Project | Regional Developments

[docker]

ok with the recent Royalties for Regions deal, struck by the Liberal and National Parties there will no doubt be a large use of this thread, whether it be, education, health, police, infrastructure, residential, office, hotel or structure plans, there is quite a lot to look forward to in the regional areas.

Especially with the Square Kilometer Radar Project, and the possibility of a high speed train between perth and bunbury, and who knows perhaps to other towns as well.

old thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=105682

[aaronaugi1]

Lancelin-Two Rocks Road will finally go through i believe. Its been on the books for almost over a decade now and will open up 10 towns along the scenic tourist coast. Will cut travel time to Perth for all those towns above Lancelin by about 30% which is good news for tourism and the several new mining projects operating there.

[dallastexjr]

Quick, buy real estate in one of those 10 towns.

[aaronaugi1]

Quick, buy real estate in one of those 10 towns.

My family has several :)

Peter Bell/Barry Humphries also have a number of lots ripe for new tourist parks.

[dazzyd]

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/comments/0,21590,24467419-2761,00.html

hahah this is quite funny. now when will the old farts in govment pull their finger.

when i was living in karratha even they had 9am -9pm everyday.

[Skyline Art]

KUNUNURRA BOOM
I heard on the radio this morning that Kununurra is to get major infrastructure up there, new airport and deep water port and massive housing project.

Any confirmation, as this wasn't news it was on news time, on a talk show on AM radio.

[Scraperfan]

kununurra is about 150km inland, so wont be getting a new port, the port is at derby to the north west.

i read this morning that with the ransom for regions money, ord river stage 2 has the green light to almost triple the farming land up there from 13 000 ha to 30 000 ha.

[aaronaugi1]

kununurra is about 150km inland, so wont be getting a new port, the port is at derby to the north west.

i read this morning that with the ransom for regions money, ord river stage 2 has the green light to almost triple the farming land up there from 13 000 ha to 30 000 ha.

or at whyndam. given the looming global recession, building an economic base around agriculture up there wouldn't be that bad of an idea.

[Scraperfan]

ah yep wyndham forgot about that.

i think its terrific. the kimberley will be a bountiful food bowl of the future. i think investment has been severely lacking the last 20 years.

i dont agree with simply putting people in kununurra for the sake of it, would have to be tied to the agrictulture expansion.

the ecology is just too delicate and sensitive to have people "just living there".

[docker]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3535/image004qa3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Bonga]

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/comments/0,21590,24467419-2761,00.html

hahah this is quite funny. now when will the old farts in govment pull their finger.
:lol:

Some of those comments are hilarious, as usual.

But so is the main article. How perverse is it that Bunbury will probably get extended trading hours before Perth? And that Australind and Eaton apparently already have them?!

Sigh...

[Bonga]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=2&ContentID=104340

Divisive ‘beehive’ hotel set to go ahead
24th October 2008, 8:15 WST

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6382/5ccontentversion5c98864go7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A futuristic hotel plan which has split Albany residents and left vacant the site where the popular Esplanade Hotel once stood is due to open in 2010 with building work set to start before Christmas.

Almost two years after the controversial plans were unveiled, the City of Albany has received a building application for the ultra-modern concept for Middleton Beach.

Plans unveiled by Investment group WCP Plaza in November 2006 showed 81 pods rather than rooms, all with ocean views and accessed via an external pathway.

Project Plaza is planned to be up to five storeys high and include a 100-seat meeting room, public bar, restaurant, wellness centre, shops, cafe and a community square.

The site has been vacant since the Esplanade Hotel was demolished in January 2007.

Project Plaza has divided the town with the design in stark contrast to the colonial-style hotel built on the site 17 years ago by the late entrepreneur, Paul Terry.

Albany mayor Milton Evans said this week he was glad the project was nearing construction and expected it to be open in 2010.

“City staff expect contractors to start earthworks on the site before Christmas,” he said.

But Albany Residents and Ratepayers Association president Elizabeth Barton said the design resembled a “beehive” and was not in keeping with the historic area.

She also claimed residents had not been consulted adequately on the design and that the old hotel better suited the environment.

“It’s not the correct place for that type of building,” she said.

A spokeswoman for WCP Plaza said the project team had been working through the design process and expected the project to be “quite spectacular”.

She said the final design was the same theme but the interior was quite complex, “bringing the outdoors inside”.

BEATRICE THOMAS

[Bonga]

^^ I believe that this is the project to which the above article refers:

http://www.planninggroup.com.au/Projects/ProjectPlaza.htm

http://www.planninggroup.com.au/Assests/projects/ProjectPlaza.jpg

Project Plaza, Albany
Client: CS Partners

TPG has been a key part of the design team for the redevelopment of the Esplanade Hotel on Middleton Beach in Albany. The design team, drawn from Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Thailand and China, has developed a concept for the site that reflects a unique synthesis of the Western idea of sustainability and the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui centred on the natural environment native to the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

The development features an 81 room hotel constructed as a series of ‘pods' suspended to a steel frame and accessed along a upper level ‘treetop' walkway. In addition to the hotel, 30 residential apartments are proposed predominantly in a crescent shaped building. The complex represents a multi-faceted, high quality entertainment complex that is simultaneously a ground breaking tourism venture in that the development seeks to assist guests in engaging, relaxing and achieving a greater harmony with the natural world.

