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The McGowan Government’s strong investment in regional Western Australia continues, with the State Budget funding vital job-creating projects and services to assist with the State’s recovery.

As part of the unprecedented $644 million WA Household Electricity Credit, each and every household in regional WA will receive a $600 credit on their electricity bill by the end of the year.

This first-of-its kind announcement recognises that financial support and relief for Western Australians is important to help continue our recovery from the pandemic.

Regional communities will also benefit from the McGowan Government’s major announcement to recruit 800 more police officers, on top of the 300 new police officers already being delivered.

This is the largest increase on record, and is expected to result in WA having the highest number of police officers per person of all States.

The Budget includes a total of $4.2 billion in Royalties for Regions funding across regional WA, and a $7.5 billion investment in infrastructure in the regions.

The McGowan Government continues to support vital services across regional WA, such as $239.8 million for regional school bus services, $1 billion to subsidise water costs for country users, and $200 million to support remote Aboriginal communities.

The Budget fully funds the suite of regional projects announced as part of the $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan, which is delivering support for businesses and households, and driving jobs and economic growth in the region.

The 2020-21 State Budget includes:

• $78.1 million for Stage 3 of Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project, on top of the $34.4 million already invested in Stages 1 and 2;
• $125.3 million to upgrade TAFE campuses across regional WA;
• $25 million for free TAFE short courses to upskill thousands of Western Australians, with a variety of free courses available;
• $32 million to expand the Lower Fees, Local Skills program and significantly reduce TAFE fees across 39 high priority courses;
• $231.7 million for capital programs at regional primary and secondary schools to deliver first-class learning experiences for WA students;
• $21.4 million for the Regional Aviation Recovery Program to ensure affordable airfares for residents and tourists in regional WA;
• $3 million in total for regional aviation support to ensure a minimum level of service to regional locations;
• $116 million across the State for the Regional Land Booster package that will make residential, commercial and industrial lots more affordable;
• $100 million for the Regional State Road Safety Improvement Program;
• An additional $5 million to the Exploration Incentive Scheme in 2020-21 to help accelerate exploration investment across WA;
• $121.6 million for priority upgrades and improvements across WA’s regional ports;
• $25 million for the Healthy Estuaries WA program for improvement works in estuaries across regional WA;
• $13 million to upgrade, refurbish and maintain police stations across regional WA;
• $38.9 million to fast-track upgrades to water services in remote and town-based Aboriginal communities;
• $9.77 million for Aboriginal regional suicide prevention plans in each region of WA prioritising Aboriginal-led and locally endorsed initiatives that accommodate a culturally informed social and emotional wellbeing approach to suicide prevention;
• $51.2 million in renewable energy infrastructure as part of a Regional Infrastructure Stimulus Package;
• $22.2 million for sport and community infrastructure in regional WA;
• $87.7 million for other infrastructure upgrades at tourist destinations and natural attractions across regional WA;
• $18.3 million to upgrade Moonamang Road to support development in the Ord;
• $10 million to build the access road in Murujuga ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park to support the development of the Living Knowledge Centre and World Heritage Listing;
• $10.5 million to upgrade the entrance road to Boodarie Strategic Industrial Area in Hedland;
• $7 million for immediate measures to assist with access to the Carnarvon fascine while also finalising and implementing a long-term plan;
• $16.6 million towards the delivery of a new power station for Esperance;
• $7 million to expand the capacity of the Joe Lord Core Library in Kalgoorlie that stores core samples that contain valuable geoscientific information for exploration companies and others seeking mineral discoveries;
• $18 million for the construction of a 75-bed Aboriginal short stay accommodation facility in Geraldton, providing temporary accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting Geraldton;
• $3 million towards the construction of two new fast speed ferry jetties for passenger and commercial boats, including supporting new marine tourism ventures and tourism developments at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands;
• $8.65 million to invest in upgraded infrastructure, including roads and drainage in East Keralup to attract private industry and create local jobs;
• $38 million of additional funding towards the Bunbury Hospital redevelopment, on top of the $22.8 million already allocated; and
• $3.08 million to complete the final stage of the Margaret River Main Street Redevelopment Project, on top of the $5.5 million already invested into the project. 

The McGowan Government has a record of major investment across regional WA over the past four years. Projects currently underway or completed include:

