State minister for Finance, Services and Property, Victor Dominello, has remained tight lipped during a trip to Bega ahead of the June 20 state budget.
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Mr Dominello visited Bega on Friday to meet with Bega Valley Shire Mayor Kristy McBain, BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes, members of the Bega Valley Innovation Taskforce and take a tour of the Service NSW office.
While he wouldn’t give any budget news away, he said regional parts of the state can expect investment dollars.
“Regional NSW is going to go very well. I can’t say much, but you are going to be very happy,” he said.
“It is going to be a very good result.”
The former minister for Innovation and Better Regulation said he was looking forward to listening to the thoughts of the local innovation taskforce.
“Innovation is such a buzz word, so to transfer that to action has its challenges,” the 49-year-old said.
“I know the premier is acutely aware of the power of the innovation age.”
Liam O'Duibhir was part of the taskforce meeting and said the minister was excited by what he had seen in Bega.
“We spoke to him about our ambitions to create an innovation hub in the Bega Valley, and he said he’s trying to set up something similar in Macquarie Park in Sydney,” Mr O'Duibhir said.
“He’s facing similar challenges to what we are, such as transforming the community, and collaborating between stakeholders to get an innovation community going.”
While it has been open since September last year, part of Mr Dominello’s visit was to officially open the Service NSW centre.
He congratulated the office on its 99 per cent customer approval rating, making it one of the state’s highest ranking offices.
Office manager Dini Redwin said staff can serve as many as 180 people a day during the peak summer months.
Staff member Lucas Hazelton from Tura Beach said it was nice to be recognised with a visit from the minister.
“It is great to be connected and have the high rollers come down to a region like this,” he said.