Kevin Anderson's Gunnedah overpass focus for NSW budget 2017/2018

He wants to get a “a couple of million, maybe more” for the start of Gunnedah’s second rail overpass, which has been plagued with years of delays while its budget has ballooned by the millions.

“The detailed design is about done and paid for, what I’d like to see is some money now to start the project,” Mr Anderson said.

It’s unlikely all the money will be granted in one hit and instead will be released as the project developed.

“If it’s a $52 million project, you won’t see the $52 million, but you will see a substantial slice to get going,” he said.

“I’d like to see close to $10 million, that’s my wish. Let’s get the thing on the road and get the bloody thing moving.”

There is “significant work” to be done on Bloomfield St, the city’s heavy vehicle bypass.

“It needs to be resealed and made thicker so it holds heavier trucks,” Mr Anderson said. “Work needs to be done around the schools on that road – there are three schools on that heavy vehicle bypass. We need to make sure we put in the correct signage.”

He’s also hoping to fund a “brand new roundabout on Boundary Road”, which will allow cars to continue to flow through as the heavy trucks turn on to Boundary Rd to access the Bloomfield bypass.

The Hoss Causeway is also on the list. “If your travelling Gunnedah, there is a dip as you’re going into Somerton – the slightest bit of rain and that thing floods, leaving towns isolated,” he said.

“So we want to put culverts underneath and lift that road up.”

Every year Hunter New England Health (HNEH) is allocated money to do minor capital works on its hospitals.

Mr Anderson said he wants some of that money to be spend on Gunnedah hospital

“I’m already into them, I had a chat with [HNEH CEO] Michael DiRienzo yesterday,” he said.

“I said ‘whatever is in that budget, I’m coming after you for some of that’.” 

The middle section of Gunnedah hospital – the corridors, kitchens, laundry, admin and some clinic rooms – need an upgrade.

“It’s the original part of the hospital, it is cold, it’s dark, it’s damp,” Mr Anderson said. 

“If you’ve got a nice fresh place, people will want to come and work there, they don’t want to work in a dark, damp, cold concrete block.”