Our State Budget 2016-17: Investing in infrastructure to grow the State – Museum heads $23 billion Asset Investment Plan
Western Australia will get a new $428 million museum to replace and upgrade the current facility at the Perth Cultural Centre, the State Budget has confirmed.
Treasurer Mike Nahan said the 2016-17 State Budget had included $378.5 million over the next four years to deliver a state-of-the art museum to house the State’s extensive collection of artefacts and natural history.
“The new museum is arguably the State’s most important scientific institution and yet another example of this Government investing in the cultural life of the State, as well as providing a significant boost to tourism infrastructure. It will provide a gateway to WA for local, national and international audiences,” Premier Colin Barnett said.
“The museum is also a scientific institution and will build on our growing reputation in science already enhanced by the Square Kilometre Array project; significant advances in minerals and petroleum; the Western Australian Marine Science Institute and the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre.”
Mr Barnett said the Government had been prepared to borrow to invest in infrastructure that not only improved the quality of life for all West Australians, but greatly enhanced WA as a tourism and lifestyle destination.
“The transformation of the city through projects such as Elizabeth Quay, Perth Stadium, the new museum and Yagan Square, as well as the major investment in regional attractions from Esperance to Broome and the Kimberley in general, will pay major dividends for our tourism and hospitality industries,” he said.
Detailed building design and stage one early construction works will start in 2016-17, as will the design of physical and virtual content for the new museum exhibitions and programs. The museum build will directly employ an estimated 3,300 people over the life of the project.
The State Government’s Asset Investment Plan will see $23 billion invested across the State over the next four years.
In 2016-17 the State Government will spend $1.8 billion on roads and public transport, representing 30 per cent of the State’s Asset Investment Program.
Major strategic assets include the new $1.4 billion Perth Stadium – due for completion by 2018 – and the $2 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL), which will deliver a public transport link to the city from the eastern suburbs in under 20 minutes as well as a direct train to Perth Airport.
A total of $104 million will be spent on the FAL in 2016-17, which will directly employ 2,000 people during construction.
The Government has also announced the reallocation of State funding for the construction of a $49 million Ellenbrook Bus Rapid Transit project from 2016-17 to 2017-18.
The Premier said the project offered a cost-effective way to provide Perth’s north-eastern suburbs with access to fast public transport.
Dr Nahan said the State Government would invest $300.4 million towards new and existing education infrastructure in 2016-17, including $52.4 million over 2016-17 to 2019-20 for the construction of Stage 1 of North Butler Senior High School.
Since 2009, the State Government has built 32 new primary schools and nine new high schools.
The Budget also delivers a $526.3 million investment in health infrastructure, including $91.8 million on the new Perth Children’s Hospital due to open later this year.
Since 2008, the Liberal National Government has provided more than 80 new health facilities at over 80 locations and has spent more than $7 billion on health infrastructure.
“We have invested in 15 brand new hospitals and health care facilities across the State,” Mr Barnett said
“We have also made significant investments to improve 20 emergency departments across WA.”
In addition to the new Perth Children’s Hospital, there have been improvements to children’s facilities at 11 other hospitals across WA.”
The Government has invested more than $5 billion on road infrastructure since 2008-09, successfully completing several key projects including the $908.6 million Gateway WA project.
“One of our current priorities is the $1.9 billion Roe 8 and Fremantle Tunnel project, which will provide a dedicated east-west connection for the people of Perth, ease congestion and provide 2,400 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs,” the Treasurer said.
The Perth City Link project, featuring Yagan Square, is expected to be largely completed in 2016-17 with $7.1 million spent on the Perth Busport in 2016-17 for a total cost of $576.5 million. Perth City Link, including construction of Yagan Square and associated works will see $64.2 million invested towards the $235 million project.
“The Perth City Link project will deliver the long-sought objective of linking the central business district with the arts and entertainment precinct of Northbridge, while at the same time producing a wonderful retail, residential and office area in the heart of the city,” Dr Nahan said.
“Along with Elizabeth Quay, Perth City Link will go a long way to making Perth a modern, liveable city of the 21st century.”
The $221 million Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison will become operational in 2016-17, adding 350 beds to the State muster.
The $24.3 million Women’s Remand and Reintegration Facility will add 256 beds and become operational in 2016-17.
Fact File
Roads
In 2016-17, the Government will spend $1.2 billion on WA’s road system. This expenditure will be allocated across a number of projects, including:
- $192.6 million on the Swan Valley Bypass section of the $1.1 billion NorthLink WA project
- $172.4 million on local government roads via the State Roads Funds to Local Government Agreement
- $28 million in 2016-17 to replace the Old Mandurah traffic bridge
- $95 million on the $236 million Mitchell Freeway Extension Project, which will continue from Burns Beach Road to Hester Avenue providing improved access to new developments and reduced travel time
- $93 million on the Great Northern Highway Stage 2 – Muchea to Wubin upgrade, for reconstructing and widening sections of the highway
- $20 million for the construction of a dual carriageway on Armadale Road between Anstey and Tapper roads
- $232 million on the $1.9 billion Roe 8 and Fremantle Tunnel project
Public Transport
- An additional $13.7 million for Future Urban Railcar Procurement, primarily for infrastructure works to accommodate extra railcars. Total cost of project – $198.7 million
- An extra $5.3 million across 2016-17 to 2017-18 to construct the Northbridge Bus Layover
- $60.2 million over the forward estimates period for WA’s cycling network, with $6 million going towards the Principal Shared Path program in 2016-17
- $1.2 million in 2016-17 for the development of Stage 2 of the Jurien Bay to Cervantes trail
- $49 million for the Ellenbrook Bus Rapid Transit project from 2016-17 to 2017-18; and $104 million in 2016-17 towards the $2 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link
Other key infrastructure
- An extra $18 million over 2015-16 to 2017-18 for the redevelopment of the Scarborough foreshore, bringing total investment in the project to $48 million
- $27.2 million in 2016-17 on the Waterbank precinct and the Western Australia Police site on Hay Street
- $24.9 million to transform the Bunbury waterfront
- $1.4 billion to build Perth Stadium
- $811.4 million for Perth City Link and the Busport
Prisons
- $221 million for the 350-bed Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison
- $24.3 million for the 256-bed Women’s Remand and Reintegration Facility
WA Budget statements are available at http://ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Source: News Release, Government of Western Australia, 12 May, 2016