State Budget 2013-14: Building stronger communities - $117.3m for Goldfields-Esperance

• $45.7m Coolgardie-Esperance Hwy for the Esperance Port Access road
• $15m (including $7.5m from Royalties for Regions) for South Coast Hwy for Ravensthorpe’s heavy vehicle route
• $8m Kalgoorlie Court upgrade
• $7.7m for works on the Esperance Port Authority, including $4.7m for Hughes Road upgrade
• $16.9m (including $6.9m from Royalties for Regions) for Esperance Integrated District Health Service
• $15m towards redevelopment of Kalgoorlie regional resource centre
• $5m for the maintenance of water supply infrastructure
• $700,000 for the Wild Dog management plan

Goldfields-Esperance roads will receive a major boost as part of the $117million allocation for the region in the 2013-14 State Budget.

The funding includes $45.7million to complete the Esperance Port Access Road and $15million for the South Coast Highway to construct a heavy vehicle bypass route at Ravensthorpe.

It also includes $16.9million for the Esperance Integrated District Health Service.

Treasurer Troy Buswell said the Goldfields-Esperance region would benefit from a sustained investment in infrastructure this financial year as well as targeted social programs.

“The Liberal National Government’s commitment to investment in the Goldfields-Esperance will improve the standard of living in regional Western Australia,” Mr Buswell said.

“This year we are building on our record of investment in key services like health, education and police as the State Government continues to work to improve access to efficient and quality services for all West Australians.”

The Treasurer said the $386million surplus provided in the State Budget reflected the Government’s responsible decision-making to ensure a strong and vibrant economy for future generations of West Australians.

“The Government has made responsible decisions to ensure the continued growth of the Goldfields-Esperance region and build stronger, safer regional communities across WA,” he said.

Record investment in regional WA is set to continue with a total of $1.3billion budgeted through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program in 2013-14.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the Government’s Royalties for Regions program had supported more than 2,500 projects across WA since 2008.

“These include transformational programs such as Pilbara Cities; Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project; Mid West Investment Plan; Gascoyne Revitalisation; GROH Housing program; and the Southern Inland Health Initiative,” Mr Grylls said.

“This year’s State Budget builds on these programs and will further transform regional communities with a $300million commitment from the Liberal National Government over five years to help the State’s agricultural sector capitalise on opportunities.

“The Liberal National Government is making a real difference for people in regional WA and helping to create communities which are better places to live, work and invest.”

       Fact File

• Major State Budget initiatives that will benefit all of WA include:
• Health
• Additional $2.2b over the next four years for growth in demand for hospital services
• $31.8m for the ‘Closing the Gap’ program into improving health outcomes of indigenous people
• $66m for replacement of medical equipment to ensure patients are receiving the best care possible when they visit a WA hospital
• Regional Health
• $161m for the North West Health Initiative, from Royalties for Regions, to improve health and aged care facilities in towns across the North-West
• $72.3m for the Southern Inland Health Initiative, from Royalties for Regions, including funding for capital works at district hospitals, primary health centres and small hospitals and nursing posts in the southern half of the State
• Education
• Liberal National Government will spend an average of $15,621 per student this year, an increase of $513 per student from last year
• $1.5b to build new schools and improve existing schools
• Transport and Roads
• $342m to continue work on the $1b Gateway Project which will deliver a safer, more efficient road network to the Perth Airport precinct, surrounding businesses and residential areas
• $432m over four years towards building the 22km MAX Light Rail. Construction expected to start 2016
• $809m over four years to deliver major upgrades to the regional road network with works on the Great Northern, North West Coastal, Great Eastern and Collie Coalfields highways
• Seniors
• Nearly $40million in 2013-14 towards the Seniors Cost of Living Rebate
• Concessions for Utilities
• $308m over four years for the Cost of Living Assistance (CoLA) payment - designed to help low income West Australian families with their electricity bills
• From July 1, CoLA increased from $200 to $208 per eligible household
• Youth
• $10.3m over three years to upgrade 23 Police and Community Youth Centres
• Housing
• First Home Owner Grant will increase to $10,000 for first-time buyers of newly constructed homes to help stimulate additional stock of housing
• Law and Order
• $282m over the next four years for recruitment of 550 extra police and auxiliary officers
• $10.5m over four years to help attract officers into hard-to-fill regional postings
• Agriculture
• $300m over five years to allow WA farmers to capitalise on the growing Asian demand for fresh produce. This includes $40m in agriculture science, research and development programs
• Protecting the Community
• $12.3m to install Comprehensive Crew Protection Systems in 667 Department of Fire and Emergency Service and local government firefighting vehicles which operate at high-risk bushfires
• Sport and Recreation
• $2.5m for KidSport program, enabling more children to play team sports and engage with local communities
• WA Budget statements are available at http://ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au  

Treasurer’s office - 6552 6400

Regional Development Minister’s office - 6552 5500

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