CME welcomes the following Budget announcements to support regional and remote WA:
- Regional Aviation Recovery Program – $21.4 million to fund affordable airfares to Broome, Kununurra and Exmouth, supporting regional communities and local businesses.
- Royalties for Regions Program – $4.2 billion guaranteed over the forward estimates to support infrastructure delivery across regional WA.
- Regional Land Booster Packages – $116.4 million to make lots more affordable, including industrial estate lots in Broome, Collie, Karratha, Kununurra, Pinjarra and Hedland
- Black Spot Program – $27 million in 2020-21 to improve safety and efficiency across WA’s worst roads, including 48 locations in regional WA such as Derby and Broome.
PILBARA
- North Regional TAFE’s Pundulmurra campus – $22 million for a new workshop in South Hedland to expand training for plant mechanic and engineering trades as well as commercial cookery in support of WA resource sector needs.
- Newman wastewater treatment plant – $1 million in contributions towards a $6.26 million upgrade, the remainder to be paid for by the Shire of East Pilbara and BHP.
- Port Hedland Dust Program – An additional $2 million of industry-funded expenditure to continue implementation and monitoring of air quality.
- Additional three services for counselling, advocacy and support services in the Pilbara over two years.
- Newman Health Service – $64.6 million to redevelop the service, with an additional $15 million paid by BHP.
SOUTH WEST
- Bussell Highway duplication – $85 million on Stages 1 and 2, including Australian Government contributions.
- Albany Trade Workshop – $17 million to replace existing workshops to meet contemporary training requirements for automotive, engineering and construction trades at South Regional TAFE.
- Koolinup Emergency Services Centre – $5.4 million over two years to complete the construction of the centre, improving the emergency management capability in Collie and the surrounding areas.
- Bunbury Hospital Redevelopment – $35.4 million to commence redevelopment, providing a high-quality modern medical facility for the region and address projected demand for the greater Bunbury area.
- Re-engine of the Tuart Pilot Launch – $550,000 in 2020-21 on a replacement engine for the Southern Ports Authority’s primary pilot launch.
- Bunbury Outer Ring Road – Bringing forward expenditure of Stages 2 and 3.
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE
- Central Regional TAFE’s Kalgoorlie campus – $10 million for a new heavy plant and engineering trades workshop in support of the WA resource sector needs.
- Regional aviation support – $3 million to ensure a minimum level of service to regional locations such as Mount Magnet, Wiluna and Meekatharra.
- Coolgardie-Esperance Highway – $10.4 million to upgrade Emu Rocks (total $52 million committed by the WA and Australian Government).
- Mental Health Step Up/Step Down Facility – $13.2 million to support 10 beds across the forward estimates.
- Esperance Port – An additional $3.5 million in demolishing the Berth 2 Shiploader Circuit.
- Mid West Pipeline – $1 million in 2020-21 to connect to a LNG production plant in Mount Magnet to supply nearby gold mining customers.
KIMBERLEY
- Kimberley Port – $3 million in upgrades to the underdeck access system and wharf protective coating.
- Fitzroy River Management Plan – $1.1 million to 2021-22.
- Ambulance services – Additional $9.2 million to 2023-24 to ensure the Kimberley community has continual timely access to ambulances services.