❓ Mr. Waldron asks about the Growing our South fund projects in his electorate. The Minister details funding for Katanning Early Childhood Hub, main street development, waste management, student accommodation, tourist facilities, aged care, and the Ferguson Valley tourist group.
AnsweredQoN 45Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYALTIES
FOR REGIONS — GROWING OUR SOUTH INVESTMENT FUND
45. Mr T.K.
WALDRON to the Minister for Regional Development:
I was delighted to have the Minister
for Regional Development, and the Minister for Water, visit Katanning in my
electorate last week where he announced the first round of projects to be
funded through the royalties for regions Growing our South fund. Could the
minister please provide the house with some details of the Growing our South
projects?
FOR REGIONS — GROWING OUR SOUTH INVESTMENT FUND
45. Mr T.K.
WALDRON to the Minister for Regional Development:
I was delighted to have the Minister
for Regional Development, and the Minister for Water, visit Katanning in my
electorate last week where he announced the first round of projects to be
funded through the royalties for regions Growing our South fund. Could the
minister please provide the house with some details of the Growing our South
projects?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wagin for the
question. I think it is the first time I have ever had a question in Parliament
from the member for Wagin and it is fantastic to have one. Yes, it was
fantastic to be in his electorate recently to announce the first tranche of
investments that have come through under the $600 million royalties for regions
Growing our South initiative, which we put in the last state budget. All nine
development commissions now have a revitalisation of funds that support major
projects and projects within their communities to help grow, develop and unlock
the economic potential in those regions. The first tranche was $26.9 million
into a number of projects.
In Katanning it was particularly
interesting to see the looks on the faces of the young women with families when
we announced the $5.7 million in funding that we have put towards the Katanning
Early Childhood Hub. It now brings together a number of groups, including the
Smart Start program, which is a local initiative trying to use a very early
focus on health and education as a strategy to ensure that people grow up as
full adults and are able to participate in society, as they rightly should. It
also has a child health centre, childcare centre, playgroup and toy library. It
co-locates a number of other centres.
We also had a chance to launch the next stage of the main
street development by providing $350 000 for that. The way that the main street
of Katanning looks now as a result of the development, it could easily be a
suburb of Perth. It was fantastic to see what Katanning has done to revitalise
its main street. There is now a town square where there have already been over
a dozen community functions bringing together the whole community to a location
that is indeed one they should be rightly proud of.
There are a range of other projects around the state. The
member for Collie–Preston does not seem to think we know where the
south is, but I live there and I have a good understanding and appreciation of
where the southern part of the state is!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, give him a geography lesson later.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : As I said, there are a couple of projects
in the Katanning community in the great southern. Also, $3.1 million has been
provided for a more efficient and environmentally friendly waste management
facility for four shires in the south west. There is also student accommodation
in Albany for the university, and the member for Albany is very happy with
that. We are also supporting the very good work that Department of Parks and
Wildlife is doing to upgrade the tourist facilities at the Gap, which again, is
a very fantastic local project. Aged care is a big focus in the south west and
that is coming through in our planning of facilities in Northcliffe, Pemberton,
Dardanup and Boyanup, member for Collie–Preston. In addition, $1.7 million
is going towards the Ferguson Valley tourist group.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Again, that is a good investment in the
southern part of the state, member for Collie–Preston, and I am sure he
is most supportive of the good work that this government is doing.
There is a lot more
to come. We have committed to significant investment in regional Western
Australia and we are making big difference out there. It is good to see these
communities now being able to access the facilities and services that they need
to ensure that people want to live, visit and invest in regional Western
Australia.
question. I think it is the first time I have ever had a question in Parliament
from the member for Wagin and it is fantastic to have one. Yes, it was
fantastic to be in his electorate recently to announce the first tranche of
investments that have come through under the $600 million royalties for regions
Growing our South initiative, which we put in the last state budget. All nine
development commissions now have a revitalisation of funds that support major
projects and projects within their communities to help grow, develop and unlock
the economic potential in those regions. The first tranche was $26.9 million
into a number of projects.
In Katanning it was particularly
interesting to see the looks on the faces of the young women with families when
we announced the $5.7 million in funding that we have put towards the Katanning
Early Childhood Hub. It now brings together a number of groups, including the
Smart Start program, which is a local initiative trying to use a very early
focus on health and education as a strategy to ensure that people grow up as
full adults and are able to participate in society, as they rightly should. It
also has a child health centre, childcare centre, playgroup and toy library. It
co-locates a number of other centres.
We also had a chance to launch the next stage of the main
street development by providing $350 000 for that. The way that the main street
of Katanning looks now as a result of the development, it could easily be a
suburb of Perth. It was fantastic to see what Katanning has done to revitalise
its main street. There is now a town square where there have already been over
a dozen community functions bringing together the whole community to a location
that is indeed one they should be rightly proud of.
There are a range of other projects around the state. The
member for Collie–Preston does not seem to think we know where the
south is, but I live there and I have a good understanding and appreciation of
where the southern part of the state is!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, give him a geography lesson later.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : As I said, there are a couple of projects
in the Katanning community in the great southern. Also, $3.1 million has been
provided for a more efficient and environmentally friendly waste management
facility for four shires in the south west. There is also student accommodation
in Albany for the university, and the member for Albany is very happy with
that. We are also supporting the very good work that Department of Parks and
Wildlife is doing to upgrade the tourist facilities at the Gap, which again, is
a very fantastic local project. Aged care is a big focus in the south west and
that is coming through in our planning of facilities in Northcliffe, Pemberton,
Dardanup and Boyanup, member for Collie–Preston. In addition, $1.7 million
is going towards the Ferguson Valley tourist group.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Again, that is a good investment in the
southern part of the state, member for Collie–Preston, and I am sure he
is most supportive of the good work that this government is doing.
There is a lot more
to come. We have committed to significant investment in regional Western
Australia and we are making big difference out there. It is good to see these
communities now being able to access the facilities and services that they need
to ensure that people want to live, visit and invest in regional Western
Australia.
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