[docker]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=104296

Grylls to take new Ord plan to Cabinet this year
24th October 2008, 6:00 WST

A detailed proposal to expand the Ord River irrigation scheme would go to Cabinet this year and work on the long-awaited project was expected to start within six months, Nationals leader Brendon Grylls said yesterday.

Mr Grylls, who has promised $200 million for the project over four years from the royalties-for-regions fund, said the Ord expansion had been identified as a priority by Premier Colin Barnett and he did not envisage any problems securing funding for the project. The project was also high on a list of State priorities for a share of funding from the Commonwealth’s $20 billion Building Australia fund.

Mr Grylls, who is waiting for further advice from a community reference group, said the initial expansion would include 8000ha in the area known as M2, 1300ha in the West Bank and 4000ha in Mantinea.

The expansion would involve an extension of the existing irrigation channel but would later require a second duplicate channel to be built to open up a further 8000ha in M2 which was constrained by a mining lease.

Mr Grylls said he did not yet know whether the private sector or the Government would fund the channel extension.

But it was possible the channel infrastructure would be funded by the private sector, which would then charge farmers for access to the channel and water use. This would also allow Government funding to be spent on associated infrastructure such as roads and public housing, as well as airport and port upgrades.

It was also possible the Ord Irrigation Co-operative, which operates and manages the existing channel and is owned by growers, could manage the extended infrastructure.

Mr Grylls said he expected the Government to retain control of the sale of the land, rather than creating a “super lot” that was likely to attract only one type of crop rather than diversified proposals.

The expansion of the Ord stalled last year after the then Labor government scrapped an expression-ofinterest process for up to 16,000ha in M2, recognising that all proposals for the project would require a significant level of public money for infrastructure.

Under a revised Labor plan released last year and a $30 million pledge in the election campaign, the land in the West Bank and Mantinea would be developed. But Mr Grylls said the Labor government had not committed to the level of funding needed to open up land in M2 and ensure that community infrastructure such as schools and hospitals kept pace with the development.

A detailed plan outlining timelines, budgets and priorities would be taken to Cabinet by the end of the year.

He said the $200 million would not equate to $50 million a year and would fluctuate according to the timing of the project.

AMANDA BANKS

[gotime]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/albany-wind-farm-approved-20081022-5668.html

Albany wind farm approved

* Chris Thomson
* October 22, 2008

Last night's council approval of a six-turbine extension to the Albany wind farm could see the plant produce the equivalent of 80 per cent of that city's energy demand as early as 2010.

Albany City Council unanimously approved the $40 million expansion to the Verve Energy wind farm that overlooks the Great Southern Ocean at Sand Patch Reserve.

"Verve Energy has bent over backwards in their public consultation," Albany mayor Milton Evans said today.

"Most of the criticism came from those you would describe as greenies, and the main argument was visual pollution.

"But I think the turbines are beautiful for what they represent and what they're doing for our environment."

An environmental and business feasibility study for the turbines is being completed by Verve for presentation to the utility's board by April next year.

If the board gives the project the nod, power from the new turbines would be pumped 14 kilometres along a new underground cable to the existing main substation in Albany and then into WA's main grid.

Mayor Evans acknowledged Albany itself would not use the bulk of the extra electricity, but said the extra turbines would help boost the green credentials of WA as a whole.

An officers' report presented to the council last night said that when coupled with the existing turbines the new ones would produce the equivalent of 80 per cent of Albany's energy demand. The existing turbines produce the equivalent of half the city's demand.

Verve spokesman Peter Winner said the council approval was a major milestone.

"It is certainly a very welcome step you need before you can do anything much," Mr Winner said.

"The Albany wind farm project has really been taken on board by the Albany community as an integral part of the local landscape."

According to the officers' report, 100,000 tourist vehicles are now visiting the wind farm every year.

"It opened up an area of Albany on the coast that is quite picturesque," Mayor Evans said.

"Before it was only four-wheel-drivers and hang-gliders that could get in there."

The six 2300 kW wind turbines would be spaced 300 metres apart.

The council report suggested the turbines would be up and generating power by 2010.

Last night's council decision in Albany follows the recent approval of a $600 million wind farm for the WA wheatbelt town of Merredin.

[gotime]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wheatbelt-wind-farm-approved-20080930-4qxx.html

Wheatbelt wind farm approved

* Chalpat Sonti
* September 30, 2008

A $600 million wind farm capable of generating enough electricity to power 160,000 homes has been approved for a site near Merredin.

