❓ Mr Catania asks about leisure infrastructure projects in Port Hedland built under the Royalties for Regions program. The Minister details progress on Wanangkura Stadium, Marquee Park, South Hedland Aquatic Centre, and housing initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PORT HEDLAND — LEISURE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS
34. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Regional
Development:
Many valuable community
infrastructure projects have been built under the royalties for regions program.
I understand that some key leisure infrastructure projects were opened in Port
Hedland recently and that the provision of housing still remains a priority.
Can the minister inform the house of these developments?
PROJECTS
34. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Regional
Development:
Many valuable community
infrastructure projects have been built under the royalties for regions program.
I understand that some key leisure infrastructure projects were opened in Port
Hedland recently and that the provision of housing still remains a priority.
Can the minister inform the house of these developments?
AnswerView source ↗
I want to congratulate the Member
for North West Central on his resounding victory. It was a very strong victory
and shows that he knew exactly what was going on three years ago when he
pre-empted the electorate. Congratulations, member for North West Central, and
thank you very much for the question.
Several opposition members
interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I am working on who might be next!
Port Hedland has been in the press
recently about its community infrastructure projects, but not always for the
best reasons. I thought it was important today to give the house an update on
how those projects are progressing and how the people of Port Hedland and the
wider Pilbara region are benefiting from world-class infrastructure that could
only be dreamed about when the Labor Party was in government—those long
years from 2001 to 2008.
I will talk about Wanangkura
Stadium. It is a 400-seat indoor stadium with netball and basketball courts. It
is an outstanding facility and architectural landmark for the Pilbara.
Importantly, not only is it a spectacular facility, but also the Town of Port
Hedland budgeted for 600 people to join the gym and, as of this week, 1 300
people had joined the gym. People cannot drive past Wanangkura Stadium without
seeing the car park full. That outstanding state-of-the-art facility for the
people of the Pilbara is being used to its maximum. Fitness classes are
overwhelmed with people who want to get involved. The mixed netball competition
has the highest ever number of enrolments. The Liberal–National government
is ensuring that it provides the infrastructure for those growing Pilbara
communities, and Wanangkura Stadium is a great example of that.
During my last visit, the fence came
down on Marquee Park, the large water park and playground facility for the
young kids of Port Hedland and South Hedland. It is a $13.7 million project
aimed at providing some respite from the very hot weather. It was very exciting
when the fence came down. A swarm of young Port Hedland and South Hedland
children came into the water park to enjoy the time with their friends and
families. It provides a great respite from the heat and, again, is a key
facility to attract young families to that community. As we know, we need to
drive the resource sector in Western Australia. That facility has not been
officially opened yet, but the kids of Port Hedland and South Hedland are
getting great use out of it. It is lovely to see families there with their
young children as the sun goes down in the Pilbara.
The other project that was in the
media is the South Hedland Aquatic Centre. The project is basically complete.
The aquatic centre is spectacular. It continues to have trouble with the water
quality and the filtration system for the new swimming pool and water play
park. I have been extensively briefed by the town. It is working on that 24
hours a day to improve it. I hope that I can inform the chamber in coming weeks
that the facility in South Hedland is open and that the families, and young
families in particular, in that region are using the facility.
The reason that this community
infrastructure is so important is that the three fastest growing towns are in
the Pilbara region, as reported last week in the census data. Karratha, Port
Hedland and Newman continue to be the fastest growing communities over the last
census period. We have to make sure that we provide community infrastructure,
as well as housing, to allow those people to live sustainable lives in those
communities. To that end, with project 125, the Department of Housing will provide
125 houses at subsidised rentals for the small business sector. It was amazing
to meet those small business people, who now have some sustainability back in
their businesses from this project by the Department of Housing. The Osprey
workers' village will have 293 units of accommodation. The units are
being delivered by the day into Port Hedland and will soon be under
construction. We are finally seeing some downward pressure on rents. The major
investment in community infrastructure and housing in Port Hedland will ensure
that we support the community that is driving the Western Australian and
national economies.
for North West Central on his resounding victory. It was a very strong victory
and shows that he knew exactly what was going on three years ago when he
pre-empted the electorate. Congratulations, member for North West Central, and
thank you very much for the question.
Several opposition members
interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I am working on who might be next!
Port Hedland has been in the press
recently about its community infrastructure projects, but not always for the
best reasons. I thought it was important today to give the house an update on
how those projects are progressing and how the people of Port Hedland and the
wider Pilbara region are benefiting from world-class infrastructure that could
only be dreamed about when the Labor Party was in government—those long
years from 2001 to 2008.
I will talk about Wanangkura
Stadium. It is a 400-seat indoor stadium with netball and basketball courts. It
is an outstanding facility and architectural landmark for the Pilbara.
Importantly, not only is it a spectacular facility, but also the Town of Port
Hedland budgeted for 600 people to join the gym and, as of this week, 1 300
people had joined the gym. People cannot drive past Wanangkura Stadium without
seeing the car park full. That outstanding state-of-the-art facility for the
people of the Pilbara is being used to its maximum. Fitness classes are
overwhelmed with people who want to get involved. The mixed netball competition
has the highest ever number of enrolments. The Liberal–National government
is ensuring that it provides the infrastructure for those growing Pilbara
communities, and Wanangkura Stadium is a great example of that.
During my last visit, the fence came
down on Marquee Park, the large water park and playground facility for the
young kids of Port Hedland and South Hedland. It is a $13.7 million project
aimed at providing some respite from the very hot weather. It was very exciting
when the fence came down. A swarm of young Port Hedland and South Hedland
children came into the water park to enjoy the time with their friends and
families. It provides a great respite from the heat and, again, is a key
facility to attract young families to that community. As we know, we need to
drive the resource sector in Western Australia. That facility has not been
officially opened yet, but the kids of Port Hedland and South Hedland are
getting great use out of it. It is lovely to see families there with their
young children as the sun goes down in the Pilbara.
The other project that was in the
media is the South Hedland Aquatic Centre. The project is basically complete.
The aquatic centre is spectacular. It continues to have trouble with the water
quality and the filtration system for the new swimming pool and water play
park. I have been extensively briefed by the town. It is working on that 24
hours a day to improve it. I hope that I can inform the chamber in coming weeks
that the facility in South Hedland is open and that the families, and young
families in particular, in that region are using the facility.
The reason that this community
infrastructure is so important is that the three fastest growing towns are in
the Pilbara region, as reported last week in the census data. Karratha, Port
Hedland and Newman continue to be the fastest growing communities over the last
census period. We have to make sure that we provide community infrastructure,
as well as housing, to allow those people to live sustainable lives in those
communities. To that end, with project 125, the Department of Housing will provide
125 houses at subsidised rentals for the small business sector. It was amazing
to meet those small business people, who now have some sustainability back in
their businesses from this project by the Department of Housing. The Osprey
workers' village will have 293 units of accommodation. The units are
being delivered by the day into Port Hedland and will soon be under
construction. We are finally seeing some downward pressure on rents. The major
investment in community infrastructure and housing in Port Hedland will ensure
that we support the community that is driving the Western Australian and
national economies.
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