• $22 million towards Stage 1 and 2 of the Chinatown Revitalisation Project in Broome;
• fast-track the Great Northern Highway Ord River North Stage 3 and 4 with construction to commence in March 2021;
• $51.5 million for the upgrade of Duncan Road and Gordon Downs Road;
• $25.8 million to upgrade Great Northern Highway from Broome to Kununurra;
• $42.7 million to upgrade Tanami Road;
• $68.5 million for the Great Northern Highway upgrade at Bow River and Maggie’s Jump Up;
• $36 million to continue improvements of the Gibb River Road;
• $65.7 million to continue work on upgrades to Broome-Cape Leveque Road (created 290 jobs with nearly two thirds of total project work hours on site completed by Aboriginal people);
• $20 million over five years into the Aboriginal Ranger Program;
• $19.3 million towards upgrades to Broome Senior High School;
• $25 million for the Kimberley Schools program to drive better education outcomes in the region;
• $310 million for the ongoing construction of the Karratha to Tom Price Road;
• $54 million towards the upgrade of the Marble Bar Road through Coongan Gorge;
• $136.5 million in funding towards the Port Hedland Spoilbank Marina and waterfront development;
• $13.8 million to the Pilbara Health Initiative for medical specialists to service Karratha Health Campus and surrounding areas;
• $61.4 million to redevelop the Newman Health Service;
• $15 million towards much-needed upgrades and repairs at Hedland Senior High School
• $8 million to complete work on the Karratha Health Campus;
• $14.8 million towards the Step Up/Step Down mental health facility in Karratha;
• $17.8 million to support the Karlarra House residential aged care facility in Port Hedland;
• $18.8 million towards the new 38-bed residential aged and palliative care facility in Carnarvon;
• $26.6 million to continue to deliver the Carnarvon Community College;
• $40 million towards the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway between Emu Rocks and Norseman including reconstructing, overlaying and widening sections;
• $24.8 million for upgrades to Great Eastern Highway between Anzac Drive and Gatacre Drive in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, created 110 jobs;
• $18.34 million for South Regional TAFE’s new Esperance campus;
• $8 million to the Kalgoorlie City Centre project, which will help to transform central Kalgoorlie while driving local jobs and Aboriginal economic development in construction;
• $164.1 million for sealing priority sections of Outback Way;
• $6.3 million to build an MRI suite at Kalgoorlie Health Campus;
• $12.5 million in funding towards the 10-bed Step Up/Step Down mental health facility in Kalgoorlie;
• $23.8 million for upgrades to the Tjuntjuntjara community housing and infrastructure;
• $9.8 million to Killarney Retirement Living for the construction of a new 45-unit independent village for aged pensioners;
• $6.9 million for the State Barrier Fence Esperance extension;
• $4.78 million for the Esperance indoor sports stadium;
• $30 million for the upgrade of South Coast Highway – Albany to Jerramungup;
• $175 million for the Albany Ring Road project;
• $13.1 million to deliver radiotherapy services in Albany;
• $6.3 million for a new Performing Arts Centre at Albany Senior High School;
• $9.8 million for upgrades to the Albany Secondary Education Support Centre and North Albany Senior High School;
• $15.2 million major upgrade to Albany’s Mount Lockyer Primary School;
• $5.72 million for the Katanning Early Childhood Hub;
• $10 million to better protect the Abrolhos Islands and create tourism and job opportunities;
• $82.3 million for the redevelopment of the Geraldton Health Campus;
• $10.2 million for the Geraldton Step Up/Step Down mental health facility;
• $35 million to upgrade roads related to the Square Kilometre Array project;
• $6.5 million to upgrade the Geraldton Airport runway;
• $21.4 million in upgrades to Geraldton’s Champion Bay Senior High School;
• $32.1 million to build the Mandurah Station car park;
• $49.3 million funding towards the Transform Peel project;
• $10 million for the Mandurah eastern foreshore redevelopment;
• $27.5 million for the Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation;
• $4.9 million to upgrade Peel Health Campus emergency department;
• $4.4 million in upgrades to Peel Health Campus including an expanded car park; overhauled nurse call system and increased security, as well as a range of proactive building maintenance projects;
• $7 million to upgrade level crossings on the South West train line in Cookernup, Coolup and Waroona;
• $18 million for the Bushfire Centre of Excellence in Nambeelup;
• $8.7 million for improvement and safety works on Pinjarra-Williams Road;
• $4.95 million to help implement the Dwellingup Adventure Trails project;
• unveiled the designs of the brand new $54.7 million Australind railcar sets;
• $4.6 million for a 10-bed Step Up/Step Down facility in Bunbury, which opened in March 2020;
• $25.4 million investment to increase prison capacity at Bunbury Regional Prison by 160 additional beds;
• $60 million for the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund;
• $18 million for the Collie Futures Fund;
• $2 million Collie Futures Small Grants Program;
• $5.2 million to deliver the tourism precinct for Collie’s Lake Kepwari;
• $85 million to construct Stages 1 and 2 for Bussell Highway dual carriageway;
• $12.2 million to upgrade Collie Hospital;
• $58 million for the Margaret River Perimeter Road;
• $30 million for the Margaret River High School redevelopment;
• $87.5 million for the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Route;
• $22.5 million towards road safety treatments to the Great Eastern Highway from Walgoolan to Southern Cross;
• $17.68 million towards the Central East Aged Care Alliance network of 71 independent living units across 11 Wheatbelt shires;
• $10 million of funding allocated to AgLime transport networks to support the safe and efficient travel of freight vehicles;
• $42 million redevelopment on the Northam Health Service;
• $17.7 million for the redevelopment and upgrade of Merredin District Hospital in the Eastern Wheatbelt District and the Narrogin District Health Campus in the Upper Great Southern District;
• $5.23 million upgrades to the Jurien Bay Health Centre;
• $5.3 million upgrades to Moora Health Service;
• $7 million to roll out high-speed broadband to farming properties across WA through the Digital Farm program; and
• $33.9 million to drive local jobs in regional areas through the Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants program.  

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As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

“Regional households are big winners in the State Budget.

“Financial support and relief for Western Australians is important to help continue our recovery from the pandemic. That’s why we’ve taken the unprecedented step of giving each and every household in WA a $600 credit on their electricity bill this year.

“We know that the pandemic has been extremely challenging for many in our community, and this assistance will make life a little easier for local families.

“I’m also pleased to announce that the local community will benefit from our major boost to police officers. This is the largest increase on record, placing more officers out on the beat and keeping the community safe.

“The State Budget fully delivers on the $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan, which includes major upgrades to infrastructure and services across regional WA, driving economic recovery and creating a pipeline of local jobs.

“Even though COVID-19 caused the largest global economic shock in nearly 100 years, WA’s economic and financial position is better than first expected due to our world-leading response and border controls.

“By keeping WA safe and strong, Western Australia can recover from COVID-19, stronger than ever.”

As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

“The State Budget continues our record of investment in regional WA.

“The McGowan Government’s ongoing guarantee to deliver Royalties for Regions ensures Western Australians have access to quality services, no matter where they live.

“For the past four years, we have been focused on creating local jobs, delivering our election commitments in the region, and ensuring we continue to improve local infrastructure and services like hospitals and schools.”