Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has announced $55 million funding for an upgraded Newcastle Airport terminal as the race for key Hunter seats takes off before the federal election.
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The Nationals leader was in the Hunter on Thursday to announce a campaign promise to upgrade the terminal to international standard.
"With the Hunter driving the sale of record volumes of coal at record prices, Australians know the importance of this region to our economy," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
"This funding to transform Newcastle Airport into an international hub will build on that.
"Making Newcastle Airport an international gateway to the world will further enhance the Hunter's capacity as a regional powerhouse that drives the development of our nation and makes us as strong as possible as quickly as possible."
The Liberal candidate for Paterson, Brooke Vitnell, said the airport at Williamtown was is in the "heart of the electorate".
"This is what delivery for the people of the Paterson electorate in the Hunter region looks like with strong candidates who have been relentless advocates for our economic future," she said.
"This is what we can achieve as candidates - we will deliver even more if given the chance to serve our local communities.
"This will further open us up to the world and bring new economic opportunities and jobs for locals and shows what can be done.
"Strong local representatives as part of the Liberal and Nationals Government will get more done for the Hunter to create more jobs and opportunities across our great region."
The federal member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, added that Thursday's announcement built on the Australian Government's $66 million investment into the runway upgrade that would help "build the capacity of what is now becoming one of Australia's major airports".
"We have been working for some time with both the operators of Newcastle Airport and the broader tourism sector to develop a plan to upgrade this important piece of regional infrastructure," he said.
"Today's investment delivers on that plan which will bring significant benefits to our region's economy."
While in the Hunter on Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister also announced $56 million in funding to ease congestion at Mandalong Road, Morisset, after Labor committed $30 million to the project last month.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese was also in the Hunter on Thursday to announce that Cessnock Hospital will host a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic under Labor's plan to build 50 such centres across Australia if it wins government.
Cessnock is the first clinic named under the $135 million, four-year Labor plan.
Mr Albanese also pledged to match the coalition's $55 million commitment to upgrade Newcastle Airport's terminal to international standard.
The promise means both major parties have vowed to fund the upgrade if they claim victory at May's poll, likely guaranteeing the next federal government will have pledged to deliver the work.
The competing announcements reflect the importance of the Hunter and Paterson electorates to both major parties as they scramble for the seats they need to form government next month.
Hunter, which includes both Cessnock and Morisset, is held by Labor on a slim 3 per cent margin. The airport is in Paterson, where Labor's Meryl Swanson is protecting a 5 per cent margin.
The airport, which is owned by Newcastle and Port Stephens councils, has been lobbying hard for the terminal upgrade.
The federal government announced in last year's budget that it would spend $66 million upgrading the airport's runway to accommodate larger commercial aircraft capable of flying to Asia, the Middle East, South Africa and the United States.
Airport chief executive Dr Peter Cock has long advocated for a $55 million terminal upgrade to capitalise on the larger runway.
"This additional infrastructure will ensure nothing holds us back from our global potential," Dr Cock said.
"The significance of this moment shouldn't be underestimated.
"It gives certainty and confidence to Australia's largest regional economy at the perfect time."
The project includes a new double-storey terminal building which can cater for larger planes and keep domestic and international passengers separate.
The runway upgrade will start this month and the terminal work is scheduled to begin in October.
The airport has appointed Cox Architecture to design the building.
The new terminal has been identified by all leading Hunter business and political lobby groups, including Business Hunter, the Hunter Joint Organisation and the Committee for the Hunter, as a key catalyst project for regional growth.
"The new terminal will offer convenience for travellers from our catchment who want to fly internationally," Dr Cock said.
"More importantly, it will drive huge, sustainable economic benefits in the region through inbound tourism and freight-related industries."
The airport money comes from the $7.1 billion Energy Security and Regional Development Plan announced in last month's federal budget.
The government pledged $750 million to the Hunter over 11 years under the fund and has already allocated $268 million for Muswellbrook bypass and $100 million to help establish a hydrogen manufacturing and export hub in Newcastle.
"As we put commodities on boats and send them out to earn money, we are also bringing people in, and that in itself creates wealth," Mr Joyce said.
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the airport would play a key role in the city's transformation.
"We are emerging as a truly global gateway city with Newcastle Airport having direct access to our key trading and tourism partners in Asia and beyond," she said.
"This funding for our passenger terminal will help complete that transition and bring the rest of the world closer to Newcastle.
"That means more jobs, more economic growth and more opportunities to showcase our region on an international stage."
The Mandalong Road upgrade will ease congestion at peak times between Morisset and the M1 Motorway.
The Labor-backed urgent care clinics promise bulk-billed treatment as an alternative to attending busy emergency departments.
The Cessnock clinic is designed to take pressure off the town's hospital by providing care from a doctor or nurse to treat sprains, broken bones, cuts, insect bites, minor ear and eye problems and minor burns.
Labor said the clinic would open from at least 8am to 10pm seven days a week.
"Labor's Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will mean more families will get top-quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department," Mr Albanese said.
"These clinics are a key part of Labor's plan to strengthen Medicare by making it easier to see a doctor.
"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will take the pressure off emergency departments, so they can concentrate on saving lives."
Labor has also promised to restore full funding to the Hunter's GP Access after-hours service.
