State Budget 2007-08: Decisions For Our Future: Record capital works program

10/05/07 Capital works are crucial to Western Australia's continuing development and the State Government has allocated a record $21.

10/05/07
Capital works are crucial to Western Australia's continuing development and the State Government has allocated a record $21.6billion over the next four years to meet the future demands of households and businesses.
Treasurer Eric Ripper said a massive $5.8billion had been allocated to critical infrastructure projects in the 2007-08 Budget to ensure the State continued to grow and meet capacity demands both now and into the future.
"Capital works spending helps to build an even better WA for our community now and for our children," Mr Ripper said.
"Our State is thriving and we want our growth to produce benefits for all Western Australians."
The 2007-08 capital works program included:

  • $897million on electricity infrastructure to improve the safety and reliability of generation, transmission and distribution to meet the needs of the State's flourishing economy;
  • $766million for water, wastewater and drainage infrastructure, the investigation of new water sources and ongoing programs such as the Infill Sewerage program;
  • $706million to expand, maintain and improve roads with major projects, including the new Perth-to-Bunbury Highway, Stage Two of the Karratha-to-Tom Price Link Road, the Mitchell Freeway extension from Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road and Stages One to Three of the Broome Bypass of the Broome Highway;
  • $324million on health-related infrastructure, which is almost double the expenditure in 2006-07;
  • $295million for public schools and TAFE colleges around the State, involving works on 25 high schools and 15 primary schools;
  • $220million for police, prison and other law and order related projects; and
  • $99million to upgrade and improve the State's port facilities, further enhancing WA's export capacity.
The Treasurer said the Government would continue to review its capital works program to ensure that its focus was on delivering key projects that supported economic and population growth.
"We will continue to review the capital works program to ensure that timeframes are realistic and project costs are contained," he said.
Mr Ripper said it was important to realise that every cent of the Budget surplus was being put to good use.
"All of the surplus is going into infrastructure or retiring State debt - that means a healthy economy now and an even brighter future for all Western Australians," he said.
Treasurer's office - 9222 8788