For a profile of The Hills from the NSW State Electoral Office, click here 

June 3: Budget Delivers TAFE Upgrade

$3.4 million has been allocated to continue the upgrade of Castle Hill TAFE in the Iemma Government’s third budget, Duty Labor Member for Castle Hill Ian West said today.
 
“The $3.4 million in funding for Castle Hill TAFE will help ensure local students are supported with the facilities that they need,” Mr West said.
 
“The funding will be used to complete construction of a new building that will house student support services, new lecture and seminar rooms and specialist support services including clinical nursing rooms and a computer room.
 
“The Iemma Government is spending a record $47.6 billion on vital services across NSW, such as funding for nurses and teachers, more police and new technology in schools.”
 
Mr West said the budget supported a number of other projects in the Castle Hill electorate including:

• $3 million for local roads which includes $750,000 for new traffic lights at the Old Northern and Hastings Roads intersection;
  
• $535,000 for Castle Hill Fire Station which includes a new fire engine;
  
• $300,000 for new accommodation and services for people with disabilities, their families and their carers; and
  
• $129,000 to upgrade existing public housing homes.

“Over the next four years, the Iemma Government will fund key capital works projects worth almost $57.6 billion. This is a massive 58 per cent higher than the previous four years,” Mr West said.
 
“The increase is driven by investments in new and upgraded schools, TAFE colleges, roads and public transport including the North West Metro Line and the assets of power and water utilities.”

April 1: North West Metro Full Steam Ahead

The development of the $12 billion metro system for the people of North West Sydney is underway, with the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation lodging its submissions report to the Department of Planning.

The documents seek approval for the concept plan for half the Euro-style rail line.

“This means we are full steam ahead to deliver a Metro to the Rouse Hill from Epping by 2015, and all the way into the city by 2017,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport, John Watkins, said.