NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says Hunter residents are justified in "holding the government's feet to the fire" over investment in transformative regional projects.
Stage 2 of the John Hunter Hospital redevelopment, the Broadmeadow precinct, a new entertainment centre, Newcastle airport and the Lower Hunter freight bypass are among the big-ticket items that the region's leaders want to see movement on.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's state budget, Mr Mookhey gave little away in terms of specific funding announcements for the Hunter.
"I will say you'll see we're making some progress on these issues," he said.
"You should also know that we respect the fact that people are going to look for a clear sign from the government about what our intentions are on these questions, and they're right to hold our feet to the fire."
Mr Mookhey said the government shared the community's ambition to see the region grow and prosper in coming decades.
"We've been upfront about how ambitious we want to be about Broadmeadow. I had the opportunity of speaking at McDonald Johns Stadium last year and I get that the business community is driving its ideas about the entertainment centre," he said.
"The Hunter, which has already been such a big tourism destination, wants to expand and they want additional investment to do that."
Funding for a new school at Chisholm and $55 million to address a cost blowout on the first stage of the John Hunter Hospital redevelopment and 100 new bus services for the coalfields are among the Hunter-specific projects that the government has unveiled in recent weeks.
Mr Mookhey has confirmed the budget will provide for a Tomago Aluminium smelter bailout, however, the budget will not contain details of the cost of the package because it is still under negotiation with the federal government.
Speaking on Sunday, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the budget would be built on the principles of "relief, reform and discipline".
"The people of NSW deserve that, but here in our region we have been advocating to make sure that we get our fair share of funding," she said.
"...putting money in people's pockets is the biggest cost of living measure that any government can provide."
The impact of the economic headwinds created by three interest rate rises, the war in Iran, and the federal government's tax changes on investment will be plain to see in Tuesday's budget.
But, on the up side, clean energy projects, such as the multibillion-dollar Hunter Transmission project and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, are now providing a source of economic growth.
"We will show that NSW is almost alone in the federation in being the state in which economic growth is now being led by the private sector, whereas other states are still growing predominantly as a result of government spending," Mr Mookhey said.
"NSW businesses have jointly unleashed a surge in private investment, particularly when it comes to renewable energy, which is creating jobs and leading to the establishment of new businesses far more than anywhere else."
The government has also confirmed it will offer zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for households that install power-saving technologies, including batteries, solar and insulation.
Under the $557 million program, households earning less than $210,000 a year will be eligible for 10-year loans for energy upgrades such as draught-proofing, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fans and switchboard upgrades, which reduce power bills.
The budget will contain a $10.3 billion investment over four years for health, including recruiting an additional 9000 health workers and $2.9 billion for a pay rise for nurses ordered by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
There is $112.3 million allocated to mental health, including four years of funding for Lifeline and services provided as part of the national mental health and suicide prevention agreement.
The government will underwrite 100 per cent of affordable housing projects built by community housing providers and 75 per cent of homes in projects with fewer than 20 homes, both capped at $30 million a project.
