❓ Minister Bowler outlines the WA government's investments in Geraldton and the Mid West region, including the Southern Transport Corridor, port enhancements, and foreshore beautification, highlighting the positive transformation and growth in the area.
AnsweredQoN 26Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister advise the house on the progress of key government commitments to the mid west region, in particular the southern transport corridor? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Geraldton for my first question as minister and congratulate him on being back in this house. I also congratulate his neighbour the member for Greenough, my old colleague from the ABC, on his success. There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for my first question as minister and congratulate him on being back in this house. I also congratulate his neighbour the member for Greenough, my old colleague from the ABC, on his success. There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
I thank the member for Geraldton for my first question as minister and congratulate him on being back in this house. I also congratulate his neighbour the member for Greenough, my old colleague from the ABC, on his success. There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for my first question as minister and congratulate him on being back in this house. I also congratulate his neighbour the member for Greenough, my old colleague from the ABC, on his success. There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
I thank the member for Geraldton for my first question as minister and congratulate him on being back in this house. I also congratulate his neighbour the member for Greenough, my old colleague from the ABC, on his success. There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
There is no doubt that in the past four years there has been a major transformation in Geraldton. Three and a half years ago as a member of Country Labor (WA) I visited the port town. I was amazed at how flat and stagnant Geraldton was. Houses that even in Kalgoorlie would have fetched $190 000 were selling in Geraldton for $130 000. I should have bought a couple. There were many “for sale” signs everywhere. We met with the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton branch of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce. Although they had a lot of hope in their hearts, in general they were a pretty flat lot. Geraldton had been promised a lot but not much had been delivered. They were then very hopeful that over the next four years the projects that the Gallop government had promised during the election campaign would be forthcoming. The fact of the matter is that in the past four years the government has spent $250 million in Geraldton. The member for Geraldton has done a wonderful job in making sure that those projects have kept coming. When I stayed in a motel on the foreshore I could not believe that I was in a city that at the turn of this century still had a railway line dividing the central business district and the foreshore. The member for Roe would never have allowed that to happen in Esperance. I regularly visit Esperance with its wonderful foreshore, and now Geraldton will have the same. The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
The state government spent that $250 million on three great projects. The first was the port enhancement project, on which the government spent over $100 million dollars to deepen the harbour and construct new land-backed wharves so that bigger ships and more ships can use the facilities. That is having a flow-on effect with the hinterland of Geraldton. The mid west is starting to gear up and more exports are going through Geraldton. The government is spending $88 million on the southern transport corridor. I understand the project is ahead of schedule, which is great news. Finally, the government is spending $11 million on the beautification of the foreshore to make Geraldton similar to towns like Albany and Esperance. Those three projects have transformed Geraldton. I understand that housing prices in the town have gone up. As I said, I should have bought a couple. As with much of regional Western Australia the problems in Geraldton are those associated with growth. One of the problems we have with the goldfields, Albany, Bunbury, the Pilbara and the Kimberley is not a problem of stagnation but one of growth. The government’s commitment in Geraldton has shown what investment can do across Western Australia. As well as investing in the port, the Gallop government has invested $17 million in schools in Geraldton and the mid west. The new $49 million Geraldton hospital will open in July. Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
Therefore, it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton for what he has done in making sure that the Gallop government’s commitments were kept; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his re-election; it is congratulations to the member for Geraldton on his being at the centre half-back position on the Gallop half-back line, moving down from the full-back position.
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