Hospitals upgrades and a new bridge were some of the big winners across the Riverina and Snowy Valleys from Tuesday's NSW budget, which allocated more than $57 million for the region's projects.
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Wagga received $89 million in the 2021-22 budget to continue planning or start construction on previously announced projects, some dating back to the byelection in 2018.
The single biggest spending item in the Riverina but outside Wagga was $20 million for the Griffith Hospital redevelopment, which will cost a total of $250 million.
In second place was $14.5 million for the Tumut Hospital redevelopment, followed by $8.8 million for to continue construction of the new Murray River Bridge between Echuca in Victoria and Moama.
The Murray Bridge works will include an intersection upgrade of the Cobb Highway and Link Road.
The Deniliquin and Leeton hospital upgrades will share in $5.3 million over the next financial year.
Wagga-based Nationals MLC Wes Fang said the hospital upgrades would ensure "our communities have access to the same world-class facilities as those in the city".
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said there had never been a more crucial time to support regional job opportunities and new and improved infrastructure than a period following "devastating drought, bushfires and floods".
Labor opposition leader Chris Minns criticised the budget for raising taxes, fines and charges.
"The NSW government is really digging deep into working families right across NSW," he said.
"We'll keep highlighting that and thinking of ways to manage the economy, promote growth and make sure we get the jobs of the future. I don't think the way to do that is to tax families," he said.
The budget's economy-boosting grants through the Department of Regional NSW provided $5.4 million to redevelop Corowa Saleyards and $300,000 each to the Deniliquin Town Hall Revitalisation project and West Wyalong Aerodrome Upgrade.
The Murrumbidgee Regional High School will receive $1.3 million for stage two of major upgrades to complete the transition into the new educational model, including a library upgrade and a new multipurpose space at the Griffith site, and a new gymnasium and assembly space at the Wade site.
Yanco Agricultural High School will receive $1.1 million for boarding student accommodation upgrades.
In other transport spending, the Tumut aerodrome upgrade will receive $600,000 and $300,000 will go towards the Henty highway intersection and rail crossing project.
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