions an even better place to live
Every regional community has their own challenges and priorities, and the RGF has been designed with this in mind.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach for local needs, and the multiple programs under the RGF target different areas, ensuring each community can access funds according to its own priorities.
The NSW Government recognises that not every community is the same, but that all communities across regional New South Wales are worthy of Government commitment and investment.
The RGF is helping to build major infrastructure and bolster regional economies, create jobs, encourage investment, and create opportunities to participate in sport, recreation and culture.
Patton Park Upgrade
$395,000 was provided to upgrade Patton Park in Broken Hill through the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Untouched since the 1940s, Patton Park was an empty, disused area where families did not feel safe using outdated amenities and unappealing playground equipment.
Since its upgrade, Patton Park is now a hub of activity, with parents holding so many children’s birthday parties there that an event hire company has moved its premises closer to the park.
Lockhart and The Rock Swimming Pools
$1.5 million was provided from the Stronger Country Communities Fund to refurbish the Lockhart and The Rock Swimming Pools, providing modern maintenance and accessible facilities to meet the long-term needs of the community.
Both pools were at the end of their lives and required significant refurbishments to meet safety and operational obligations.
With funding from the RGF, these projects have delivered modern, all-abilities access amenities across three heated pools at Lockhart and two pools and adjacent playground at The Rock.
Modern community infrastructure plays an integral part in attracting and retaining new families of all ages and abilities, which will benefit the community at large for years to come.
The RGF has been designed to align with the long-term economic vision for regional New South Wales and plays a key role in providing what residents need to live, work, invest and play.
It responds to the diversity and changing needs of regional New South Wales for today and into the future.
The direct and indirect impact that RGF investments have is already evident today, and over time it will significantly contribute to the overall liveability and economic resilience of the States regions.
This Budget commits an extra $1.3 billion for the next generation of the RGF to build on the success of the program to date and help make regional New South Wales an even better place to live.
This expansion will continue to invest in those areas that matter most to local communities, including:
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$250.0 million to expand the Stronger Country Communities Fund, supporting grassroots projects to reinvigorate rural communities.
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$230.0 million to support tourism development projects and enabling infrastructure, leveraging recent significant growth in regional tourism and supporting job creation.
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$220.0 million to expand the Resources for Regions program, supporting the ongoing prosperity of mining communities by improving economic opportunities and local amenities and creating positive social outcomes.
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$175.0 million for economic activation, providing investment to existing key industries in regional New South Wales.
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$100.0 million for the Regional Job Creation Fund to support NSW businesses to grow and incentivise interstate and international businesses to invest in regional New South Wales.
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$65.0 million for Regional Events Acceleration to allow them to reach a wider audience across the regions.
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$20.0 million to support projects and events for the activation of business opportunities in community facilities.
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$18.4 million for local community and cultural events to bring people together.
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$9.6 million to support and strengthen regional communities and councils, including priority projects and partnerships.
Ballina Coastal Recreational Walk
$750,000 from the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund for the Ballina Coastal Recreational Walk to address key accessible tourism infrastructure gaps in the Northern Rivers.
With parts of the track between Skennars Head and the Pat Morton Lookout difficult to traverse, dangerous in locations and inaccessible for many people in the community, a five-kilometre stretch connecting the townships of Lennox Head and Ballina was established.
The purpose-built infrastructure has delivered a safe and efficient route that promotes physical activity, has increased participation in walking and cycling for locals and visitors to the region, and is helping improve quality of life and wellbeing in the region.