The 127-turbine Collgar wind farm, about 25km south east of the town, has been given the green light by the Merredin Shire Council.

To be built on a 13,000 hectare site by Investec Bank, the wind farm is expected to generate up to 900,000 megawatt hours of electricity.

The project is expected to employ about 200 people during construction and up to 15 when it is operating. Construction is expected to commence about June next year.

Investec project manager Mark Headland said there would be "excellent" opportunities for local businesses during the construction phase, with subcontractors likely to be invited to register their interest next month.

"We believe it is a very exciting project for the community," he said.

[Auxodium]

i seriously would holiday in Albany just to stay in that hotel :)

[Skyline Art]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/albany-wind-farm-approved-20081022-5668.html

Albany wind farm approved


"Before it was only four-wheel-drivers and hang-gliders that could get in there."

The six 2300 kW wind turbines would be spaced 300 metres apart.



That's pretty good that there would be a major green power facility there, however I wouldn't want to be a hang glider visiting that area; imagine if the wind picked up and then pushed you in the wrong direction..... into the blade, if they are 300 meters apart I guess you have some chance of escaping them....:nuts:

[Skyline Art]

i seriously would holiday in Albany just to stay in that hotel :)

Isn't there one of these designs somewhere up in Queensland, I think in Noosa or Airlie Beach - Whitsundays area?

[chrisaus]

Albany Entertainment Centre

http://www.doricgroup.com.au/images/stories/projects/_current/4444_albany_entertainment_centre.pdf

[andrewM]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3535/image004qa3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)the Sydney Memorial in Geraldton is a pretty amazing, this will really finish it

[chrisaus]

$24m to save Busselton jetty
28th October 2008, 10:30 WST

The historic Busselton Jetty has received a $24 million restoration package from the State Government.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls announced the two-year deal this morning.
Mr Grylls said the package would allow immediate aid for the ageing icon and free up any restrictions associated with the sale of nearby land.

He said if the Busselton Shire Council accepted the proposal, work could begin on the 141-year-old jetty this summer.

“Obviously this is reliant on the shire’s approval and tender process, but the offer is a positive step forward to ensuring the iconic Busselton Jetty remains as both a tourism and a financial asset to the shire,” Mr Grylls said.

“The funding is not conditional on land development and allows the shire to proceed with finalising tenders and starting work.

[dazzyd]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=104872

Opposition to 7-day trading in Bunbury
28th October 2008, 6:00 WST

The WA Independent Grocers Association will this week launch an advertising blitz against the State Government’s decision to allow seven-day trading in Bunbury, warning it is a “backdoor strategy” to deregulate trading hours in Perth.

In the advertisements, the association warns the decision gives in to demands from major food chains and will leave consumers worse off.

IGA president John Cummings said yesterday Bunbury retailers overwhelmingly rejected the proposition in two surveys.

He said a recent South Australian study also showed that every time shopping hours were extended the big retailers inevitably increased their sales at the expense of smaller competitors.

“Small retailers will be hit doubly hard by a combination of the slowing economy and extra costs like rent, electricity and penalty rates for employees,” he said.

Mr Cummings said the IGA was concerned at a WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry push for seven-day trading in Perth.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton-Greenough are considering following Bunbury, which became the 18th regional centre to be exempted from the Retail Trading Hours Act after Treasurer Troy Buswell, who is responsible for commerce, approved the move this month.

BEATRICE THOMAS

[RocStar]

It’s so hilarious reading anti Sunday trading from The WA Independent Grocers Association who holds the monopoly on Sunday trading. If they lift their game, maybe people would want to shop there rather than been forced to if there was a choice.

[chrisaus]

WA Independent Grocers Association obviously don't lack funds if they cant mount such a big advertising blitz. alot of those IGA are owned by businessmen how own multiple stores what a farce.

[crawf]

IGA sound like a bunch of wankers

It should NOT be up to a State/Federal Government to decide on when people can shop

[chrisaus]

exactly if they want to compete then they are going to have to compete by providing a good package to the customy instead of artificially inflating business by stamping out competition at the end of the day coles and woolies provide many jobs and flow on effect like transport and logistics, so the argument that they arnt going to help our economy is bull shit.

[perthgazer]

if their business model attracts more people then so be it

artificially protecting people by forcing people to shop at certain stores just pisess everybody off

[Bump]

One of the arguments is that if you allow deregulated trading hours, iga and small businesses will collapse and you will be left with Coles and Woolies. So instead of having 2.5 companies trying to sell you food, you end up with 2 companies. Less competition = higher prices.

[chrisaus]

how is one day going to make a diffirence they cope monday to saturday, imo there is no argument with trading hours, should have happened 20 years ago, every week it goes on without changing it just makes perth's inernational and natiional reputation worse.

