The McGowan Labor Government’s first Budget lays out a pathway for growth in regional Western Australia, investing more than $4 billion in creating jobs and projects that really matter to regional communities.
Through Royalties for Regions, more than $1 billion will be invested in new projects in regional WA with an emphasis on job creation, regional health, mental health, education, roads and ports, tourism and economic development.
Significant investment into regional WA includes:
- $826 million to improve the quality of health care for regional patients;
- $377 million to invest in regional schools, classrooms and training facilities;
- $1.25 billion for vital community infrastructure;
- $463 million towards regional rail, roads and ports including the upgrade of dangerous country roads; and
- $126 million for initiatives to protect our environment.
The State Government is implementing its comprehensive Plan for Jobs to diversify Western Australia’s economy and create new jobs in a broader range of industries.
A total of $591 million will be invested in job-creating initiatives including:
- $20 million, over five years, to establish the Aboriginal Ranger Program;
- Investing in new renewables industries in regional WA including $19.5 million in the Albany Wave Energy Project and the provision of funding for major projects in Collie;
- $30 million to rebuild WA’s core agricultural and grain research and development capability;
- $20 million to proactively target third-party investment from the Commonwealth and other sources to bolster the fight for WA’s fair share in the regions;
- A $40 million investment to improve access to regional telecommunications services;
- $4.5 million dedicated for new and emerging regional businesses as part of the New Industries Fund;
- $10.5 million in funding to develop Kemerton and Shotts Industrial Parks to create opportunities for new business developments and $3 million for Halifax Business Park in Bunbury;
- $45 million for Nambeelup to ensure future development and growth of the Peel Business Park;
- $20 million for the Exploration Incentive Scheme to support further mining activity; and
- A $10 million investment in the Western Australian Film Fund.
The tourism industry will receive a boost as the Government helps grow and maximise tourism’s impact on creating jobs in regional WA. The 2017-18 State Budget includes:
- A $27.9 million boost to showcase regional WA destinations and attract more visitors;
- $112 million towards the Port Hedland Waterfront Revitalisation project to deliver facilities for leisure craft and to drive tourism;
- $34.4 million for Transforming Bunbury Waterfront;
- $6.5 million to renew the Geraldton Airport runway to support future growth in population, employment and tourism;
- $10 million towards the eastern foreshore redevelopment to develop an iconic Mandurah foreshore precinct, supporting local tourism and local jobs;
- $9.7 million for upgrades to boating facilities at Broome’s Entrance Point and Town Beach;
- A $10 million investment in the sustainability of the Abrolhos Islands;
- An $8 million investment in the Murujuga Cultural Interpretive Centre on the Burrup Peninsula; and
- $20 million to support WA’s Regional Events Program.
The Government is developing economic infrastructure in regional WA to support the diversification of our State’s economy with $463 million allocated towards essential regional transport projects including:
- A $32 million investment in the Rail Future Fund to deliver a revitalised Australind rail service;
- $10 million towards the rail to Kemerton Industrial Park;
- Commencing planning for the crucial development of the Bunbury Port; and
- $16.1 million to construct a multi-storey car park at Mandurah Station.
Fixing dangerous country roads is one of the State Government’s top priorities in regional Western Australia.
The 2017-18 Budget includes a 20 per cent increase in regional road funding. Overall, regional road expenditure represents just over 50 per cent of the State’s total spending on roads.
Investing in roads supports local jobs throughout the supply chain in WA, while delivering infrastructure that makes a difference to communities.
The State Budget will fund key projects including:
- $50 million to construct the next stage of the Karratha to Tom Price Road to unlock the Pilbara’s tourism potential and development of mine servicing capabilities;
- $35 million towards the completion of the Albany Ring Road;
- $30 million to upgrade the South Coast Highway between Albany and Jerramungup;
- A $6.6 million State contribution towards sealing parts of Outback Way which spans 2,800 kilometres from Queensland to WA’s Laverton;
- $35 million to complete the Margaret River Ring Road;
- $14 million to dual Great Eastern Highway between Anzac Road and Gatacre Drive in Kalgoorlie;
- $15 million towards road projects in Collie, including upgrades at Raymond Road, Collie-Preston Road, Wellington Forest Road and Brookdale Road in Boyanup;
- A $2.5 million State contribution to commence the design and technical assessment for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road;
- $8 million to upgrade the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway; and
- $31 million to complete passing lanes on Great Eastern Highway.
