Gallop Government delivering on commitment to the Mid-West

26/8/02
The Gallop Government is setting the Mid-West Region on the path to a buoyant and diverse economic future.
Mid-West Minister Kim Chance today detailed a series of current and planned projects that would make Geraldton the envy of many other regional centres of similar population.
Mr Chance said the $100million Geraldton Port upgrade, the $88million Southern Transport Corridor development and the $43million Mt Magnet-Leinster Road upgrade would form the foundation for a sustained period of future economic growth.
"Private investors are lining up to become involved in this exciting future with plans for expansion of the grains industry, ore mining, processing and export, wind power generation, oil exploration and marine farming," he said.
"At the same time, the State Government is pushing ahead with other plans to improve the region's social and economic base with spin-offs for tourism, training and education."
These projects include the $35million redevelopment of the regional hospital; the next stage of the Batavia Marina redevelopment, including the construction of a $25million hotel complex; the Walkaway horticultural project; the Marine Centre of Excellence; and the Mid-West bid to host the $1billion SKA radioastronomy project.
Mr Chance said there had been significant progress made on many of the projects since the Gallop Government came to office in February last year.
"The pace of this progress is indicative of the proactive approach we have taken to the development of Geraldton and the Mid-West which had frankly stymied under the previous Coalition government," he said.
"The Liberal and National parties spent years planning and discussing and printing glossy documents, rather than getting on with the job.
"The people of Geraldton and the Mid-West were sick and tired of hearing how things were going to happen and not when or how; that was why they voted for change.
"We were elected on a promise to deliver to the region and, as the following extensive 'State of the Mid-West' summary shows, those projects are now in the process of being delivered."
Minister's office: 9213 6700

STATE OF THE MID-WEST
(Summary of progress on major projects)

• Geraldton Port Enhancement Project: Funding approved and deepening work will start in October. Dredging of the inner harbour began last month.

• Geraldton Port Corridor: Planning and land resumption almost complete and environmental approvals obtained. A contract is scheduled to be let in March, 2003.

• Geraldton North-South Bypass Road: Planning almost complete, with only the northern section still to be finalised.

• Foreshore Redevelopment and CBD Revitalisation Project: Next major steps are preparation of detailed design and initiation of an economic opportunities audit. The State Government recently provided $1million towards the project.

• Batavia Coast Marina prime waterfront development: Servicing and subdivision of land for sale has been completed with just seven mixed zoning lots remaining. Construction of three-storey Broadwater Foreshore Offices complex is under way. Local company Crothers Construction is building the $25million hotel complex for the Kareelya Property Group, due for completion in 2004.

• Mount Magnet-Leinster Road: Currently under construction and due for completion by June 2003, providing a fully-sealed road from Geraldton to the Eastern Goldfields.

• Fishing and marine education and training centre: Water testing under way to finalise site and designs currently being developed.

• Marine Research and Interpretive Centres: $110,000 secured to develop detailed architectural drawings for the research component and a further $40,000 for a feasibility study for the interpretive centre.

• Indian Ocean Drive: Sealing of remaining 60km section between Cervantes-Lancelin expected to be completed mid-2005.

• Geraldton Regional Hospital redevelopment: The design team has undertaken the current master planning phase of the project with the aim of achieving substantial completion of the works by December 2004.

• Mumbida Wind Farm: A joint venture of Western Power, Enercon and Powercorp, the anticipated completion date is mid-2003 assuming all approvals are in place by required timeframes. Tenders for roads and civil construction expected to be called by October.

• Walkaway Horticultural Precinct: Proposal being prepared to secure funding for explorative drilling to prove the water resource in the Allanooka Groundwater sub-area.

• Narngulu Waste Water Treatment Plant: Hydrogeological investigations have been conducted on-site. As soon as all approvals have been given the Water Corporation aims to finalise land matters and design requirements to expedite construction to enable completion of the project in the 2003/2004 financial year.

• Mount Gibson Iron Project: Well advanced with the first shipments of ore now planned for export in the second half of 2003.

• Magellan Metals Pty Ltd: Lead Oxide mining and beneficiation for export through Geraldton. Feasibility study completed in 2001 and funding is being sourced to enable mining to start in late 2003.

• ROC Oil Ltd, Cliff Head, Dongara: Significant oil resources discovered offshore from Greenhead. Further drilling will be undertaken to determine the size of the oil reserve

• Marine Farms Limited: Commercial production of mahi-mahi fish within a land based aquaculture development. The project will develop on a staged basis starting with a pilot plant expected to be established by November if all approvals can be met. The project has the potential to produce over 2,000 tonnes of product per year and directly employ up to 100 people.

• Coronation Wind Farm: Energy Visions Pty Ltd proposal for a 58-turbine wind farm capable of generating 104.4MW of energy has received planning approval from the Shire of Chapman Valley. Next major steps are to undertake wind monitoring and network access studies to prove the project's viability.

• $1billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radioastronomy project: The State Government has committed $800,000 in a bid to lure the world's biggest radio telescope to Geraldton. Funds will be used to carry out further studies. A decision on the location is expected from the Commonwealth in 2006.

++++++