STATE BUDGET 2006-2007: BUILDING ON THE BOOM - Growing the regions

11/5/06
The State Government's decision to build on the boom in the 2006-07 Budget is great news for regional Western Australia, with record levels of funding being reinvested into infrastructure and services, Treasurer Eric Ripper said today.
Mr Ripper said the Budget recognised the crucial role regional WA played in securing the State's future as an economic powerhouse.
"The 2006-07 Budget ensures that regional Western Australians share in the benefits flowing from the boom," the Treasurer said.
"The vastness of WA can present a challenge but the people in our regions can rest assured that even though some of them may be far from Perth, they are not being forgotten by this Government."
Key funding components for regional WA include:

• more than $682million to be spent on maintaining, improving and building new country roads in 2006-07;
• about $80million to improve health services in the country;
• $42.5million to improve police facilities in the regions, including a $7.40million investment in remote communities;
• $31.6million to maintain and upgrade electricity services in regional areas;
• $73.1million for building or improving schools and $2.4million for the Kimberley TAFE College;
• an extra $35million over four years for the Townsite Development Program to buy and develop land in regional areas; and
• more than $21million from the Regional Investment Fund as part of an $80million allocation over four years, which commenced in 2005-06.

• $7.1million to provide wind-diesel electricity generation at Coral Bay;
• more than $3.4million to build and seal the Carnarvon to Mullewa Road;
• $2.25million for flood repairs on the North West Coastal Highway;
• $1.23million for ongoing work on the new $4.25million Carnarvon police station due to open in mid-2008;
• recommitting a deferred $5.5million allocation for the Carnarvon 2020 Strategy to help protect animal and plant biodiversity in the Gascoyne; and
• a further $1.8million to improve health facilities in Carnarvon.

• $8.5million towards the $22million replacement of Fitzroy Crossing District High School;
• a further $1million for improvements and extensions to the Kununurra District High School;
• $2.4million for ongoing works to the Kimberley College of TAFE in Broome;
• $6million to the Country High School Hostels Authority to complete the Broome Residential College;
• $10million to the Broome Regional Resource Centre to improve health facilities;
• a total of $36million to be spent throughout the region on hospitals, health centres and community facilities, including $4.9million for the Kununurra District Health Service and $2million to further develop the Wyndham multi-purpose centre, including a new dental clinic;
• $5.2million to build stages one to three of the Broome bypass and a further $3.2million to widen and seal the Derby Highway spur; and
• a further $6.9million for work on the Derby police station, $7.2million for the Kimberley district police complex and $2.6million for the Warmun police station.

• $6million to redevelop Karratha Senior High School;
• $4.4million in additions and improvements to Hedland Senior High School;
• a $62million allocation to construct and seal Stage Two of the Karratha-Tom Price link road;
• a further $5.996million to extend the dual carriageway and build passing lanes on Dampier Road;
• a further $6million allocation as part of the $90million development of the Hedland Regional Resource Centre in South Hedland;
• ongoing upgrade of the South Hedland police station, with $6.7million set aside for additions and alterations to facilities;
• a further $2.9million for work on the new Jigalong police station, as recommended by the Gordon inquiry; and
• continuing works on the Pilbara District police complex, with a further $6.3million allocated.

• $70million for the next major stage of the new Perth-Bunbury Highway and almost $3million for the construction of the Gordon Road bridge;
• an additional $1.9million to complete improvements to Pinjarra Senior High School and $750,000 to start work on the $8.8million South Halls Head Primary School;
• $181,000 to complete the Pinjarra-Boddington Railway reconstruction and rail heritage centre, including the construction of the Pinjarra Railway station;
• more than $24million to be used to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in the region;
• $1million as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to works on the Mandurah Community Health Service (Stage Two) and the Peel Health Campus Emergency Departments; and
• $1.6million to start work on a new $3.7million Murray District Health Centre to include accommodation for GP services, specialist consulting rooms, aged care, mental and Aboriginal health services.

• $33.8million over the Budget and forward estimates period as part of the State Government's commitment to upgrade and maintain electricity services;
• $11.6million to build the Bridgetown inner-bypass;
• $2million for works on the Old Coast Road and $2.5million between Mowen Road and Nannup and $5.2million of a $8.44million commitment to construct passing lanes on the South Western Highway;
• $10million on Healthcare, including more than $5million on improving mental health services and $3million to kick-start the $65million Busselton Integrated District Health service project;
• $2million toward the completion of the Bunbury Back Beach Coastal Enhancement Project;
• $1.9million to be spent on the provision of sewerage to the Picton Industrial Estate to allow for the further development of industrial land;
• $10.4million to complete a new 72-bed minimum-security unit at Bunbury Regional Prison to help improve offender rehabilitation;
• more than $3million to upgrade the Harvey police station;
• $24.5million to be allocated for ongoing works to the new school at Dalyellup, the new $17million Manea Senior College and the $23million Cape Naturaliste College at Vasse;
• an additional $4million to be spent on improvements to Newton Moore Senior High School;
• $4million to dredge Bunbury Port; and
• $1.66million for remedial works on the Logue Brook ($500,000) and Wellington Dams ($1.16million).

• $2.4million for work on the Geraldton Foreshore Redevelopment and Central Business District Revitalisation projects as part of the State Government's commitment of $9.98million over six years;
• an allocation of $2.9million for works on the Goldfields Highway between Wiluna and Meekatharra;
• a further $5million as part of the $15million redevelopment of Geraldton High School, as well as John Willcock College;
• a further $6.8million as part of an $8million package for improvements to Kalbarri District High School;
• a further $24.5million to complete works on the berth five iron ore facility at Geraldton port; and
• $1.0million to complete works on a new electricity sub-station near Greenough.

• $4.7million for roadworks on the Great Eastern Highway between Hines Hill and Merredin;
• $7.6million for roadworks between Merredin and Walgoolan and $630,000 for passing lanes between Wooroloo and Northam;
• Great Northern Highway; Passing lanes and widening between Bindoon and New Norcia ($2.77million) and New Norcia to Walebing ($3.05million), road realignment and reconstruction between Waddington and Miling ($9.45million);
• a further $1.0million for improvements to Narrogin Senior High School;
• an allocation of $1.9million as part of an total commitment of $8.69million to redevelop the Moora multi-purpose centre;
• $920,000 as part of a $1.38million commitment to FESA volunteer facilities at Dalwallinu;
• $5.6million as part of a continuing $39million package for farmland water improvements; and
• $10million for new buildings as part of the $13.43million construction cost commitment to relocate the Midland sale yards to Muchea.

• $29million for a new water reservoir at Kalgoorlie-Boulder;
• $19.72million for ongoing works on the Eyre Highway, including improvements between Caiguna East and Balladonia;
• $3.98million as part of an $11.09million project to improve the South Coast Hwy;
• $3million to complete works on the new Hopetoun Primary School;
• $2million to the Esperance Port Authority for container handling equipment;
• $1.89million to start the upgrade of Kalgoorlie Court; and
• $1.5million for the Kalgoorlie Regional Resource Centre.

• $2.09million as part of a $14.44million allocation to build and seal the Chester Pass Rd to Albany Hwy;
• $4.5million as part of a $6.84million allocation to build the Mt Barker northern bypass;
• $5.7million to the Country High School Hostels Authority towards the redevelopment of the Albany Residential College;
• $1.04million to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority in Albany, for land and building works;
• $1.5million as part of a $14.9million allocation to build the Albany Entertainment and Convention Centre; and
• $8.0million allocation for the Albany Waterfront Development project.