$80 million to fuel regional WA growth
The WA State Government has pledged $80 million to fuel growth in specific areas by upgrading community facilities and develop new investment opportunities.
According to the State Government’s Royalties for Regions funding, announced today by premier Colin Barnett, nine SuperT
Boddington, Collie, Esperance, Jurien Bay, Katanning, Manjimup, Margaret River, Morawa and Northam are the nominated ‘SuperTowns’ to receive the funding.
Key projects to be funded include an Esperance waterfront development, new town centre facilities in Collie, Katanning, Manjimup and Morawa and a health precinct at Northam.
Small business development will be given an injection at Boddington, Esperance and Manjimup, which infrastructure upgrades will also be put in place, with the aim of enabling housing development, at Boddngton.
“These projects are the first step in creating a new scale of regional centres in the southern half of the State,” Mr Barnett said.
“The projects receiving funding were identified by each of the towns individually, as part of a growth planning strategy, to help them grow, prosper and provide attractive places to live.
“It is expected the projects being funded under this Royalties for Regions scheme will not only boost amenities in the towns but also attract future investment from Government, public and private companies in regional Western Australia.”
Regional development minister Brendon Grylls said that these new SuperTowns would provide an alternative to living in Perth.
“With the population of the State set to more than double by 2050, SuperTowns will benefit from increased populations and help to ease pressure on the metropolitan area,” Mr Grylls said.