[Bump]

That is when IGA make their money, on the weekends when Coles isn't open.

As for national and international reputation, Are you serious?

[chrisaus]

speak to people form vic and nsw, they think we are way behind in the times and some small town across the other side of the nation. well atleast that the vibe i get from people i have met

[chrisaus]

That is when IGA make their money, on the weekends when Coles isn't open.


so what makes IGA so special that the whole of the economy must shut to support them, how are they pumping extra money into the economy??

[perthgazer]

One of the arguments is that if you allow deregulated trading hours, iga and small businesses will collapse and you will be left with Coles and Woolies. So instead of having 2.5 companies trying to sell you food, you end up with 2 companies. Less competition = higher prices.

artifically protected businesses through restricting competition on certain days and times = higher prices

[chrisaus]

for the record i actually voted no and no on the vote, but i have certainly changed my views, but my no vote was for a totaly different logic than saving IGA

[exoz]

One of the arguments is that if you allow deregulated trading hours, iga and small businesses will collapse and you will be left with Coles and Woolies. So instead of having 2.5 companies trying to sell you food, you end up with 2 companies. Less competition = higher prices.

Why doesn't that argument apply to all the other cities in the world where sunday shopping has been a way of life for years without small businesses going bust? What makes Perth so different in this regard?

[Bump]

Yeah, but it isn't just about deregulated trading hours. Apparently we're the public transport kings of the world. (maybe I'm exaggerating)

I believe this is the best way for the government to introduce deregulated/less regulated trading hours into WA (by introducing into regional centres first). I think it is the country that gives the most opposition. Why pay extra and local when you can drive to Perth on the weekend and get it for cheaper? It is seen as the end of the local shop by some.

[Auxodium]

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6743/scan0021mf7.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4580/scan0017uc6.jpg

[docker]

^^ we're missing a bit from the bottom of the ord river article

[acc521]

It should just be done in one fell swoop. The market will sort itself out based on people's actual spending and shopping habits!

[Perth4life]

wow that hotel is awesome!


I work at woolworths on Sunday's and it's pretty much one of our busiest days of the week, IGA has too much influence in the media and people take their side because they think theyre the "little guy"

[Skyline Art]

what happened to the old hotel? did it get demolished because of white ants? (highly unlikely) or did it just get new owners who wanted to do something different and spurce up their ratings?

[Skyline Art]

kununurra is about 150km inland, so wont be getting a new port, the port is at derby to the north west.
i read this morning that with the ransom for regions money, ord river stage 2 has the green light to almost triple the farming land up there from 13 000 ha to 30 000 ha.

As I said earlier last month (as below) the following article posted by Samboy in the News Section... below my quote.... see the last sentence... this confirms my post..

KUNUNURRA BOOM
I heard on the radio this morning that Kununurra is to get major infrastructure up there, new airport and deep water port and massive housing project.
Any confirmation, as this wasn't news it was on news time, on a talk show on AM radio.

See below the very last sentence.... I know Kununurra is inland, but as it says there will be an upgraded port.... perhaps Barnette boy is thinking of Karrattha or Wyndam silly guy....:bash:
Grylls can F&*$$K OFF! People of non-regional Perth take notice. Vote for a party that can hold a majority govt in the next election to stop this bshit.

Grylls eyes $1b from BHP deal

10th November 2008, 6:00 WST

The WA Nationals’ program to spend more money in the regions may be expanded to include another fund to drive development in the North-West if mining giant BHP Billiton’s bid to take over rival Rio Tinto proceeds.

Nationals leader Brendon Grylls said yesterday partnerships with the private sector were also possible to ensure key projects were developed more quickly.

Mr Grylls said some analysts estimated the stamp duty on the transaction of a BHP-Rio deal could be worth more than $1 billion to the State’s coffers. He said it should be put into a new fund specifically for projects in WA’s north. This would be over and above the royalties for regions scheme which promises to spend $2.8 billion on regional projects over the next four years on top of projects already in the Budget.

The takeover bid is expected to be finalised by the end of March.

The Opposition attacked Mr Grylls’ proposal, saying that it was not sustainable to spend even more on regional development at a time when the State’s revenue was falling because of the global financial crisis.

“The royalties for the regions scheme is already very generous,” shadow regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan said.

“You can’t just go around with a huge sack of money playing Santa Claus without any strategic analysis.”

Ms MacTiernan said while some initiatives flagged by the Nationals such as the development of the Ord River for agriculture were to be applauded, the proposal to spend ever increasing amounts in the regions risked setting the country against the city.

Mr Grylls rejected suggestions the plan was unaffordable.

“If there is a revenue windfall to the State (from the BHP Billiton-Rio Tinto transaction) then it should be put to driving (regional development) for the next 50 years rather than plugging short-term financial holes because of the credit crisis,” he said.

