A $46 million package has been unveiled for the Goldfields-Esperance region as part of the WA Recovery Plan.
The plan, part of the WA Government’s $229 million TAFE package, includes:
- $10 million for Central Regional TAFE’s Kalgoorlie campus
- $9 million for a new Heavy Plan and Engineering Trades Workshop
- $1 million for upgrades to an existing workshop at the campus.
- $25 million for free TAFE short courses, with a variety of these available at Central Regional TAFE’s Kalgoorlie campus
- $32 million to expand the Lower Fees, Local Skills program and significantly reduce TAFE fees across 39 high priority courses.
$500,000 has been allocated for major refurbishments to the Performing Arts Centre at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School as part of the Major School Upgrade package.
The revamped Buy Local Policy prioritises local businesses to carry out construction work within the Goldfields-Esperance region. This includes:
- $16.6 million for a new power station in Esperance
- $5 million through the Regional Road Safety Program to upgrade 275 kilometres of Goldfields-Esperance roads
- $700,000 for upgrades to visitor facilities in national parks across the region
- $150,000 to upgrade the access road to Dunn Rocks beach/campground in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance
- $400,000 to upgrade visitor facilities at Credo Station, Rowles Lagoon, Goongarrie National Park, Stokes National Park, Cape Le Grand National Park, Cape Arid National Park and Esperance Lakes Nature Reserves
- $7 million to expand the capacity of the Joe Lord Core Library in Kalgoorlie
- an additional $5 million for the Exploration Incentive Scheme in 2020-21 to help accelerate exploration investment in the Goldfields
- $10.2 million towards projects at Esperance Port to expand and increase safety.
The following initiatives will focus on driving investment in renewable energy and new technologies in the region:
- $4 million to transform Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School, one of 10 WA schools, into virtual power plants
- $600,000 to install a Battery Energy System in Menzies, allowing more customers to install rooftop solar systems and reduce their power bills
- $9.92 million for Horizon Power to deploy standalone power systems that use solar and battery technology. Approximately 39 systems across the Goldfields-Esperance region will benefit from this initiative, which makes power safer and more reliable for customers.
Strengthening health and community services is a vital component of the WA Recovery Plan. For the Goldfields-Esperance region, $18.8 million will be invested for regional renal hostels, including a new hostel in Kalgoorlie.
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