State Member for the Blue Mountains Trish Doyle has welcomed cost of living relief for Blue Mountains residents in the 2026 NSW Budget, and the commitment to procuring the funds necessary to reconstruct and reopen the Great Western Highway. 

Ms Doyle said at a time when households are facing pressure from grocery bills, fuel costs, mortgages or rent, and other expenses, the Minns Labor Government is giving support where it’s most needed. 

"This Budget recognises the real pressures families are under and provides practical support that will make a difference to household budgets,” Ms Doyle said.  

"Whether it's cheaper registration, frozen public transport fares, lower toll costs or support to reduce energy bills, the Budget is about helping people with costs they simply cannot avoid." 

Residents will directly benefit from:  

• a $100 discount on private vehicle registrations  

• a 12-month freeze on Opal fares 

• the weekly toll cap reduced from $60 to $50 

• the abolition of toll administration 

• interest-free loans and rebates to help households reduce power bills 

• and continued support for first home buyers. 

 Ms Doyle said the Budget has promised “funding in 2026-2027 to reconstruct and reopen the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass as soon as possible with procurement currently underway”. 

A $50 million allocation is also in the Budget for safer alternative routes on the Great Western Highway detour, following the impact from the closure of the Pass. 

Ms Doyle said the highway fix is critical, as is the need for a redeveloped Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital. 

“I understand the frustration that many people feel about Victoria Pass and the need for a modern hospital. I share that urgency. 

"I can assure the community that both projects continue to be actively worked on across government and that advocacy for both remains a priority.” 

"After years of seeing projects announced before funding existed, I want to bring the community a fully funded [hospital] project that gets built, rather than a headline that never leaves the drawing board. 

“I am committed to high-quality health care and our community deserve certainty,” Ms Doyle said.  “They deserve infrastructure that is properly planned, funded and delivered. Separate announcements on these projects are expected to be announced soon,” she added. 

Other important state-wide Budget funding announcements relate to record spending on national parks ($130 million) and support for victims of domestic and family violence (an additional investment $184.1 million to frontline services) as well as billions on road and rail infrastructure. 

Rail services investment 

"There’s a record $2.1 billion investment in heavy rail maintenance, signalling, systems renewal and station upgrades that will help improve the reliability of the rail network that Blue Mountains commuters depend on every day,” Ms Doyle said. 

"There’s also significant investment through the Safe Accessible Transport Program, and I will continue advocating strongly for accessibility upgrades at stations including Mount Victoria, Lawson and Woodford." 

Supporting older women facing housing insecurity  

In other good news locally this week the Older Women’s Network Blue Mountains secured news of a funding guarantee until June 30, 2027, of $288,000 through the advocacy on the group’s behalf, by Ms Doyle to the state’s housing minister. 

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson praised the service for its outstanding community-based model which matches older women experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness with affordable private accommodation in the Blue Mountains region.  

The Budget follows record pay rises for workers, after the wages cap was lifted by the Minns Labor government. 

"We are strengthening the workforce that delivers the services our communities rely upon." 

MEDIA: 

Brenda Cunningham-Lewis | Trish Doyle | MP 02 47513298  bluemountains@parliament.nsw.gov.au