Western Australian Budget 2010-11

This afternoon Western Australia’s Coalition Government delivered its 2010-11 State Budget.

The Government announced an expected surplus of $286 million in 2010-11, with forecast surpluses across the forward estimates.

Economic growth is expected to be 3.75% in 2009-10, with estimates of 4.5% in 2010-11 and 4.75% in 2011-12.

The following is an overview of some of the Budget highlights.

Health

$5.6 billion will be spent on health services across the State in 2010-11.

Of this, $890 million will be spent on new and upgraded health infrastructure including:

  • the new Midland Health Campus development (total project cost $360 million to be jointly funded with the Commonwealth);
  • continuation of construction work on the $1.76 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital;
  • commencement of construction on the $256 million State Rehabilitation Service;
  • the $166 million Albany Health Campus Development; and
  • $55.8 million to continue the Kalgoorlie Hospital redevelopment.
  • funding to continue planning for new Children’s Hospital, due for completion in 2015;

Other key spending items in Health include:

  • $149.6million over four years for new and expanded ambulance services across Western Australia; and
  • $49.7 million over four years to improve access to community child health services, with a focus on speech pathology, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.

Education 

Capital expenditure in this sector will total $1 billion in 2010-11 including:

  • $106.4 million for 24 new or replacement primary school facilities;
  • $142.6 million for additions and improvements to 20 high schools and district high schools and a further $65 million to progress new high schools in Baldivis and Butler
  • $20.5 million from Royalties for Regions for upgrades to regional schools; and
  • $425 million for contracts already awarded to around 170 building contractors for a range of Commonwealth-funded work in the State’s primary schools.

Other Budget initiatives in Education include:

  • $69.7 million over the next four years for 316 additional teachers and education assistants employed to accommodate growth in student numbers;
  • $13.9 million over two years to provide English language tuition to children on temporary 457 visas from non-English speaking backgrounds; and
  • $5 million in 2010-11 to prepare Western Australian schools for the implementation of the National Curriculum.

Community Services

The State Government will spend:

  • $43.5 million in 2010-11 on additional support and protection services for children and young people; and
  • $27.9 million over four years to assist parents in regional areas.

State Infrastructure

Perth City Link Project

The Perth City Link Project will sink the rail line in the Perth CBD and include the construction of an underground central bus station.  The project will reconnect the city with Northbridge through the creation of urban mixed use space.

In 2010-11, the WA Government will spend $41 million on land development, design work and preliminary railway infrastructure works to commence the Perth City Link project.

Both the Commonwealth Government and the City of Perth have also committed funds to the project which is expected to cost a total of $656.3 million.

Oakajee Port and Rail 

$339 million has been committed towards the common user infrastructure at Oakajee Port.

Browse LNG Precinct

WA is facilitating the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Precinct in the Kimberley region.

The Budget includes funding of $111 million over five years to meet the cost of resolving land tenure issues and finalising State and Commonwealth Approvals.

It is expected that the Browse LNG Precinct will attract a minimum of two LNG projects. The Browse Joint Venture has now confirmed James Price Point as its preferred location, with a final investment decision scheduled for June 2012. 

Perth Waterfront Project  

This Budget allocates $21.5 million over four years for detailed planning and design for the redevelopment of the Perth Waterfront.  The Perth Waterfront redevelopment project will bring the city to the river and deliver a range of new residential, commercial and entertainment opportunities.  Construction will begin in 2012. 

Rectangular Stadium

A budget allocation of $83 million will be spent to upgrade Perth’s major rectangular stadium, t a maximum capacity of 25,000 seats. Construction is expected to commence in 2012. 

Netball Centre

The Government has allocated $26 million over four years for the development of a new State Netball Centre.

Water 

A total of $1 billion has been committed in 2010-11 to water and wastewater projects.  This includes expenditure of:

  • $312 million on the new Southern Seawater Desalination Plant;
  • $100 million over four years to continue the Infill Sewerage Program; and
  • a further $339 million for dozens of smaller water infrastructure projects across regional Western Australia, particularly in the South West and North West regions of the State.

Energy 

More than $1 billion will be spent on maintaining, expanding and improving the State’s electricity infrastructure, including:

  • $650 million on transmission and distribution capacity within Western Power and Horizon Power networks to support growth and improve reliability, including the continuation of the State and Pilbara Underground Power projects;
  • $162 million (out of a total cost of $263 million) for the continued construction of two 100MW high efficiency gas turbines to contribute to the reliability of electricity supply within the South West Interconnected System; and
  • $47 million for the Pinjar to Eneabba transmission line, part of a $319 million allocation across the forward estimates.

Transport 

Construction will commence on the 7.5 km rail extension from Clarkson to Butler in 2010-11. This $241 million project is expected to be completed in 2014-15.

The Budget also provides for $516 million for road construction and improvement works in Western Australia, including:

  • $45 million towards the ongoing duplication of Dampier Highway between Karratha and the Burrup Peninsula Road in Dampier;
  • $36 million towards land acquisition and pre-construction activities for the upgrading of Great Eastern Highway in Belmont and Rivervale;
  • $35 million to commence construction of an interchange at the intersection of Roe Highway and Great Eastern Highway; and
  • $33 million to commence construction of an interchange at the intersection of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive.

Environment

Environment funding in the 2010-11 Budget includes:

  • $23 million to introduce a residential net feed-in tariff scheme to provide an incentive for homeowners to install renewable energy systems;
  • $20 million from Royalties for Regions to be spent on park infrastructure and roads over the next four years, and
  • an additional $3 million over two years to improve the health of the Swan and Canning rivers

Law and Order 

The Police budget will be increased by 6.9% to meet costs of 100 extra police and auxillary officers and 30 support staff, an expanded Perth Metropolitan Radio Network and building new police stations at Fitzroy Crossing and Mount Magnet.

  • $27.7 million in forward estimates for construction of Cockburn Central Police Hub and the Western Suburbs Police Hub.

For more information about the State Budget, please visit www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.