State Budget 2007- 08: Decisions For Our Future - Midland-Kalamunda

10/05/07
Making Decisions for the future was the driving priority of the State Government's 2007-08 State Budget, Treasurer Eric Ripper said today.
"Western Australia has an economy that is the envy of the nation and we are making sure that we can continue to meet the challenges and opportunities of growth now and over the coming years," Mr Ripper said.
"That is why we have decided to invest a record $5.8billion on critical capital works over the next financial year and spend record levels on health, education, law and order, transport and climate change."
The Treasurer said ensuring Western Australians had the skills and knowledge to drive the State's economic prosperity into the future was a key priority for the Carpenter Government.
He said that was why the Government was committed to investing in education and training, highlighted locally with:

• $3.45million for the new specialist metal centre at Swan TAFE's Midland campus (total project cost $3.45million);
• $2.1million for purchasing new equipment for the construction, metals and mining training areas at Swan TAFE's Midland campus (total project cost $2.1million);
• $614,000 to complete additions and improvements to Bullsbrook District High School (total project cost $7million);
• $3million to complete construction of the new Ellenbrook Secondary College (total project cost $26million); and
• $7.3million to construct the Coolamon Primary School (total project cost $8.8million).

An additional $752,687 would be spent on maintenance work at local schools under the Fixing Our Schools Maintenance Program, including:

• $50,175 for Clayton View Primary School;
• $991 for Guildford Pre-Primary School;
• $33,905 for Helena Valley Primary School;
• $12,237 for Maida Vale Pre Primary School;
• $34,771 for Maida Vale Primary School;
• $54,541 for Midland Primary School;
• $31,596 for Midvale Primary School;
• $8,458 for Moorditj Noongar Community School;
• $39,595 for Woodbridge Primary School;
• $64,510 for Edney Road Primary School;
• $21,753 for Dawson Park Primary School;
• $19,448 for Falls Road Primary School;
• $52,328 for Gooseberry Hill Primary School;
• $5,249 for Lesmurdie Pre-Primary School; and
• $123,460 for Upper Swan Primary School.

Mr Ripper said the State Government's decision to commit a record spend of $4billlion towards health in this year's Budget would ensure Western Australia was on track to implement the Health Reform Committee's recommendations.
Locally, $200,000 would be spent starting the development of the new $181.2million Swan Health Campus which, when complete, would replace Swan District Hospital.
A further $500,000 would be spent to start work on Stage Two of the Kalamunda Hospital redevelopment, estimated to cost $15.439million.
The Treasurer said the 2007-08 Budget included $813.8million for the Western Australia Police - a 6.5 per cent increase on 2006-07 - which included:

• the recruitment of 90 extra police officers;
• an additional $17.7million to be spent on front line policing initiatives; and
• expanding operations of the Traffic Enforcement Group to major metropolitan arterial roads and regional roads to improve traffic safety.

Locally, the Government would spend $7.9million completing work on Stage Two of the Police Operations Support Facility, which would accommodate Traffic Support Services (total project cost $21.3million).
Mr Ripper said that as part of the Government's $5.8billion capital works program, the Government would spend:

• $500,000 relocating the pedestrian crossing at Midland train station (total project cost $500,000);
• $50,000 to commence upgrading facilities at Guildford train station (total project cost $5.555million);
• $4.951million to start construction of the Reid Highway, from West Swan Road to the Great Northern Highway (total project cost $75.175million). Work would include the construction of a four-lane dual carriageway and a bridge over the Swan River. (This project was part of the Safer Roads Program).

Mr Ripper said the 2007-08 Budget would invest heavily in targeting housing affordability, increased spending on child protection and ensuring the general State Government sector remained debt-free.
"The Carpenter Government's sound financial management means we have been able to offer households and business further tax relief, while at the same time keeping increases in household fees and charges below inflation," the Treasurer said.
"Our decisions for the future will mean that over the next four years we will be able to deliver tax relief worth an estimated $2.1billion."
Mr Ripper said the biggest winners would be first homebuyers, who would see a doubling of the stamp duty exemption thresholds for home and vacant land purchases from $250,000 to $500,000 and $150,000 to $300,000, respectively.
"This will mean that first homebuyers buying a $500,000 property will reap a saving of $20,700," he said.
"For the seventh consecutive year, there will be no increase in household electricity prices while the stamp duty rates on insurance will remain fixed.
"That means that in seven years, the Government has been able to reduce household fees and charges for a representative household by $413 or 10.8 per cent in real terms."
On top of freezing household electricity prices, $3.059billion would be spent over four years improving electricity infrastructure across the State, including the following improvements to the local electricity system:

• $2.443million for transmission works at Perth Airport (total project cost $12million); and
• $1.719million to complete work on the new Henley Brook substation (total project cost $8.812million).

The Government will also spend $22.402million to continue upgrading the Lower Helena Dam pumping station (total project cost $34.212million).
A total of $26.019million will be allocated to the Midland Redevelopment Authority for a range of subdivisional works, including $2million to complete work on the heritage conservation project at the Midland Railway Workshops.
Other key local works to be funded include:

• $25,333 for the Shire of Kalamunda to install of two floodlighting towers at John Reid Oval;
• $12,696 for the Shire of Kalamunda to construct a multi-discipline safety arena at the Walliston Riding and Pony Club;
• $35,996 for the Shire of Kalamunda to resurface eight netball courts and install fixed netball goal posts at the Foothills Netball Facility;
• $75,000 for upgrade and maintenance work at Midvale Speed Dome (total project cost $75,000); and
• $250,000 to complete improvement works at Gnangara Park (total project cost $2.268million).

Treasurer's office - 9222 9365