Budget 2011-12: Supporting the Goldfields-Esperance communities, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 20-May-2011
Member for Mining and Pastoral, Wendy Duncan MLC said the 2011-12 State Budget handed down today included $136.8 million in funding to support the local area and help build the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Ms Duncan said the highlight of the budget was the Royalties for Regions funding for the portlink project which would see Kalgoorlie-Boulder become an inland transport hub. Other highlights were funds put towards the education sector including work on Esperance Primary School’s administration block, and to the WA School of Mines for student accommodation.
“I am particularly pleased to see funding earmarked for student accommodation for the WA School of Mines, the first step in making sure that WASM is an international centre of excellence for mining education and research,” Ms Duncan said.
“The standard of education facilities in the regions, and access to education for remote students is the key factor in attracting people to live and work and make their homes in our regional areas. The Nationals in government are investing substantial funds to redress this, with upgrades to schools and the student accommodation throughout the regions,” she said.
Royalties for Regions funding of $538million to the new Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) package will dramatically improve all levels of clinical services across the Southern inland area of the WA Country Health Services. The Southern Inland Health Initiative includes $48.5million in 2011‑12 and encompasses:
· District Medical Workforce Investment Program
· District Hospital Investment Program
· Primary Health Centres Demonstration Program
· Small Hospital and Nursing Post Refurbishment Program
· Telehealth Investment Program
· Regional Residential Aged and Dementia Care Investment Program.
The SIHI seeks to improve medical access and services in the Great Southern,
Mid-West, Goldfields, South-West and Wheatbelt regions. It includes addressing
the shortfall of general practitioners in regional WA with incentives to retain
and/or attract them into the regions.
“The Nationals before the last election promised to fix country health after the
retiring CEO of WA Country Health described it as “blatantly bloody unsafe”.
This is a revolution in the provision of GP’s and health services in the regions,
picking up where the Commonwealth refuses to take its rightful responsibility, and alleviating the burden of local governments that have been forced to fill the gaps.”
Ms Duncan said that other initiatives in the budget such as the upgrade of the Esperance Hospital and the upgrade of the Esperance Port access corridor would benefit the people of the Goldfields-Esperance region.
She said the budget offered unprecedented support to vulnerable and disadvantaged West Australians through the $1billion Social Services Package in the 2011-12 State Budget.
“This historic package includes initiatives to improve the quality of life and well-being of those most in need including $604million for the not-for-profit sector which will assist hundreds of not‑for‑profit organisations that work every day to deliver services and care to those most in need of assistance,” Ms Duncan said.
“The government focus on the not for profit sector, and, in particular people with disabilities, is long overdue. In the past there has just not been enough to go around to help the most vulnerable in our society – those with disabilities or mental health issues. It is imperative that the essential and very dedicated workers in this sector receive just reward for their labours as they have the ability to multiply the taxpayers dollar several fold and, until now, have been seriously undervalued.”
The specific projects funded in the Budget for the Goldfields-Esperance area include:
· $30million for continuing upgrades to Kalgoorlie Court
· $25million for Esperance Port access to the Coolgardie‑Esperance Highway
· $20million for continuing upgrades to the main campus of the Kalgoorlie Hospital
· $17.9million for ongoing safety improvements to power services in Esperance
· $12million from Royalties For Regions for Esperance Residential College
· $8.6million for ongoing improvements to schools and trade centres
· $8.1million for maintenance of water supply schemes
· $3million for completion of the Work Camp in Warburton
· $2.4million for construction of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Fire Station in Kambalda
· $1million across the forward estimates to the Drug and Alcohol Office to expand the Prospect Lodge Service in the Goldfields.