He said that Telstra had approached the Nationals with a proposal to provide mobile phone coverage for the entire State in return for money from the royalties for regions fund. It is believed Telstra is seeking about $50 million, which would partially fund the roll-out.

This is despite the previous Federal government establishing the $2 billion Communications Fund to ensure regional telecommunications services were comparable to city services as a condition of Telstra’s privatisation.

Mr Grylls said he was “sick and tired” of waiting for Canberra to ensure that services in regional WA were adequate.

He also flagged a major redevelopment of Kununurra, including an expansion of its port and airport, and an extension of regional working allowances to all government workers as priorities for regional spending.

[Hossen27]

Major new shopping centre development for Busselton finally been released for public consultation. I dont have any time to upload photos, but have a look at the elevations and the overall site plan (http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/files/A-S-02-2.pdf)

http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/node/2738

Overall im pretty happy with the design, most of the parking is in the centre behind the main buildings or on the roofs. What they have done with the strange block boundaries is pretty good.

[Scraperfan]

it is definately designed with a street frontage style, so gets my tick of approval.

should have apartments above though!

[Hossen27]

it is definately designed with a street frontage style, so gets my tick of approval.

should have apartments above though!

yes.. that was my problem with the scheme amendment a few years back which turned this from R30 to restricted business zoning. No considerations for mixed use. residential in restricted business in busselton is pretty much impossible, though on a brighter side there is some mixed use in the business zone that has been approved.

Keep an eye out over the next few months as the new scheme is put out. Some very high densities (R100 off memory) proposed in the CBD and strong promotion of mixed use.

[Scraperfan]

what heights do you envisage for r100 in the cbd?

youd get some nice ocean views from the top floors hey.

[Hossen27]

what heights do you envisage for r100 in the cbd?

youd get some nice ocean views from the top floors hey.

As far as I know there is a proposed maximum of 5 stories in the CBD area, much higher than the current 10m maximum. Ill discuss in detail below

http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/tps/commercial
http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/file/Draft%20Local%20Commercial%20Planning%20Strategy.pdf


BUSSELTON
http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/files/Figure%2015.pdf

No density limit in the CBD core, max height 5 stories, promote resi above ground floor businesses. promotion of balcony overlooking street.

Mixed Use zone. R100 with max of four stories.Residential not permitted at ground level. Ground level of new buildings to be a minimum of 50% commercial floorspace to prevent domination by car parking. No side or rear setback requirements to generate continuous facades.

Residential Interface

Mixed Use R80 zone, prevent retail uses in favour of office and consulting type activities on ground and upper floors. Residential excluded from ground floor. Building height to 3 stories and 2 stories within 10m of Brown Street and West Street to merge with the adjacent residential scale

Dunsborough
http://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/files/Figure%2017.pdf

R100 3-4 Stories in the town centre. some increase in density and better interaction with the brook that runs through the town.

[acc521]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=108224

Goldfields to get new Kalgoorlie Hospital by 2012
15th November 2008, 6:00 WST

The first funding pledge under the royalties for regions policy which underpinned the formation of the State Government has been announced with Premier Colin Barnett confirming the long-awaited redevelopment of the Kalgoorlie Hospital will go-ahead.

Mr Barnett said the facility was vital to the region and as such his Government had made the $55 million redevelopment of the hospital a main priority in its first 100 days in office.

“The Liberal-National Government is committed to providing better access to health care services for all Western Australians in all parts of the State,” he said.

“The neglect of our health system over the past eight years is one of the key issues the new State Government will address.”

Mr Barnett made the announcement during a visit to the Kalgoorlie Hospital today with Health Minister Dr Kim Hames, Regional Development Minister Brendan Grylls, Mental Health Minister Dr Graham Jacobs and Kalgoorlie MLA John Bowler.

Dr Hames said urgent upgrades to the ageing hospital building would ensure people of the Goldfields would receive enhanced clinical facilities and better access to health care closer to home, reducing the need to travel to Perth.

“Importantly, the redevelopment will allow the emergency department and acute services wards to be located together with the medical imaging and medical records departments to greatly improve patient access and the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment,” Dr Hames said.

Upgrades to the hospital will include the construction of a new palliative care unit, the enlargement and refurbishment of the ensuites on the medical ward, refurbishment of the existing emergency department and medical imaging unit.

Kalgoorlie Hospital is the major trauma centre servicing the Goldfields which is home to about 56,000 people, as well as a large number who fly-in, fly-out to work on remote mining sites.

It is estimated that the region’s population will grow by about 18 per cent to more than 65,000 people by the year 2031.

PERTH

[WAuzzie]

wow 56 000 ... so almost every perth suburb should have a hospital of its own .. boo.

[Scraperfan]

that cynicism is a little mis-placed this time goran.

kalgoorlie is in the middle of nowhere and theres probably 10 000 residents in the surrounding towns and remote communities, not to mention the transient working population on the mines and tourists.

by stopping the kalgoorlie cases coming to perth, it should relieve pressure on our city hospitals too.

