The Moruya Business Chamber president Jude Manahan welcomed further investment in the region, in particular the big ticket item: $300 million for bridges and roads at Batemans Bay and Nelligen.

“They have put money away for the planning of the bridges; that is important as the gateway to the shire needs to function well: tourism is the majority of our economy,” Ms Manahan said.

Ms Manahan said the first-home-buyers package and increased funding for public housing would have small but positive impacts on construction, and cutting costs and red tape benefited small business.

Could more have been done?

“Some of the measures are not that strong,” Ms Manahan said.

“We are disappointed the Moruya Hospital was not included in the $550 million spending on health projects,” she said.

Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry president David Maclachlan said the funding would help the shire capitalise on tourism and a new bridge would encourage people to make the correct decision when they came off the Kings Highway.

“We need people to turn right rather than left,” Mr Maclachlan said.

“You can drive or walk over the Batemans Bay bridge and look out to islands, beaches, and forests – to see one of the most amazing vistas on the east coast. 

“We need to capitalise on that.”

He said the funding commitment was a bold move by the NSW Government, and one that made economic sense.

“The biggest contributor to our economy is tourism,” Mr Maclachlan said.

“The biggest contributor to tourism is access; and the biggest contributor to access to the Eurobodalla is that roundabout,” he said.

Several projects across the shire were funded in Tuesday’s Budget.

The big ticket item on Tuesday was the $300 million allocated to improve roads and build bridges over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay and Nelligen.

In the south of the shire, $45 million was allocated for the Dignams Creek Road realignment.

Sewage treatment facilities at Potato Point and Bodalla would receive $3.2 million.

 As part of $5.3 million for planning and construction of shared paths in the Far South Coast, a 660 metre shared pathway will be built on Bergalia Street, Moruya and a 500 metre path on McMillan Road, Narooma.

Bega MP Andrew Constance said there would also be further investment in the Moruya and Merimbula airports. 

“Our locals know better than anyone that investment in diverse regions like ours - with everything from dairy and oyster farmers through to small business and tourism operators - makes a huge impact on the state’s overall economy,” he said.