The Nationals to fund infrastructure for more housing in Bellingen

A future Coalition Government will provide $11 million for the Bellingen Shire Council’s critical Sewering Coastal Villages Phase 3 project, allowing an additional 30 new residential properties to connect to the system and double industrial capacity at Raleigh. This final phase of the project is set to increase to regional GDP by $45 million and create 120 new jobs.

Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said by connecting sewerage, the project would importantly deliver much-needed housing in Repton, Raleigh and Urunga.

Mr Conaghan acknowledged Bellingen Shire Council originally applied for Phase 3 funding back in 2022 under The Nationals’ Building Better Regions Fund.

“I was first notified of this project prior to the 2022 election, with Mayor Steve Allan letting me know that Council intended to apply under the Building Better Region’s Fund,” Mr Conaghan said.

“I strongly endorsed the funding and had begun championing for its delivery in Parliament.

“Unfortunately, with the change of Government, Labor unceremoniously dumped the Building Better Regions Fund and denied all prior applications.

“An elected Coalition Government will right that wrong and get this funding into to these works straight away, to not only safeguard our current infrastructure, but lay the groundwork for new housing and industry in the future.”

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said under a future Coalition Government, regions such as Cowper will also receive their fair share of the Coalition’s $5 billion home building plan, with a target of 30 per cent of the funding to be invested to unlock new homes in regional, rural and remote Australia.

“Under Labor, Australia is facing a housing crisis and the great Australian dream of owning a home has never felt further out of reach,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The Coalition will invest in shovel-ready infrastructure through our new Housing Infrastructure Programme and unlock up to 500,000 homes across Australia.”

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie said Labor had shown a disregard for regional infrastructure needs.

“Labor’s inept scrapping of crucial funding streams like the Building Better Regions Fund really illustrates their complete lack of focus or care for the regions,” Senator McKenzie said.

“I’m pleased to be able to approve this funding. The Nationals in Government will get this done."

Bellingen Shire Mayor Steve Allan thanked Mr Conaghan for his support.

“Without the right infrastructure, the Bellingen Shire cannot continue to thrive or reach its full potential,” Cr Allan said.

“I appreciate Pat’s continued support for these important works. While it may not sound glamorous, this project is critical for our region’s health and growth.

“We commenced Phase 1 of this project last year, with the hope that this funding would be secured to enable the full project completion. The proposed modern centralised sewerage scheme will have numerous benefits for the entire area. We are a region that floods, and we need the right systems in place to make sure that when we do, our waterways and industries are protected.”

A Coalition Government will also free up more than 100,000 homes in Australia by:

• Reducing migration numbers, compared to Labor who has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office.
• Putting a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes.
• Working with the building and construction industry and bringing in people on skilled visas to support local tradies.
• Tackling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 per cent.
• Freezing further changes to the National Construction Code to ease red tape and compliance burdens for builders.