[Dilaz89]

is that a fucking media statement or news article?

[Auxodium]

wow 56 000 ... so almost every perth suburb should have a hospital of its own .. boo.

FFS.... Kal needs a new hospital... its shit why say such a comment...

[chrisaus]

wow 56 000 ... so almost every perth suburb should have a hospital of its own .. boo.

were you trying to sound stupid with that post?:nuts:

[Bonga]

is that a fucking media statement or news article?
Now that you mention it, it does read rather like a media statement. It would be equally at home on the government's website. :lol:

That said, it's not exactly a news item that you would expect to attract any controversy or disdain, so I don't see how it would need to be written any differently. Maybe we've just grown so accustomed to sensationalism that anything remotely positive seems dull? ;)

[stadiumdesigner]

wow 56 000 ... so almost every perth suburb should have a hospital of its own .. boo.

mate if only you know how hard it can be living in wheatbelt..let alone the goldfields

[Auxodium]

he has made stupid comments in the past but this one takes the title...

[WAuzzie]

i knowww jeeeesshhh just saying, population wise its like they deserve more cos they move away from the rest of the population. 1 person in the bush is worth 10 ppl in the city ... like yaaa knoowwwwwwwwww

[Bullswool]

Well they deserve the infrastructure. Ultimately we wouldn't have food if it wasn't for those people who decided to 'move away from the rest of the population'.

[Auxodium]

i knowww jeeeesshhh just saying, population wise its like they deserve more cos they move away from the rest of the population. 1 person in the bush is worth 10 ppl in the city ... like yaaa knoowwwwwwwwww

no mate... you got royally pwned... no kind of forum backtracking can save face now...

it was a rather silly comment to make about a regional city... yes that name for kal does sound rather odd but according to DLI or land gate or whatever it wants to fucking call itself tomorrow it is a city and it deserves to have infrastructure like Perth has...

[Dilaz89]

who gives a fuck, aux. Let it rest!

I am getting sick of your holier-than-though tone. Plz drop it.

[izza]

according to DLI or land gate or whatever it wants to fucking call itself tomorrow

Its been Landgate for nearly 2 years now. There not going to change name anytime soon as they are now a statutory authority not a government department anymore.

[aaronaugi1]

no mate... you got royally pwned... no kind of forum backtracking can save face now...



i've seen worse. lay off aux.

[Auxodium]

Its been Landgate for nearly 2 years now. There not going to change name anytime soon as they are now a statutory authority not a government department anymore.

yeah but they changed from the DLI for a period. it is kind of annoying that was my point.

and i can say what i like on this forum as many others do... difference? no not really.

[docker]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=108874

Boost to regional projects
19th November 2008, 9:30 WST

Nearly $6 million of State Government funding will be injected into 14 rural WA infrastructure projects.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said there had been a lot of support for the program, with 60 applications for funding received.

“The grants will lead to new and improved facilities for many communities, assisting these communities to attract and retain residents through better services and developing local employment opportunities through tourism,” he said.

Projects funded include:

$1million towards the Shire of Exmouth Flood Mitigation Works project to protect property and roads in the town from extreme flooding events;

$220,375 to the Shire of Coolgardie towards external works for the Kambalda Community and Recreation Facility;

$300,000 to the Shire of Katanning for the refurbishment of the Katanning Aquatic Centre, including a new leisure/learn to swim pool and heating for the water;

$59,950 to the Mulan Aboriginal Corporation to assist with an airstrip safety upgrade;

$537,900 to the City of Geraldton-Greenough to assist with a Material Recycling Facility to enable kerbside recycling'

$500,000 to assist with the construction of the Port Bouvard Surf Sports and Lifesaving Club facilities;

$381,070 to the Boddington Old School Inc to upgrade the Old School grounds to improve amenity and safety;

$600,000 to the Port Hedland Turf Club Inc to assist with the development of the Port Hedland Community Building for a range of sports and community uses;

$850,000 to the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup to assist construction of the new Donnybrook Medical Practice facility;

$151,000 to the Northcliffe Family Centre Inc for extensions to the existing family centre;

$200,000 to the South West Touring Car Club Youth Driver Development Program to construct a dedicated Young Driver’s Training Facility at the Bunbury Speedway precinct;

$574,532 towards the Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association for the Jewel Cave Preservation and Redevelopment Project;

$344,548 to the Shire of Harvey to assist with a civic enhancement program including a caravan rest area, picnic and children’s play area and dairy hall of fame; and

$250,000 to the Shire of Goomalling for an upgrade to the main street.

PERTH

[samboy]

hahaha 6 million down 6000 million to go.

[Auxodium]

at least a promise is being fulfilled i guess... even though it is only 6 million :P

[Hossen27]

This aint from royalties for regions. The law allowing royalties for regions hasnt even been passed yet, I dont even think its in parliament at all yet. This is just a regional infrastructure fund that has been around for years.

