Raymond Terrace's two high schools, Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay link roads, the M1 Motorway extension and Birubi transport interchange were allocated funding in Treasurer Dominic Perrottet's budget that focused on "keeping NSW safe, accelerating the COVID recovery and reinforcing the state's finances".

Hunter River and Irrawang high schools will receive $1.9 million and $1.6 million respectively for upgrades under the government's school building program.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the upgrades will "deliver additional permanent teaching spaces and core facilities to support the growing population of Port Stephens".

"Further information on the upgrades of Hunter River and Irrawang High Schools will be released as the project progresses," the spokesperson said.

"Planning projections indicate that the best investment in school infrastructure for the area is to upgrade both Irrawang and Hunter River High School. The Department of Education has started early planning for upgrades to these schools, including early design works and preparing a business case."

Irrawang High School P&C president Cassie Collins welcomed the funding and said improving learning spaces for students was important to the committee.

"Our priorities are providing enough classroom space for current and future students and upgrading the canteen's facilities to meet the government's expectations," she said.

While the funding was welcomed by state Labor MP Kate Washington, she was not impressed with Tuesday's budget saying the government had failed Port families, students and the vulnerable.

"The government is expanding the two high schools in Raymond Terrace so they never have to build one in Medowie," she said.

"While the school upgrades in Raymond Terrace are desperately needed and welcome news, the underlying expansion plans are a ruse, locking in an unfair situation for years to come.

"There is nothing in this budget to help desperate families in Port Stephens who are homeless. Homelessness is a growing problem in our community, and we need more social and affordable housing to keep local families off the street."

Tuesday's budget included $4.4 million for a transport interchange at the busy gateway to Birubi Beach and the Stockton sand dunes in Anna Bay.

The funds are part of the $5.4 million the government committed towards the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place interchange and tourist information centre off Gan Gan Road in 2018.

Plans for the interchange include parking for more than 50 cars, coach drop-off areas, four-wheel-drive access to the dunes and space for tourism operators that are currently based out of the lower car park at Birubi beach.

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer has previously described the interchange project as a "game changer" for residents and the thousands of visitors the beach and dunes receive each year.

The Special Activation Precinct in Williamtown along with the Moree and Snowy Mountains SAPs will share in $50m for pre-delivery works.

The government will spend another $28 million on planning for the M1 Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace and Hexham Straight while the Fingal Bay link road project, green lit during the 2019 state election, will bubble along with another $500,000 allocated for planning.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited Nelson Bay Road duplication will receive another $7.5 million, down from $16 million allocated last year.

The NSW Government announced last week that it was 'powering ahead' with the $275 million Nelson Bay Road duplication after releasing a community consultation report for route options between Williamtown and Bobs Farm and to call for tenders to build a one-kilometre section from Salt Ash to Bobs Farm.

"The release of the community consultation report for the large section of the Williamtown to Bobs Farm duplication shows strong support for the new off-line alternative they requested we consider last year, so we'll be considering that closely as we work towards a preferred option," Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, said.

"As that detailed planning work continues, the community will soon see shovels in the ground on the Salt Ash to Bobs Farm section."

Work is expected to start early next year on the $26 million Williamtown to Bobs Farm duplication stage of the upgrade, which will be focused around both exits of Marsh Road.

Ms Washington took aim at the government's Nelson Bay Road announcement, saying it has not delivered on its promise to fully duplicate Nelson Bay Road.

"Despite committing to the project seven years ago, the Liberals have failed to duplicate a single inch of the road in the last decade," she said.

Mr Perrottet's fifth budget saw $6 billion set aside to help families with the cost of living. Of that, almost $44m has been set aside for to provide $100 vouchers to help children aged three to six learn to swim.

Families will also be supported through special leave for couples who experience miscarriage or pre-term birth. From July 1, public sector employees and their spouses will be entitled to five days' leave after a miscarriage of up to 20 weeks' gestation.

In delivering the budget measure, Mr Perrottet said he wanted grieving families to know that the government "has their back when tragedies like these occur and that they will have time to process their loss without having to worry about financial or work-related pressures".

Special paid leave provisions will also be provided for employees who have pre-term births.

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