State Budget 2015-2016:
- The Pilbara to receive services and infrastructure boost from Royalties for Regions
- Part of Royalties for Regions $4 billion investment over four years in regional WA
Western Australia’s Pilbara region is set to benefit from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions investment of $4 billion over the next four years in health, community services, education, sport and recreation, Aboriginal initiatives, agriculture and tourism.
Treasurer Mike Nahan said the funding would provide essential services and infrastructure that would drive economic development, creating jobs and generating economic opportunities.
Specific projects funded across the 2015-16 State Budget and forward estimates include:
- $756.9 million for the Pilbara Cities Initiative, which include:
- Karratha Health Campus – $199.3 million
- Spoilbank Marina – $72 million
- Karratha City Centre infrastructure works – $86.8 million
- Pilbara Underground Power project – $65 million
- Karratha City of the North project – $36.1 million
- Newman Town Centre Revitalisation – $10.6 million
- Pilbara Education Partnership – $14.1 million
- Dampier Community Hub – $3.5 million
- New subacute mental health facilities in Karratha – $14.9 million
- Non-Government Organisation Housing Strategic Intervention – $32.9 million
- Marine Parks Management $4 million – Dampier Archipelago Marine Park and Regnard Marine Management Area
- Allied Health Training Centre in the new Hedland Health Campus – $9.6 million.
There will be investment throughout the State in the following categories totalling $4 billion across the forward estimates, which will include funding for the Pilbara region:
- Seizing the Opportunity in Agriculture – including Water for Food, Northern Beef Industry Strategy and WA Open for Business
- Health – including Royal Flying Doctor Service, St John Ambulance Services, Ear Health program, North West Health Initiative and Renal Dialysis Service Expansion
- Aboriginal Initiatives – including the North West Drug and Alcohol Support program and Regional Youth Justice Strategy
- Tourism – including Regional Visitors Centres program and Parks for People
- Sport and recreation – including Supporting Community Sport, Community Pool Revitalisation program and Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme
- Community support services – including Country Age Pension Fuel Card, Regional Workers Incentives and the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme
- Education – including Regional e-Learning Program, Boarding Away from Home and Better Beginnings
- Economic Development – including Regional Buy Local initiatives.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the $4 billion Royalties for Regions investment would attract further government and private investment into the State’s regions.
“Royalties for Regions is about strengthening and growing our regions and this investment will help regional communities realise their economic potential for the benefit of all West Australians,” Mr Redman said.
All of the State’s nine regional areas now have access to a revitalisation fund that can be used for priority projects that enhance the economic and social development of each region. Royalties for Regions, through the Pilbara Cities Initiative, has invested $832.1 million since 2008-09 to revitalise the region.
In addition, the Pilbara region also has the opportunity to access funding from the $362 million allocated over the next four years to implement major economic, social and community development projects that arise from Regional Investment Blueprints.
Fact File
- Royalties for Regions promotes and facilitates economic, business and social development in regional WA for the benefit of all West Australians
- Since 2008, the State Government has invested $6.1 billion into more than 3,600 Royalties for Regions-funded projects and programs, including transfers to the Future Fund and other Special Purpose Accounts
- The Future Fund has received $807 million from Royalties for Regions since 2012-13, with a further $126 million to be transferred in 2015-16
- For more information on Royalties for Regions projects, visit Bigger Picture – Regions
Source: WA Government