❓ The Minister for Environment confirms $18 million allocated in the 2015-16 budget for a new Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Bunbury, fulfilling a 2013 election commitment. The project aims to decentralise government, boost the regional economy, and create jobs and research opportunities.
AnsweredQoN 451Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — BUNBURY
HEADQUARTERS
451. Ms L. METTAM to the
Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the
house on progress delivering the state government's election commitment
to establish a new regional Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters in
Bunbury?
HEADQUARTERS
451. Ms L. METTAM to the
Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the
house on progress delivering the state government's election commitment
to establish a new regional Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters in
Bunbury?
AnswerView source ↗
I would like to thank the member for Vasse for the question.
I am very pleased to confirm to the house that $18 million has been allocated
as part of the 2015–16 budget towards the establishment of the new headquarters
of the Department of Parks and Wildlife in Bunbury. This is being funded
through the royalties for regions program. This commitment delivers on yet
another of our 2013 election commitments for the environment. It meets not only
one of those key environmental commitments from 2013 —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : — but also our commitment to continue to decentralise
major government departments out of the central business district to other
areas of the metropolitan area as well as to regional centres where
appropriate. This is a bold vision for the future of the City of Bunbury, and
is an investment in the future of Bunbury and will assist in the
diversification of the economy of our major regional city. It is an $18 million
investment that will see the construction of an office and science complex on
Koombana Drive, bordering both Koombana Bay and Leschenault Inlet. The amount
of $1.3 million has been made available for this year, which will allow for
completion of site investigations, which have commenced; we had started work in
anticipation of this as of February this year. This money will also facilitate
further concept and detailed design work for this site. This new office will
accommodate 100 staff in the very first stage as we move Parks and Wildlife
down to Bunbury with the ultimate goal of accommodating some 300 staff within
the next 10 years. This will become the destination point on the entry road to
Bunbury for visitors to the region. This will be a science hub based in Bunbury
for future research and will include many exciting heritage opportunities.
Very importantly, this is something
that has been talked about for decades. Many governments have aspired to move a
department to a regional area—and many have aspired to move to Bunbury.
This government is delivering. We have not only set aside the site but also
funded it, and it is happening. I am incredibly proud to be part of a
government that is delivering on this commitment. It will provide ongoing
regional employment. It will provide diversity with diverse career options for
people based in the south west in specialised parks and wildlife areas. It will
provide tourism opportunities, and, very critically, it will provide future
science and research opportunities.
I point out that the delivery of
this commitment, which is only halfway through this term of government, is in
addition to a range of others that we are continuing to roll out throughout
Western Australia—including many in the environment portfolio, such as
building retaining walls in the member for South Perth's electorate,
which were fully funded from last year's budget, and our Parks for
People program, much of which is based in the south west. This new headquarters
is ideally located as a shopfront for tourism opportunities into that Parks for
People program. There is also, of course—the other side never quite
manages to get it—the Kimberley science and conservation strategy,
which is an $81.5 million investment in the expansion of our conservation of
the state and a range of exciting new scientific frontiers.
I am very pleased to confirm to the house that $18 million has been allocated
as part of the 2015–16 budget towards the establishment of the new headquarters
of the Department of Parks and Wildlife in Bunbury. This is being funded
through the royalties for regions program. This commitment delivers on yet
another of our 2013 election commitments for the environment. It meets not only
one of those key environmental commitments from 2013 —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : — but also our commitment to continue to decentralise
major government departments out of the central business district to other
areas of the metropolitan area as well as to regional centres where
appropriate. This is a bold vision for the future of the City of Bunbury, and
is an investment in the future of Bunbury and will assist in the
diversification of the economy of our major regional city. It is an $18 million
investment that will see the construction of an office and science complex on
Koombana Drive, bordering both Koombana Bay and Leschenault Inlet. The amount
of $1.3 million has been made available for this year, which will allow for
completion of site investigations, which have commenced; we had started work in
anticipation of this as of February this year. This money will also facilitate
further concept and detailed design work for this site. This new office will
accommodate 100 staff in the very first stage as we move Parks and Wildlife
down to Bunbury with the ultimate goal of accommodating some 300 staff within
the next 10 years. This will become the destination point on the entry road to
Bunbury for visitors to the region. This will be a science hub based in Bunbury
for future research and will include many exciting heritage opportunities.
Very importantly, this is something
that has been talked about for decades. Many governments have aspired to move a
department to a regional area—and many have aspired to move to Bunbury.
This government is delivering. We have not only set aside the site but also
funded it, and it is happening. I am incredibly proud to be part of a
government that is delivering on this commitment. It will provide ongoing
regional employment. It will provide diversity with diverse career options for
people based in the south west in specialised parks and wildlife areas. It will
provide tourism opportunities, and, very critically, it will provide future
science and research opportunities.
I point out that the delivery of
this commitment, which is only halfway through this term of government, is in
addition to a range of others that we are continuing to roll out throughout
Western Australia—including many in the environment portfolio, such as
building retaining walls in the member for South Perth's electorate,
which were fully funded from last year's budget, and our Parks for
People program, much of which is based in the south west. This new headquarters
is ideally located as a shopfront for tourism opportunities into that Parks for
People program. There is also, of course—the other side never quite
manages to get it—the Kimberley science and conservation strategy,
which is an $81.5 million investment in the expansion of our conservation of
the state and a range of exciting new scientific frontiers.
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