Local business owner David Mills said he was pleased with the news.

“Any tax breaks, especially in regional areas, will benefit a lot of small businesses,” he said.

“A lot of new small businesses in our agricultural industry would be very supportive of any assistance in tax breaks.”

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said costs of living would also be eased.

“As part of the budget, $1.6 billion worth of taxes will be cut, including stamp duty for first home buyers, lenders mortgage insurance duties and duties on crop and livestock insurance,” Mr Marshall said.

Mr Mills said he hoped it would encourage some first home buyers from metro areas to consider buying in the bush.

“We’d love to get some first home buyers from the city out to regional areas,” he said.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the budget was “turbo-charging the regions like never before”.

However, New England North West Business Chamber regional manager Joe Townsend said there were issues that weren’t addressed.

“In the lead up to the 2017-18 Budget, we survey our 20,000 members on the key issues that impact on their business,” he said.

“Number one, by a clear margin, was a stronger local economy, and the budget reflects the strong position NSW Government is in.

“With this in mind, however, the NSW Business Chamber is disappointed that the major disincentive for a business to grow and employ more staff – payroll tax – has not been address in this budget.

“With energy costs sky rocketing, the NSW Government need to provide relief on other cost pressures, and easing the payroll tax burden would be one way of achieving this.”

The budget also contains a $1.3 billion regional growth fund to create jobs and build regional sporting and cultural infrastructure – and a record total of $220 million to be invested across the Northern Tablelands.

Armidale will get the biggest boost, receiving $65 million for a super-secondary school.

It’s part of a $4.2 billion public education infrastructure splurge.