Details of resource projects underway

Investment in resource projects will not only lead Western Australia out of the recession but provide more than 27,000 jobs over the next 18 months, Premier Carmen Lawrence said today.

She said a detailed analysis of State projects - and approved by all necessary government authorities - showed clearly just how vital Western Australia's development was to national recovery.

"It is here right now that we can see the first signs of a return to economic confidence," Dr Lawrence said.

"Latest studies by our own economists in the Department of State Development are suggesting Western Australia will achieve a growth rate of 2.5 per cent over the next 12 months - a quarter of a percentage point higher than last year.

"It is a small increase but it is critical - and it will be happening at a time when the growth rate nationally could again be at a standstill."

Dr Lawrence said across the State resource developers had either started or were about to begin work on 19 major projects worth close to $6,600 million.

Construction work on the ventures, which ranged from a major new coal mine to a gas gathering scheme in the Carnarvon basin, would create at least 6,000 site construction jobs and indirectly a further 21,000.

When completed, there would be permanent jobs for at least 4,000 people, including those created by flow-on employment.

"Although these figures are good, they are in fact a conservative estimate," Dr Lawrence said.

"We have not calculated the effect of smaller projects."

The schedule of projects included:

·         Worsley Alumina's $106 million refinery enhancement;

·         Wagerup Alumina's $300 million refinery expansion;

·         The $80 million Yandicoogina iron ore mine;

·         Brockman Detritals' $50 million iron ore mine;

·         The $100 million Hismelt R & D facility;

·         The $1,100 million process facility for North West Shelf gas;

·         The $1,700 million Goodwyn gas production platform;

·         The $115 million Carnarvon Basin gas gathering scheme;

·         The $340 million Cossack Oil Field development;

·         The $60 million Kwinana oil refinery upgrade;

·         The $20 million Kwinana sodium cyanide plant;

·         The $23 million Dampier salt development;

·         The $18 million Leslie Salt expansion project;

·         The $41 million Kalgoorlie nickel smelter expansion;

·         The $50 million Kwinana nickel refinery expansion;

·         The $200 million Leinster nickel mine expansion;

·         The $100 million Forrestania nickel mine;

·         The $2,000 million Collie power station; and

·         The yet to be finally costed Premier Coal Mine.

Dr Lawrence said the expected recovery was part of the State Government efforts to get the local economy moving.

"Although there are still some people who want to talk this State down, the fact is that here in the middle of a serious national and international recession we have been achieving some extraordinarily good results," she said.

"It is absolute rot to suggest this Government is stalling development.

"The reality is that we have some 53 major projects before us at the present time and of these only seven are presently seeking Government approvals.

"Where there are delays in starting, it is not so much Government approvals which are causing the hold up, it is normal commercial decisions related either to finance or market considerations.

"I readily accept that we could improve even on our approval figures and in the past few weeks have accelerated informal discussions with major industries and their representative organisations on ways in which the Government processes can be speeded up.

"I am now working on a formula, soon to be presented to Cabinet, which will see to it that anyone who wants to invest in the State is given clear guidelines at a very early stage of what the Government will expect of the development for it to be acceptable."

The Premier said at the same time the Government was reviewing its Aboriginal heritage, planning, and environmental legislation to ensure approvals under those laws could be handled even more efficiently.

"But starting up a $500 million mining project is not the same as opening a corner shop," she said.

"And today, because our society is more concerned for the environment and because we have a greater appreciation for our historic heritage, we quite naturally have to take these matters into account in the planning process.

"We cannot simply ignore these impacts.  Large projects do make large impacts."