An investment of more than $180 million in regional school upgrades will ensure WA country students are learning in facilities that best meet modern education needs. Regional schools that will be redeveloped over the Budget period include:
- Bunbury Senior High School ($5 million);
- Carnarvon Community College ($51.7 million);
- Cape Naturaliste College ($32.1 million);
- Collie Senior High School ($7.5 million);
- Eaton Community College ($5 million);
- Eaton Primary School ($3 million);
- Flinders Park Primary School ($2.5 million);
- Geraldton Senior High School ($4 million) ;
- Glen Huon Primary School ($1.5 million);
- John Willcock College ($18.6 million);
- Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School ($9.5 million);
- Lakelands Senior High School – Mandurah ($2.5 million);
- Margaret River Senior High School ($30 million);
- Mount Lockyer Primary School ($3 million);
- Newton Moore Senior High School ($3 million);
- South Bunbury Primary School ($3 million); and
- Converting some regional primary school classrooms into science labs ($1.3 million).
The WA Government is putting education assistants back into regional classrooms and employing an extra 50 Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers to boost student learning.
Funding to appoint Independent Learning Coordinators in 10 regional schools will assist students undertaking courses through the School of Isolated and Distance Education.
The establishment of a Regional Learning Specialist team in curriculum areas of science, social science, mathematics and English will also ensure students and Independent Learning Coordinators are better supported.
State Budget funding will also subsidise regional TAFE students to support them through their vocational studies as they learn skills on the job.
The WA Government is putting patients first and getting on with its commitment to deliver quality health and mental health care in the regions with investment to provide:
- $7.3 million to establish a 10-bed Step Up/Step Down mental health facility in Kalgoorlie;
- $11.2 million to establish a Step Up/Step Down mental health facility in Bunbury;
- $12.3 million to establish a Step Up/Step Down mental health facility in Karratha;
- $383 million to be spent on Southern Inland Health Initiatives, mostly funded from Royalties for Regions;
- $65.2 million for the North West Health Initiative;
- $144.7 million to complete the Karratha Health Campus;
- $5.1 million to expand the renal dialysis program;
- $147.4 million for the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme to support regional people when they are required to travel for treatment;
- $5 million to develop the Peel Youth Medical Service Hub;
- $1.6 million to expand the Find Cancer Early program into more regional areas;
- $2.8 million to expand the Ear Bus program into the Kimberley region; and
- $1.9 million to fund meet and greet services for people from remote communities travelling for treatment.
The Government is leading the agenda – creating safer communities, protecting vulnerable children, families and seniors and implementing its Methamphetamine Action Plan which includes the establishment of the Meth Border Force for WA. The State Budget will provide:
- $18.2 million for an alcohol and other drug rehabilitation centre in the South-West and to commence planning for a Kimberley Centre;
- $18.9 million for the Northwest drug and alcohol support program;
- $18.5 million for the Regional Enforcement Unit to increase traffic enforcement on country roads;
- $360,000 for a two-year trial of the Ice Breakers Program with Albany Police and Community Youth Centre;
- $8 million for a new Capel Police Station;
- a new family and domestic violence counselling service in the Peel region; and
- $1.69 million to expand existing culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse victims of family and domestic violence.
A strong investment in community infrastructure and services in regional WA include:
- A $1.5 million grant for a Family Centre in Dalyellup from 2019;
- $136.4 million for the Country Aged Pension Fuel Card and $4 million for the volunteer fuel card;
- $164 million for essential and municipal services for remote and Aboriginal communities;
- $10.6 million for a residential aged care facility in Carnarvon; and
- $22.7 million for a regional aged accommodation program.
The WA Government is investing more than $126 million in the protection and enhancement of cultural and environmental values, while creating new recreational opportunities in conservation areas. The State Budget will provide:
- $14.6 million for the Natural Resource Management Program to work with local communities to protect the environment;
- $250,000 for the Collie River water stop to improve amenity to improve water depth in Soldiers’ Park;
- $1 million towards the establishment of a park and reserve network encompassing the fringing coral reefs of the Kimberley’s Buccaneer Archipelago;
- $1 million for the Albany Oyster Reef Restoration Project; and
- $1.8 million to develop a comprehensive estuary protection plan for the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
This is the first stage in the implementation of the State Government’s investment in regional Western Australia. Planning and scoping of additional projects will be announced as part of subsequent budgets.
For more 2017-18 State Budget information, visit http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Source: Government of Western Australia.