❓ Mr. Catania asks how the Gascoyne River crossing project, funded by royalties for regions, will benefit the Gascoyne community. The Minister explains the project's scope, funding, and positive impacts on tourism, pastoralists, and residents by reducing travel disruptions during floods.
AnsweredQoN 452Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GASCOYNE JUNCTION — RIVER CROSSING
452. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for
Regional Development:
Can the Minister for Regional Development
please explain how the Liberal–National government's commitment
of $9 million from royalties for regions to build a new crossing over the
Gascoyne River will benefit tourism, pastoralists and the Gascoyne community?
452. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for
Regional Development:
Can the Minister for Regional Development
please explain how the Liberal–National government's commitment
of $9 million from royalties for regions to build a new crossing over the
Gascoyne River will benefit tourism, pastoralists and the Gascoyne community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West Central
for the question and his obviously very strong advocacy for a small community
in his electorate. One of my proudest moments as minister occurred when I was
up in the member for North West Central's electorate with him for the
opening of the Gascoyne pub following the floods. I am proud that we
effectively rebuilt that town. To see the faces of the people whose lives had
been impacted by that event and whose town had come to life after that very
devastating event was very substantial and moving. Recently, cabinet supported
a decision to rebuild the bridge and the causeway that goes over the Gascoyne
River at Gascoyne Junction. The total project will cost $10.95 million, of
which there will be some federal funds of $949 000 from the federal government's
Roads to Recovery program, nearly $1 million from the Shire of Upper Gascoyne
and, of course, just over $9 million from royalties for regions.
The existing bridge was built in the
1950s to which some minor upgrades were done in the 1980s, but essentially it
has not been upgraded since the 1950s. When floods occur, and there are
numerous floods in that part of the world, they effectively separate the north
and the south of the Gascoyne Junction township and have a huge impact on
pastoralists, tourists—the Kennedy Range and Mount Augustus are within
earshot of that area—and also people engaged in commercial activities
who are moving through that area. When that area is flooded, we are looking at
an extra 700 kilometres or an extra 11 hours to travel to get around. Imagine
the appreciation of the community for upgrading the bridge to ensure that when
floods occur, they do not have the impact of taking out the bridge for a substantial
amount of time. If we use the recent example of cyclone Olwyn in March 2015,
the crossing was out for nearly six months and that had a huge impact on that
community.
The upgrade will comprise two bridge
structures and two causeways. Both bridges will have a single, central
four-metre traffic lane. Bridge 2 will include a central passing bay at the
midpoint of the channel. This is push‑button ready to go. We expect it
will be complete by mid-next year and of course it will make a huge difference
for residents, tourists, miners and pastoralists in the Gascoyne. Once again,
the royalties for regions program is making a huge difference for even the
smallest communities in regional Western Australia.
for the question and his obviously very strong advocacy for a small community
in his electorate. One of my proudest moments as minister occurred when I was
up in the member for North West Central's electorate with him for the
opening of the Gascoyne pub following the floods. I am proud that we
effectively rebuilt that town. To see the faces of the people whose lives had
been impacted by that event and whose town had come to life after that very
devastating event was very substantial and moving. Recently, cabinet supported
a decision to rebuild the bridge and the causeway that goes over the Gascoyne
River at Gascoyne Junction. The total project will cost $10.95 million, of
which there will be some federal funds of $949 000 from the federal government's
Roads to Recovery program, nearly $1 million from the Shire of Upper Gascoyne
and, of course, just over $9 million from royalties for regions.
The existing bridge was built in the
1950s to which some minor upgrades were done in the 1980s, but essentially it
has not been upgraded since the 1950s. When floods occur, and there are
numerous floods in that part of the world, they effectively separate the north
and the south of the Gascoyne Junction township and have a huge impact on
pastoralists, tourists—the Kennedy Range and Mount Augustus are within
earshot of that area—and also people engaged in commercial activities
who are moving through that area. When that area is flooded, we are looking at
an extra 700 kilometres or an extra 11 hours to travel to get around. Imagine
the appreciation of the community for upgrading the bridge to ensure that when
floods occur, they do not have the impact of taking out the bridge for a substantial
amount of time. If we use the recent example of cyclone Olwyn in March 2015,
the crossing was out for nearly six months and that had a huge impact on that
community.
The upgrade will comprise two bridge
structures and two causeways. Both bridges will have a single, central
four-metre traffic lane. Bridge 2 will include a central passing bay at the
midpoint of the channel. This is push‑button ready to go. We expect it
will be complete by mid-next year and of course it will make a huge difference
for residents, tourists, miners and pastoralists in the Gascoyne. Once again,
the royalties for regions program is making a huge difference for even the
smallest communities in regional Western Australia.
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