Esperance foreshore funding flows to Eastern States, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 22-July-2010

The Nationals’ candidate for O’Connor, Tony Crook said he was disappointed a funding application to improve the Esperance foreshore had been rejected by the Federal Government.

The Esperance Shire applied for $3 million under the Federal Government’s $800 million Community Infrastructure Program to solve the erosion problem and create a more attractive foreshore precinct.

Mr Crook said Esperance residents had been trying to address foreshore erosion for the past 20 years.

“Foreshore erosion is a big issue for the Esperance community,” Mr Crook said.

“Residents and the local Shire are sick of dumping sand along the foreshore every winter to prevent erosion.

“Esperance is a major tourism destination – the Federal Government should be investing in this regional centre to help facilitate further tourism development.”

Mr Crook said similar projects in the Eastern states had been granted Federal Government funding.

The Manly Ocean Beach promenade in New South Wales received $2.27 million and the Moreton Bay tourism precinct in Queensland received $2.5 million from the Community Infrastructure Program.

“This is yet another example the Federal Government using regional WA as a money pit to fund projects in the East,” Mr Crook said.

“Without a strong local member representing our region in Canberra, nothing will change.

“It’s time to tell the Federal Government that we’re sick and tired of being ripped off.”

“If you want to reverse the rip-off, help send a National to Canberra.”

The Nationals WA is the only Party with a policy to guarantee regional Western Australia gets a fair share of funding from Canberra.

The Party has called on the Federal Government to commit to matching Royalties for Regions, dollar for dollar.