[stadiumdesigner]

all fair things to spend money on

[docker]

Ord River scheme to expand in 2009: Barnett (http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=112574)
10th December 2008, 15:30 WST

The Western Australian government will start work next year on a $400 million expansion of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

“You will see machinery on the ground in the early part of the year,” Premier Colin Barnett said today, addressing a business lunch in Perth. “With native title settled and all the design work done, it is ready to go.”

Mr Barnett said expansion of the project in the Kimberley region in the states northwest is one of the government’s three main development priorities. The others are a deep- water port for iron ore exports and the Northbridge Link, which will submerge Perth’s main train station.

He said there would be about $400 million committed to the expansion, adding that hopefully the project would be a joint venture between the Commonwealth and the state.

BLOOMBERG


No strings attached to $70 million shire bonus (http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=112417)
10th December 2008, 7:15 WST

Nationals leader Brendon Grylls is set to announce grants for 140 bush councils totalling more than $70 million, with no requirement for the councils to demonstrate how they will spend it.

The Royalties for Regions windfall dwarfs the Federal Government’s local government grants, which amount to about $30 million for WA metropolitan and country regions.

Mr Grylls will give details of the grants, ranging from $50,000 to $1.5 million for shires outside the metropolitan area, at a University of WA function on Tuesday.

The size of the grants has been calculated using a formula that takes into account remoteness, distance to services, the rates base and population.

The Government expects the money will be spent on transport infrastructure and community projects such as town swimming pools and recreation centres. But councils have not been required to submit plans for the money before receiving the grants, although they will have to report how it has been spent.

“What we give them money for is for infrastructure and processes to be able to develop whatever it is they want to develop,” a spokesman for Mr Grylls said. “The money’s going to be given to them anyway, but they need to qualify what they’ve spent the money on.”
Those reports are expected to feed into the formula when funds are distributed in future. Grants announced on Tuesday will be delivered this financial year.

Shadow local government minister Paul Papalia said yesterday the money should be leveraged to make councils more sustainable through mergers, shared services or shared skills.

“We’re in danger of developing a cargo cult mentality where Mr Grylls is flying around the country handing out gifts with no assessment of whether or not these councils are sustainable,” Mr Papalia said.

He said the WA Local Government Association had conducted a study into the viability of WA’s councils and found many were not sustainable.

“Because that is their constituency, they advocated co-operation rather than forced amalgamation, but here’s a great opportunity to leverage it to sustainability and fiscal accountability,” he said.

However, Mr Grylls’ spokesman said there would be measures in the package announced next week that would encourage shires to “work together”.

The Nationals are using development commission boundaries to determine which shires form part of the program but Mr Papalia said areas such as Dawesville, south of Mandurah,qualified while some outer metropolitan areas might miss out.

It is also understood Cabinet gave the go-ahead on Monday for the drafting of Royalties for Regions legislation, which is expected to be introduced into State Parliament in the first half of next year.

ROBERT TAYLOR
STATE POLITICAL EDITOR

[docker]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=113184

Arabs in multi-billion plan to buy WA farms
15th December 2008, 6:00 WST

Middle East countries flush with profits from selling oil are looking to spend billions of dollars buying WA farms in a bid to secure long-term supplies of crops and livestock, the Department of Agriculture and Food has revealed.

But farmers have warned the Arab buying spree could devastate the industry because Middle East investors either lacked the skills or local farmers would not want to manage the properties for them.

NEWS BLOG - Middle East investment in WA farms: Do you agree? (http://blogs.thewest.com.au/news/news-blog-middle-east-investment-in-wa-farms-do-you-agree/)

The Arabs’ plan was sparked by a food shortage scare this year that made prices soar. Middle East countries are also moving away from broadacre agriculture as they redirect water use.

Department of Agriculture and Food grains industry director Peter Metcalfe was part of a delegation that visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait last month to promote investment in WA agriculture and increase trade ties with the Middle East.

The delegation made presentations to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Agriculture, 25 businesses and more than a dozen venture capitalists to advertise exports of WA meat and grains and encourage investment in the sheep, dairy, wheat and barley sectors.

“It’s bigger than is normally the case, somewhere in the order of $200 million upwards to $1 billion at individual project level,” Mr Metcalfe said yesterday. “There are a number of investors who will come in at $200 million but there’s one who won’t look at anything under a billion.”

He said Middle East investors were keen to buy WA farms and have West Australians run them as part of deals expected to be completed within 18 months.

“It’s not an attempt to displace people from rural communities,” Mr Metcalfe said. “But it frees up the equity that they (farmers) have in their farms for them to do whatever they wish with and to continue farming if they wish to do so.” Purchases of farms would need to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review board, he said.

WAFarmers president Mike Norton said Middle East ownership of farms would fail in the long term. He said Saudi Arabian investors had owned properties in Esperance and near Toodyay but it had been an “absolute failure”.

