New funding has been announced for the Albury Wodonga Regional Deal. 

The deal first announced in 2018 is aimed at bringing all levels of government together to promote economic development in the cross-border region.

The Federal Government has announced an $80 million funding commitment for the scheme, with an additional $37.8 million to be contributed by Albury City Council and $12.1 million from Wodonga Council.

The funding will be split across ten projects selected after consultations with the community and six reference groups in the region.

Albury Wodonga Health will receive $20 million for future infrastructure plans as part of the scheme, which Albury Mayor Kylie King has welcomed. 

“Health is a real focus and that's really where we need to drive a lot of our resources,” she said.

This week’s budget announcement included $15 million in funding for housing and accommodation for workers in the health sector, as part of measures to attract and retain workers.

However, neither the Victorian nor New South Wales governments have committed their share of funding for the deal. 

Wodonga Mayor Kevin Poulton says he hopes the Victorian government will sign on soon.

“What [the Victorian government has] said is they'll commit to it when they're ready, essentially,” he said.

“Hopefully history is written correctly in the future.

“I don't want anyone to discount the work that's been done so far because it's been extremely valuable.”

Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley has taken aim at the Victorian government, but gave the NSW government more slack.

“There's been a lot of negotiations. There's been a reluctance by Victoria to sign up to this and the Commonwealth has therefore decided to go ahead right now in this budget with both local councils,” Ms Ley said.

“We know that NSW is coming on board really soon and I would really encourage Victoria to do the same.

“If Victoria continues to refuse to fund adequately and equitably our health system on the border, then it may well be time for NSW to walk away from that and it may well be time for an alternate model to be proposed.”

Independent federal Member for Indi Helen Haines says the deal is a federal election promise.

“They have failed to deliver on the aspirations of the Regional Deal and they have failed to bring everyone to the table and failed to show leadership,” she said.

“The government has rushed out an announcement to save face.”