Infrastructure: $23.7billion building program to transform WA
Western Australia’s transformation continues under the Liberal National Government with a $23.7billion infrastructure program over the next four years to deliver 19 new schools, new hospitals, two new fire stations, 123 buses, 22 new rail cars and road networks.
Building on the $40.34billion in capital works delivered by the State Government since 2008, Treasurer Mike Nahan said children’s education was a big priority with 19 new schools – three high schools and 16 primary schools – to be built by 2017-18.
As well, $229.6million will be spent on building projects to accommodate year 7 students at the State’s high schools and $22million on 16 new Child and Parent centres. All up, new schools and upgrades to existing structures will cost $1.16billion to 2017-18.
In the health sector, the Government is delivering the most advanced hospital care with Fiona Stanley Hospital due to open in Perth’s southern suburbs later this year and the new Perth Children’s Hospital at the Queen Elizabeth II complex in Nedlands next year. This means that between 2008 and 2018, the Government will build or upgrade 13 hospitals throughout WA.
“We are fortunate to live in a State that has the financial and intellectual wherewithal to deliver state-of-the-art facilities of this calibre,” Treasurer Mike Nahan said.
“This is why people are still moving to this State from the other side of the country and from overseas, to be part of this remarkable place during this fantastic time in our history.”
Dr Nahan said the Government had instituted Budget savings measures over the past six years to reap $10.4billion in net debt terms and had ploughed this money back into priority services and infrastructure that would be the backbone of the State for decades to come.
The Treasurer said the Government would continue to support and protect the community, delivering new fire stations in West Perth and Albany at a combined cost of about $30million and police stations in Cockburn and Ballajura, also for $30million.
In transport, WA’s economy will be the major winner from the Gateway WA project around the Perth Airport and the freight and industrial hubs of Kewdale and Forrestdale. About $296million of a $1billion budget for the project will be spent in 2014-15.
“Gateway WA is an infrastructure project that will have a massive impact on the State’s economic future for years to come by enabling the more efficient transfer of goods from the airport and freight railway terminals to the greater metropolitan area and the regions,” Dr Nahan said.
As well as $883million in road projects, (including the NorthLink WA – Swan Valley section), the Government has committed $1.9billion over the next four years to public transport services and infrastructure.
Projects include:
- Edgewater Station upgrade and 1,000 bay multi-storey Park ’n Ride ($47million)
- $360million Perth City Link rail project scheduled for completion in 2014
- $209million Perth Busport ($141million over four years). Under way and due for completion in 2016
- $221million Butler rail extension due for completion late 2014
- $57million Aubin Grove Station ($50million over four years)
- $2billion Forrestfield-Airport Link ($683million over four years).
The Government has invested $244million to buy 22 three-car B-Series rail cars, representing a 28 per cent increase in the size of Transperth’s railcar fleet, from 234 to 300 railcars. The first three trains have arrived in WA and the rest will arrive progressively to late 2016.
For bus passengers, the good news is that the Government will add another 123 buses to the Transperth fleet this year.
The Treasurer said residents would see Perth transformed during 2014-15 with projects under way at the new Perth Stadium and railway station ($1.24billion), Perth City Link ($764million), Elizabeth Quay ($441.1million) and the new WA Museum ($428.3million) – all contributing to a more vibrant city better able to attract and retain skilled workers and their families from elsewhere in Australia and overseas.
Regional WA would continue its transformation under the Liberal National Government’s Royalties for Regions program after the Treasurer announced a further $1billion investment for 2014-15.
News Release Treasurer Mike Nathan
08 May 2014