Download 2016-17 Budget Regional Highlights - Wheatbelt

WHEATBELT REGION
The economic and fiscal environment in Western Australia continues to be challenging. General
government revenue is expected to decline for the third year in a row in 2016-17, which is
unprecedented.
Against this backdrop, the 2016-17 Budget takes a cautious approach to spending and keeps
increases in household fees and charges as low as possible. New spending initiatives in this
Budget are focused on broadening the economy and creating new job opportunities.
The 2016-17 Budget includes:
•
initiatives to further limit the growth in spending, including the new 1.5% Public Sector
Wages Policy and an extended Agency Expenditure Review program, which together will
deliver estimated savings of $1.3 billion across the forward estimates period;
•
targeted increases in spending on priority services, including an extra $266 million (or 4.8%
relative to 2015-16) for public hospital services, an increase of $81 million in recurrent
spending on education (providing for a 3.3% increase in spending by schools), and an
increase of $67 million on policing (5.1% increase on 2015-16);
•
initiatives to support industries that will underpin the State’s economic future, including
additional support of $47 million over 2016-17 to 2019-20 for the State’s tourism industry
and $20 million over four years to support researchers, innovators and start up
businesses; and
•
$22.9 billion Asset Investment Program over the next four years, including $5.9 billion in
2016-17, with a major focus on transport and education infrastructure.
Highlights for the Wheatbelt region
Total asset investment project spend in the Wheatbelt region of $95.7 million in 2016-17
includes:
•
$66.5 million on maintenance and upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure,
including new storage tank facilities in Barbalin, Beverley, Cunderdin; and Wundowie;
•
$18 million on hospitals and health centres, including Narrogin and Merredin Hospital and
cancer services in Narrogin and Northam; and
$8.8 million maintenance and upgrades of power infrastructure in Merredin, Wundowie and
Kellerberrin.
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