MPs Look Forward to Budget

Wednesday May 29, 2024

Published by The Border Watch by Charlotte Varcoe

THE needs of large developments and a solution to the current crisis with SA Water approvals are at the top of both local members of parliaments wish list leading into the state budget.

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and Member for MacKillop Nick McBride have both stated a solution should be at the forefront of the state government's agenda following a string of recent difficulties.

Mr McBride said other issues with SA Water have been well documented in recent times with Bordertown's water issues continuing.

"They are infinite and now they are holding back developments which cannot be guaranteed and the industrial sites also have a lack of water," Mr McBride said.

"We will be keeping a close ear to the ground regarding SA Water developments as there are many which cannot connect to SA Water yet either." He said other items on his agenda included Robe's sewerage works which could not keep up with tourist numbers as well as water and sewage issues in Kingston.

With the state budget due to be held on June 6, Mr McBride said he would also like to see further funding for roads and upgrades.

"We would welcome any sort of upgrades to roads right around our region," he said.

"We would also like a move on towards health and anything to do to support mental health, doctors and nurses as well as services and specialists or infrastructure upgrades." Mr McBride said "any sort of health upgrade" would also be welcome right across the region as well as further support for education, childcare centres and teachers while also noting the recent announcement of $500,000 for a childcare centre in Naracoorte.

"We want to make sure that the budget lines keep rolling in and there is the continuation of the 27 mobile towers which are to come to the region," he said.

"We also want to see anything to do with housing, whether it be a rollout of government housing, social housing or affordable housing we would welcome that in MacKillop - not taking away from the fact Minister for Regional Development Clare Scriven announced $800,000 for new industrial blocks up at Keith." Mr McBride said housing would be the state government's highest priority for the region alongside roads - especially within the Princes Highway and other smaller state roads.

Mr Bell said he would also like to see an investment into SA Water infrastructure, labelling it "essential" for the community.

"In water infrastructure we are talking about sewage and treatment circuits but on top of that whilst the review of radiation therapy is underway I would like to see some commitment to it and funding for our public schools to bring the facilities up to modern day standard," Mr Bell said.

"Then there are a whole range of other issues and opportunities I think we need to look at and none of these will be a surprise to the government. "These are things like marine rescue facilities at Port MacDonnell and public toilets at the Little Blue Lake, all of which are really important things that I have been campaigning on." He said while he was hopeful to see a large promise in this year's budget there were a number of things going on in terms of the technical college, emergency department upgrade and the Forestry Centre of Excellence.

"These things will have to be built in the next 18 months so there is a lot of work happening," Mr Bell said.

"These are our priority areas and things heading into the next election so I need to see some commitment on either side if we want to see our community supporting them in forming the government." He said statewide issues remained such as roads, cost of living pressures and other infrastructure upgrades.