Government budget boosts Pilbara: Millions allocated for airfares, housing and health

Significant investments across a range of sectors in the Pilbara were announced on Thursday as Rita Saffioti handed down her first Budget since becoming Treasurer last year. To tackle the cost of living, the Government has allocated $64.5m to continue the popular Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme, $20.3m to increase the value of the Regional Pensioner Travel Card by $100 and $3b to subsidise water and electricity in regional WA. For housing in the Pilbara the Government will invest $13m to deliver 51 new residential lots at Karratha’s Madigan at Baynton West, $60m for a Regional Community Housing Grants Program and continues to fund the Pilbara Aboriginal Home Ownership Program to the tune of $30.6m. Some $405m has been allocated to boost regional health service delivery across WA including $11.9m to incentivise nurses and midwives to work in the regions. The WA Country Health Service’s Brief Crisis Intervention Service, for those presenting at ED due to mental health, will also receive a $4.7m boost. A massive funding injection for industry in the Pilbara was also in the cards with $500m allocated to unlock strategic industrial areas across the State, including Boodarie, Maitland, Ashburton North and Anketell strategic industrial area’s in the Pilbara. The North West Interconnected System will receive $148m to unlock clean energy projects, an additional $39.1 million in funding will go towards the Burrup Seawater Supply Scheme, $101m has been allocated for the construction of the Dampier Bulk Handling Facility and $25.2m will go to construct the Onslow Desalination Plant and upgrade the Cane River Borefield. In recreation, $6.5m has been allocated for stage two of the Onslow Community Boating Precinct, $2.5m is allocated to upgrade the Red Gorge hike and cycle trail at Karijini National Park and $1m will go towards the upgrade of the Cape Keraudren Boat Ramp. Some $14.9m has been put aside to support the implementation of the Fortescue Marsh Nature Reserve which includes 13 new full-time, ongoing jobs, including trainee and Aboriginal rangers and joint management coordinators. In Port Hedland, essential roadworks at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility will be funded to the tune of $17m while $13.5m has been allocated towards a new Seafarers Centre and the Lumsden Point facilities will continue to be funded through $629.1m of State and Commonwealth funding. The State and Commonwealth has also invested $140m in the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub to create a major centre for hydrogen production. To help the supply industries with much needed skilled labour, the State Government will also invest $470,000 to provide regional apprentices with an increased travel and accommodation allowance and $4.2m for Aboriginal People at Jobs and Skills Centres, including in Karratha and South Hedland. In response to the ongoing crime wave in the North West, the Government is extending Operation Regional Shield through $23.4m in funding. Some $26.4 million has also been allocated to to address family and domestic violence across regional WA, including boosting family and domestic violence response teams in Karratha and Hedland The Aboriginal Community Connectors Program will be funded to the tune of $3.1m to provide place-based support to street-present community members including in Hedland and Roebourne while $3.1m has also been allocated to install air conditioning at Roebourne Regional Prison. A diversionary initiative reducing over-representation of Martu men and women in the criminal justice system, the Western Desert Justice Program, will receive $653,000 to continue operation. The Government will also continue to fund an expanded Safe at Home Program in Hedland to support victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.