Five key regional centres will receive an $8.5 million investment to sustain the economic growth and prosperity of Western Australia through Stage Two of the Regional Centres Development Plan (RCDP) made possible by Royalties for Regions.
Nationals Member for the South West Region, Colin Holt MLC, said Stage Two of RCDP would enable Albany, Busselton, Carnarvon, Mandurah and Kununurra to access a share of Royalties for Regions investment to drive the development and growth of their regional centres. Mr Holt said building a stronger, competitive and resilient network of regional centres was central to the continued economic and social development of regional WA. “The RCDP aims to strengthen the capacity of strategic regional centres to drive investment, business and employment growth; accommodate regional population growth; and support the efficient delivery of the WA Government’s regional development investment,” Mr Holt said. “By focussing on sustainable growth in regional centres, communities can develop economic strengths, position themselves as competitive places to live and invest, foster leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship networks, and develop export-orientated industries which are wealth creating.” Mr Holt said the initiative was an opportunity for the regional centres’ communities, including business, residents, academia and all tiers of government, to determine their direction by working together to identify their special economic and social strengths. “Regional centres are engines of innovation and economic growth and will provide exciting opportunities for regional centres across the State,” Mr Holt said. “This initiative is just another example of Royalties for Regions transforming regional communities and I look forward to seeing this investment bring significant social and economic benefits to regional WA.” Local government authorities, Regional Development Commissions, Chambers of Commerce, Regional Development Australia, universities, Traditional Owners, businesses and residents of the Stage Two regional centres are invited to use this opportunity to develop a collaborative growth agenda that benefits their community and businesses. For more information visit: http://www.drd.wa.gov.au/ For media enquiries please contact Office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181 Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman said the State Government continued to support grassroots sports with grants designed for clubs and councils that require financial assistance to complete a project which might otherwise be out of reach.
The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup will receive $9,700 thanks to the latest round of Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund grants. “I congratulate the Shire on receiving funding to install floodlights at the Balingup Bowling and Croquet Club which I know will make a difference to people living in Balingup,” Mr Redman said. Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman has welcomed the announcement that The Nationals WA in Government will support the partial sale of Western Power with the proceeds used to create thousands of new jobs and improve priority infrastructure, including regional power supplies.
Leader of The Nationals WA Brendon Grylls MLA announced the proceeds from a partial-sale of Western Power would be reinvested into new projects through the $3 billion Next Generation Account. Mr Redman said the Next Generation Account would ensure strong capital growth is maintained which would stimulate the economy and create jobs. “The Next Generation Account will deliver funding to priority areas for the State, including upgraded schools and TAFE facilities, transport infrastructure, and improving the reliability of electricity supplies in regional areas,” Mr Redman said. “For regional residents living at the end of long feeder lines, this additional investment will allow us to deliver edge-of-grid energy solutions such as microgrids,” Mr Redman said. “This will vastly improve outcomes for families and businesses who have struggled with intermittent and unreliable power supply. The Next Generation Account will also mean regional communities will be at the forefront of technological advances in energy.” Under the 51 per cent float proposal, the State Government will remain the largest shareholder at 49 per cent. Indicative targets will see 30 per cent of shares sold to Australian superannuation funds and 20 per cent to Mum and Dad retail investors including Western Power employees. Mr Redman said it would be “business as usual” for workers and consumers of Western Power throughout the sale process. “Strict employee protections will be outlined as part of the sale process so Western Power workers can remain secure in their employment,” Mr Redman said. “Western Power is a regulated monopoly, which means a number of independent regulators will continue to oversee various parts of the business including safety, reliability, prices and performance, regardless of who owns Western Power. This will not change.” Mr Grylls said The Nationals WA were committed to asset recycling to ensure proceeds from the sale of State-owned assets are reinvested into new, job creating infrastructure projects. “The Next Generation Account will create thousands of new jobs for West Australian workers including builders, tradespeople, engineers, technology providers and support staff,” Mr Grylls said. “Importantly, this initiative will create new jobs and deliver hundreds of new projects while reducing State debt by $8 billion.” Mobile phone coverage in Warren-Blackwood will be improved thanks to a further $20 million investment over two years made possible by Royalties for Regions.
Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman said the funding would support the list of sites released today by the Commonwealth Government which outlined 78 new mobile base stations and small cell satellite installations to be constructed by Telstra and Optus across WA. While Telstra is providing wide area coverage, Optus small cell satellite solution is an innovative means of providing mobile phone coverage up to a three kilometre radius for communities and tourist hotspots in remote parts of the State, where wide area coverage is unaffordable. “The new sites will be delivered under Round 2 of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program further improving mobile phone coverage in regional WA,” Mr Redman said. “Warren-Blackwood will benefit from nine of the 78 announced today, which will provide development opportunities for small businesses in remote areas and support other Royalties for Regions initiatives in tourism, transport and agriculture. “It is good to see that tourist areas at Margaret River including Conto’s Campsite and Deepdene, and the Greater Beedelup National Park and Warren National Park in Manjimup are to receive improved coverage. Nannup (Jangardup Road and Strickland Road), Bridgetown- Greenbushes (Maranup and Winnejup) and Denmark (Mt Lindesay Road) will also benefit from this latest announcement which will provide reassurance to people living in these hilly and often fire prone areas,” Mr Redman said. “The State Government has invested more than $105 million from Royalties for Regions in regional telecommunications since 2012, driving the construction of 344 new or upgraded mobile phone towers and small cell satellite installations in regional WA. "This project is a result of successful collaboration with the Commonwealth and industry, which will support other Royalties for Regions initiatives and narrow the digital divide by eliminating mobile black spots at prioritised locations, including those in the Warren-Blackwood.” The RTP is an important project that will ensure that people living, working and travelling in regional areas of the state have access to key services. "Royalties for Regions is playing a significant role in transforming regional areas and I look forward to seeing this investment bring greater social and economic benefits to the area,” Mr Redman said. Full list of sites attached. For more information, visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/regionalmobilecommunications |
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