ELECTION spending has picked up pace in the marginal seat of Monaro this year with Nationals' Member John Barilaro and his Labor rival Steve Whan pledging millions of dollars in new infrastructure and grants ahead of the March 28 poll.
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Mr Barilaro has announced $32 million in grants across the region since the beginning of the year. Projects for Queanbeyan have included $10 million for upgrades to the Kings Highway, $50,000 to renovate the Queanbeyan Children's With Special Needs site and $35,000 to revamp to QBNFM studios.
Across the Monaro, Mr Barilaro's contributions ranged from $1.23 million to Bombala Council to fix a number of local roads to $500,000 for the construction of eco-friendly cabins at Lake Crackenback.
Mr Barilaro said over the four years in his term he had made a number of announcements and this period is no different to any other.
He announced at least $88.6 million in funding for projects across the Monaro in the nine months from April - December 2014.
"A lot of the announcements we've made so far are actually commitments, they're not election commitments, they are funded in the budget," he said.
"These announcements have been in the pipeline for several months and were budgeted for completely independent of any consideration for the forthcoming election.
"[My job is] I talk to communities, I find out what their needs are and I sit on them until I know I can funding.
"That timing could be anywhere in the cycle, look it's great at the moment we are making a number of announcements of what we are delivering."
Mr Barilaro, his Labor counterpart Steve Whan and Greens candidate Peter Marshall will contest the seat of Monaro on March 28.
The mini-bellwether of Monaro has been labelled as one to watch with the Nationals holding a slender margin of just two per cent.
Mr Whan said the amount of money spent so far showed just how concerned the Nationals were about retaining the seat.
"There's no doubt the National Party are spending an awful lot of money in this campaign," he said.
"They've put a massive amount of money and resources towards TV advertising and online advertising demonstrating the competition for the seat."
However Mr Whan has also pledged significant new funds for the region, including $60 million for Kings Highway upgrades to be spent over four years.
Mr Whan said his campaign hinges on health and education. On Thursday, he announced a budgeted $5 million for an ambulance station based at Bungendore and he has also promised to save Cooma and Queanbeyan TAFE, provide $50,000 to fund the feasibility work on the Molonglo rail trail and re-open and use the Cooma Gaol's minimum security Henry Mortlock annex.
"We had a very positive response from the public," Mr Whan said of his campaign.
"We've been phone canvassing and largely we've had a positive response from people in the electorate but the election is long from being home and hosed."
Mr Barilaro is also well aware of the challenge ahead of him.
"This is a marginal seat, we don't take it for granted that is why I believe I've worked hard on behalf of this community and the communities in the Monaro," he said.
"I'm only asking for the voters to have a look at what I've done over four years, what I said I would do and if I've done it.
"On top of that, that I've done it in a way with honesty and integrity and the best of my ability."