Baird pledges Hunter roads upgrade cash

Premier Mike Baird has launched a major pitch to voters in the NSW Hunter region, promising to spend millions on road upgrades as he works to win back support in the aftermath of the ICAC donation scandal.

Mr Baird said the $273 million package would only go ahead if he wins a mandate for his plan to partially privatise the state's electricity distribution network at next month's election.

The package is also part of Mr Baird's push to win back trust with voters in the Hunter region after damaging revelations at the NSW corruption watchdog of Liberal MPs accepting banned donations.

The ICAC saga claimed the political careers of former Newcastle MP Tim Owen and ex-Charlestown member Andrew Cornwell with Swansea MP Garry Edwards expelled from the Liberal Party.

The Hunter roads upgrade package will start from 2015/16 and run over 10 years.