❓ Mr. Castrilli asks for an update on the relocation of the Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters to Bunbury. The Minister responds positively, outlining the project's progress, benefits, and stages, highlighting job creation and economic growth.
AnsweredQoN 36Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — HEADQUARTERS
36. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Environment:
I recently had the pleasure of joining the Minister for
Environment, the Premier and the Mayor of Bunbury to announce the start of site
investigations for the new Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters at
Koombana Drive in Bunbury. Could the minister please update the house on this
important issue?
OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — HEADQUARTERS
36. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Environment:
I recently had the pleasure of joining the Minister for
Environment, the Premier and the Mayor of Bunbury to announce the start of site
investigations for the new Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters at
Koombana Drive in Bunbury. Could the minister please update the house on this
important issue?
AnswerView source ↗
I start by commending the member for Bunbury for his ongoing
advocacy for his electorate on this matter. As many members would be aware, in
2013 the Liberal–National government committed towards a decentralisation
agenda for many state government departments.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
is 2015, member for Fremantle, not 2012.
Following that commitment, much work has been done in and
around identifying Bunbury as the ideal location for a regionally decentralised
state government department. This literally has been talked about for decades. I
am very pleased to announce that the Department of Parks and Wildlife as a
regionally based organisation is a perfect candidate to have a regional
headquarters. Given the significance of the south west of Western Australia and
the work that the Department of Parks and Wildlife does, much visitation occurs
in that region of the state. A site has been identified opposite the Dolphin
Discovery Centre directly opposite Koombana Bay and backing onto the
Leschenault Inlet. The site also has potential scientific significance given
that it sits adjacent to the southernmost white mangrove community in Western
Australia; indeed, I have been informed that it may well be the southernmost
white mangrove community in the world. It is an ideal location on Koombana Drive
as people head to Bunbury. A visitor information centre could serve as a
shopfront or a gateway into the Parks for People program, which is one of our
other key programs in the environment portfolio.
Stage 1 of shifting the Department of Parks and Wildlife
headquarters to Bunbury will deliver 100 jobs. It will provide an immediate
boost not only to regional employment, but also to economic growth in Bunbury.
It will complement very well the foreshore revitalisation plans that the City
of Bunbury is currently pursuing. Stage 2 of this project will see 300 jobs
move down to the Koombana Bay site, where the Department of Parks and Wildlife
will have its headquarters. The state headquarters being based in Bunbury will
provide the region with a centre for science and research, and also a gateway
into our south west national parks and other attractions. It will provide
significant regional employment and economic benefits for the south west and
for Bunbury. I would like to again commend the member for Bunbury for his
ongoing advocacy on this matter. I also commend the City of Bunbury for its
cooperation in working with the government on this project.
advocacy for his electorate on this matter. As many members would be aware, in
2013 the Liberal–National government committed towards a decentralisation
agenda for many state government departments.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
is 2015, member for Fremantle, not 2012.
Following that commitment, much work has been done in and
around identifying Bunbury as the ideal location for a regionally decentralised
state government department. This literally has been talked about for decades. I
am very pleased to announce that the Department of Parks and Wildlife as a
regionally based organisation is a perfect candidate to have a regional
headquarters. Given the significance of the south west of Western Australia and
the work that the Department of Parks and Wildlife does, much visitation occurs
in that region of the state. A site has been identified opposite the Dolphin
Discovery Centre directly opposite Koombana Bay and backing onto the
Leschenault Inlet. The site also has potential scientific significance given
that it sits adjacent to the southernmost white mangrove community in Western
Australia; indeed, I have been informed that it may well be the southernmost
white mangrove community in the world. It is an ideal location on Koombana Drive
as people head to Bunbury. A visitor information centre could serve as a
shopfront or a gateway into the Parks for People program, which is one of our
other key programs in the environment portfolio.
Stage 1 of shifting the Department of Parks and Wildlife
headquarters to Bunbury will deliver 100 jobs. It will provide an immediate
boost not only to regional employment, but also to economic growth in Bunbury.
It will complement very well the foreshore revitalisation plans that the City
of Bunbury is currently pursuing. Stage 2 of this project will see 300 jobs
move down to the Koombana Bay site, where the Department of Parks and Wildlife
will have its headquarters. The state headquarters being based in Bunbury will
provide the region with a centre for science and research, and also a gateway
into our south west national parks and other attractions. It will provide
significant regional employment and economic benefits for the south west and
for Bunbury. I would like to again commend the member for Bunbury for his
ongoing advocacy on this matter. I also commend the City of Bunbury for its
cooperation in working with the government on this project.
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