Royalties for regions delivers new projects to the Esperance region, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 20-May-2010
A $30million upgrade to the Esperance Hospital and $13.4 million for the upgrade and
expansion of the Esperance Residential College are just some of the projects to be funded
under Royalties for Regions in the Esperance region announced in the State Budget.
Member for Mining and Pastoral Region, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC, has described the budget
as the best news for regional Western Australia for decades.
“Royalties for Regions is now starting to deliver substantial and long-lasting benefits to regional WA, and will make our country towns and communities vibrant, safe and great places to live,”
she said.
The Liberal-National Government has budgeted $896.7million into developing regional Western Australia under the Royalties for Regions program for 2010-11.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the program, funded by the equivalent of 25 per cent of WA’s mining and on-shore petroleum royalty revenue, comprised three key funds - the Country Local Government Fund, the Regional Community Services Fund and the Regional Infrastructure and Headworks Fund.
“The Royalties for Regions program is designed to help regional communities grow and prosper by promoting local decision-making and attracting the resources and investment needed to support development in the country,” Mr Grylls said.
The Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Wendy Duncan welcomed the $30million upgrade to the Esperance Hospital with $18.8million being provided by Royalties for Regions.
“With just 3.5% of the State Budget, Royalties for Regions is transforming our State. Apart from the Hospital upgrade Royalties for Regions has provided a number of new and ongoing projects in 2010-11 for the Esperance region,” Ms Duncan said
Those projects are:
• Country Local Government Fund - ($102million)
• Country Age Pension Fuel Card - ($23.5million)
• Regional Schools Plan - ($20.5million)
• Regional Residential College Upgrades - ($2.5million)
• Regional Communications - ($8.3million)
• Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme - ($5million)
• Upgrade new Orange School buses - ($3.29million)
• Better Beginnings- Early Literacy - ($0.63million)
• Rural Generalist Pathways - Junior Doctor training - ($0.07million)
• Continued support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service - ($9.3million)
• Funding for the Community Resource Centre Network - ($12million)
• Ongoing funding for the Boarding Away from Home Allowance - ($1.9million)
• Continued support for the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - ($9million)
• Ongoing funding for Housing for Workers (GROH) - ($79million)
• Regional Airport Development Scheme – ongoing funding - ($5.5million)
• Wild Dogs Management Plan - ($4.8million)
• Regional Men’s Health - ($0.73million)
Ms Duncan says Royalties for Regions is delivering a program that allows communities to plan for sustainable social and economic opportunities into the future by putting back the money that regional WA generates.
