WA Budget benefits Midland region

8/5/03
Investment in education and training in the Midland region is a hallmark of this year's State Budget.
A massive $12.7million has been allocated to complete new primary schools in Midvale, Koongamia, West Midland, Upper Swan and Ellenbrook.
Another $2million over two years has been set aside to relocate the Swan TAFE campus administration from Bentley to the Midland area.
Treasurer Eric Ripper said the 2003-04 Budget delivered funding increases for health, education, law and order and the environment.
"For the third year in a row, the Gallop Government is meeting the community's priorities in these key areas," Mr Ripper said.
"Our health services alone will get a $1,000million boost in new money over the next four years including funding to employ an extra 150 nurses in addition to the 428 recruited in the past two years."
Swan Districts Hospital will receive $1.9million over the next three years as part of a $4million project to redevelop the emergency department, and $5.5million will be spent over five years redeveloping Kalamunda Hospital.
Mr Ripper said the State Government's priority was to continue to build Western Australia, ensuring it remains a vibrant, safe and smart community, with a strong economy leading to jobs growth and low unemployment.
He also said the Government was investing in important infrastructure to build a strong economy with new jobs and opportunities.
Over $2.2million has been allocated to recruit more than 50 transit guards and $4.4million set aside for cameras and closed circuit security to ensure our passenger trains and stations are safe for the community to use.
He said the State's police budget this year was a record total of $551.6million, an increase of 5.6 per cent. This includes $12.33million allocated this year to continue construction and development work at the Police Operations Support Facility in Midland.
Other local capital works highlighted for the area include:

• $2.95million over two years to upgrade the Midland train station;
• $13.36million to the Midland Redevelopment Authority to continue works in the local area;
• $5.3million set for property refurbishment under the Eastern Horizons Project targeting Midland, Midvale, Swan View ?
• $7.7million to produce 350 further housing lots in Ellenbrook.

Mr Ripper said funding education was a major priority of the Gallop Government.
"In addition to funding new schools, we are putting a lot of energy into the $27.8million Getting it Right, Literacy and Numeracy Program to provide our young people with the best start in life," he said.
In the past two years, 25 special literacy and numeracy teachers have been employed in the East Metropolitan region alone. More than 11,000 teachers across the State have taken advantage of the Government's $9.9million Notebooks for Teachers program, which provides teachers with computers and training to encourage them to become computer literate.
Middle Swan Primary School, which is taking part in the special 100 Schools Project to boost student skills in information technology, has been allocated $161,827 over four years for the rollout of new computer technology equipment.
Mr Ripper said increasing spending in key areas while balancing the Budget was only made possible by putting the State's finances on a sound footing.
Minister's office: 9222 9795