More money for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, a dual lane on the Bussell Highway and funding for a rail link from Bunbury to Kemerton are just some of the surprises to have come out of today's state budget announcements.
Budget snapshot for Bunbury:
- $3 million to plan and fund a rail link from Bunbury freight line to Kemerton Industrial Park
- $852 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road
- $671,000 for the Withers Urban Renewal Project, including toilet and changing facilities at Des Ugle Park, and a new road from Minninup Road to Jacaranda Crescent.
- $11 million for the continued planning for the redevelopment of Bunbury Hospital
- $6.9 million to pilot 'ServiceWA' as a face-to-face and online service delivery to improve access to government transactional services, with the pilot site to be created in Bunbury
- $5 million for Science facilities at Eaton Community College
- $3 million for Eaton Primary School specialist early childhood facilities
- $5.5 million for upgrade of facilities at South Bunbury Primary School
Today the McGowan Labor Government delivered its third budget with a surplus of $553 million.
Households will be the beneficiaries of the budget, with the lowest increases to fees and charges in 13 years.
The budget will also commit $284 million to limit household electricity price increases, with the 2019-20 increase limited to the projected inflation rate of 1.75 per cent - the lowest rise in electricity prices since 2008.
Premier Mark McGowan said the government was continuing its strong investment in regional WA, to create jobs and provide local families with the services they need.
"This budget highlights our commitment to support projects that will create jobs and provide a boost to the local economy in communities across regional WA," he said.
"Since coming to Government in 2017, we have worked hard to bring the budget back under control while delivering important improvements to vital services like health and education across regional WA.
"We will continue to implement our plans for regional WA to support job creation, grow the local economy and support families in the regions."
Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the government recognised the vast potential of regional WA and was getting on with the job of delivering jobs, economic diversification and important community services to the regions.
"This Budget delivers new funding for agriculture, tourism, cultural programs and critical port and road infrastructure, as part of our commitment to driving the best economic outcomes for regional Western Australians," she said.
"Our $4.2 billion Royalties for Regions investment is delivering important projects, programs and infrastructure to strengthen our regional communities and economies."
Mr McGowan will be in Bunbury tomorrow to provide a State Budget Briefing looking at the implications of the budget for Bunbury, Collie and the South West.
