The NSW government announced $57 million worth of funding in the Upper Hunter electorate on Monday morning despite promising not to pork barrel its way to victory in the crucial byelection.
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Only four weeks ago Premier Gladys Berejiklian insisted there would be no major funding announcements during the campaign.
"I think the community see through a cash splash," she said on April 14.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro accompanied by Police Minister David Elliott and Nationals candidate David Layzell got Monday underway with a promise to build a new police station at Singleton worth $12 million.
And 90 minutes later, Mr Barilaro and Mr Layzell were at Muswellbrook Hospital to commit $45 million for stage three of the hospital's upgrade.
Mr Barilaro insisted the announcements did not constitute pork barrelling.
"You call it pork barrelling but the people of the Upper Hunter are asking for their fair share," he said.
"The former local member had a brief ready to go for this year's budget which includes Singleton Police Station. This is business as usual, we are still in government, that's the reality. We have to get on with these commitments and the budget will be handed down in June this year and these are the sort of items that are going to be in the budget."
He said the Muswellbrook Hospital announcement represented the fulfilment of commitment that had been in the pipeline since the hospital upgrade program began.
"There is a byelection and byelections are when promises are made about the future. It's actually what the electorate expects from you because they have to judge a candidate," he said.
Over the past month the government committed to a full upgrade of the Singleton bypass valued at between $25million and $30million following a similar commitment from Labor.
It has also committed $25million to a newly created Royalties for Rejuvenation fund that will benefit coal mining communities.
The current police station in Singleton has been serving the community since 1867 and the heritage listed building is home to around 50 staff
Mr Elliott said the new Singleton Police Station would have the state-of-the-art resources that would allow the region's police officers to operate effectively.
"Police numbers in the Hunter Valley Police District have been steadily increasing from 163 in 2019 to 181 this year...that number is only likely to grow," Mr Elliott said.
"A new police station for Singleton will accommodate the growing number of officers for years to come and provide a fantastic facility for current staff and the community.
$45 Million for Stage 3 of Muswellbrook Hospital upgrade
The State Government has sought to douse discontent about Upper Hunter health services with a commitment to invest $45million into the final stage of the Muswellbrook Hospital upgrade.
Stage three of the project will consolidate all acute clinical services into one building including maternity services which are currently in an isolated building.
Improvements include a new 26 bed inpatient unit with two palliative care beds, a four-bed maternity inpatient unit and two birthing suites.
Construction on the new operating theatres will begin next year.
"The people of the Upper Hunter deserve state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities and services, especially when it comes to health," Deputy Premier John Barilaro said on Monday.
"This redevelopment will ensure we provide the most contemporary models of care across the board."
Labor committed $32 million to the next stages of the redevelopment last week.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers and One Nation candidates have targeted the Government's lack of action on local hospital security and critical staffing shortages.
Independents Kirsty O'Connell and Tracy Norman used the hospital as a backdrop to announce plans to cross preferences and call for mining royalties to be put towards regional healthcare.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment, which cost $6.5million, was completed in 2015 and included a new emergency department. BHP donated $2.5million towards the project.
Stage 2 was completed in 2019 at a cost of $20.1 million and included new renal and chemotherapy services, as well as improved spaces for medical imaging and pathology collection, refurbished outpatient areas and oral health services
The NSW Government has committed $10.7 billion of capital investment over the four years to 2023-24 on health infrastructure.
Nationals candidate David Layzell welcomed the upgrade commitment.
"As a father of four I know how important it is to have great maternity services available locally, and this will be a welcome boost for our region in attracting young families to live work and play in the Upper Hunter, as well as providing relief to those who already call this region home," he said.