State Budget 2008-09: Building Regional WA - Mid-West to benefit from huge capital works program

Regional Western Australia is driving both the State and ultimately national economies and the Carpenter Government is well aware of this phenomenal contribution, Treasurer Eric Ripper said today.

Mr Ripper said the Government would spend more than twice as much per capita on regional infrastructure as it did in the metropolitan area in the 2008-09 Budget.

"In 2008-09, capital works spending per capita in the metropolitan region will be $1,459 per person," he said.

"But across regional WA the Government will spend $3,296 per person - that is $1,837 or 126 per cent per person more."

The Treasurer said the Government would commit a record $26.1billion on capital works across the State over the next four years with $7.6billion to be spent this financial year.

"This is our eighth consecutive balanced Budget and the Government will return every single cent of the surplus to build infrastructure and therefore reduce the amount we need to borrow for this program," he said.

State-wide, the Government was committing heavily to health care, education, law and order, child protection and disability services.

Overall the Government would spend:

·         $4.5 billion for health care, an increase of 5.8 per cent with 22.7 per cent more for mental health;

·         $3.6billion for education and training - up 3.9 per cent;

·         $2billion for law and order and community safety - up $135million;

·         $388million for disability services - almost double the amount spent in 2000-01; and

·         $1.2 billion on tax relief - with a 15 per cent cut to stamp duty on the median-priced home, saving the homebuyer about $3,000.

Mr Ripper said capital works in the Mid-West had been allocated nearly $75million in the Budget. 

The region's road infrastructure was allocated $25million to continue works on stage two of the Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor.  Stage two would comprise a new highway from the North West Coastal Highway, connecting eastward through to the Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road near the airport.

Water resources and infrastructure were also key priorities, with $26.5million budgeted, including:

·         $15million for the Walkway Pumping station and pipeline upgrade;

·         $5.3million for water and wastewater minor works across the Mid-West;

·         $5.2million for upgrades to the Dongara Waste Water Treatment Plant;

·         $1.9million for stage one infill sewerage works in South Geraldton;

·         $858,000 for sewerage upgrades in Geraldton;

·         $817,000 for works on the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Narngulu;

·         $653,000 for works on the Glenfield Tank in Geraldton;

·         $474,000 for a roof on the 2250kl tank at Dongara;

·         $415,000 to continue work on the Moonyoonooka extensions in Miles Road;

·         $414,000 to continue upgrades to the pumping station in Glass Street, Kalbarri;

·         $259,000 to continue work on the White Peak Tank in Geraldton;

·         $250,000 for expansion works to the Kalbarri Waste Water Treatment Plant;

·         $61,000 to continue work, redirecting flows from Greenough to the Narngulu Waste Water Treatment Plant; and

·         $60,000 for dam replacement at Arrowsmith, Morawa;

Energy resources and infrastructure received more than $10million for projects including:

·         $4.1million for the development of new renewable energy sources in the region (as part of a $50 million statewide investment in renewable sources) ;

·         $3million for the installation of a second transformer at the Rangeway sub-station;

·         $1million to commence work on the Mungarra Gas Turbine;

·         $746,000 for distribution works in the Mid-West;

·         $501,000 for the Geraldton Gas Turbine;

·         $488,000 for works to improve reliability at Wiluna;

·         $61,000 for network hardening on Sandstone Road; and

·         $12,000 for a second transformer at Chapman north of Geraldton.  The new transformer will allow for the future development of the area and will improve power reliability in the area (total project cost $6.9million).

Funding in the 2008-09 State Budget for other projects included:

·         $3million for miscellaneous works at the Geraldton Port;

·         $2.8million to complete works on the Geraldton Foreshore Redevelopment and CBD Revitalisation Project;

·         The Mid-West region's education and training facilities received $2million for works on the Coast Marine Centre.

·         $1.9million to complete the replacement of the Fisheries Department patrol vessel McLaughlan;

·         $910,000 to complete the development of the Morawa and Perenjori Multi-Purpose Health Centre (total project cost $9.13million); and

·         $500,000 to refurbish the floating pens at the Geraldton Batavia Coast Marina.