“We certainly need some downstream investment and relationships with these Arab people,” Mr Norton said. “But to think they are going to come in and buy the farms and the farmers are going to run them as some sort of manager — that won’t work. It won’t work for them and it probably won’t work for WA, either.”

He said the Government should offer tax breaks to family farming enterprises to stimulate the industry or encourage farmers to establish partnerships with overseas companies.

“It’s not a matter of the Arabs just coming in here with a big fat cheque book and saying ‘You beaut, we own millions of acres in Western Australia, we’re home and hosed, that’s going to guarantee us our food source for ever’,” Mr Norton said. “They’re living in a fool’s paradise.”

KATE TARALA

[docker]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/opposition-claims-royalties-scheme-lacks-accountability-20081216-6zle.html?page=-1

Opposition claims royalties scheme lacks accountability
* Claire Kelly
* December 16, 2008 - 1:55PM

The Opposition has labelled the official launch of the Royalties for Regions project as a "no strings attached" approach, handing millions of dollars to regional local governments without accountability.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls unveiled the State Government's plan to hand 110 regional local governments a share of $400 million over four years, saying the funding would improve ailing infrastructure in country towns.

Shadow Local Government Minister Paul Papalia questioned the accountability of local governments for their funds, saying the processes involved were very unclear.

"They seem to be limited to local governments coming up with a project or identifying a project and having to spend the funds within a dedicated time frame," Mr Papalia said.

"There's no prioritisation, there's no strategic view it's just get the money out the door and if you've spent it then you've complied," he said.

Mr Grylls said there were a lot of "checks and balances" in place to ensure local governments were accountable for spending the money on infrastructure projects.

"Funds are paid over two installments in the year and if they [local governments] haven't started the project it will be hard for them to get the second installment," he said.

He said there was a $1.75 billion backlog of infrastructure projects in regional WA and expected local governments to use their funds appropriately to improve community facilities.

Local governments will be subject to random checks and audits by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development and must provide written confirmation they will allocate the funding to infrastructure projects.

The money will be distributed through three funds, the Country Local Government Fund, Regional Community Services Fund and the Regional Infrastructure and Headworks Fund over the four years.

"We imagine this Local Government Fund will be discussed by local governments... and will be put in place to either renew existing infrastructure that haven't been able to be maintained or to invest in new infrastructure for the future," Mr Grylls said.

Mr Papalia said Labor supported additional expenditure in the regions but believed the State Government's approach was questionable.

"I think this fund has missed an opportunity to leverage improvements in financial responsibility from local governments," he said.

"I'll be watching very closely to ensure it's not employed as a pork-barreling system."

WA Local Government Association president Bill Mitchell welcomed the funding announcement for regional governments, saying audits of councils would ensure accountability.

"This will be a tight reporting process and there's no new money until the old money's spent," Cr Mitchell said.

He did not believe the fund would be used in "pork-barreling" in the lead up to the next State election.

"I don't think its a pork-barreling fund as it is, it's an acknowledgement that the royalties have been created in the regions and a percentage of those funds go back to the regions."

[WAuzzie]

what happans to the other billions of $$ ?

[GAbE27]

There is a few planning jobs going at landcorp atm cos of the royalties for regions program. Anyone want to live in Katharine?? :ohno:

[aaronaugi1]

There is a few planning jobs going at landcorp atm cos of the royalties for regions program. Anyone want to live in Katharine?? :ohno:

why would West Australian funds create jobs in a northern territory town?

[dallastexjr]

From The West online

New heart plan for Eaton
7th January 2009, 6:00 WST


The flourishing town of Eaton, north of Bunbury, will have a new central precinct if plans for a $62 million project by Bunbury-based developer Citygate Properties get the nod from Dardanup Shire Council.

Citygate wants to spend the millions on an expansion of the Eaton Fair shopping centre which will effectively convert it into the Eaton town centre.

Citygate principal Geoff Prosser said the plan included a significant increase in retail floor space, including scope for a discount department store, a cinema centre with related cafe and restaurant facilities, a town square and site for weekend markets, a civic precinct, a commercial office area and a residential development component.

The total area will be 5.5ha. The town centre will embrace the shire offices, town library, recreational centre, two primary schools, a high school and soon a Catholic primary school.

“So you start to get all of the functions of a town centre,” Mr Prosser said.

If approved, the development will increase Eaton Fair’s 6685sqm of retail floor space to 15,537sqm, making it a district centre.

Research shows that Eaton’s main catchment area, or main trade area, is under-supplied with retail floor space, estimated to be 0.5sqm per capita.

With the proposed Eaton Fair development, along with other proposed developments at Treendale and Kingston, the floor space figures would be much more in line with Australian averages.

“When you take into consideration the additional office space in the town centre plan, there will be about 29,540sqm of retail, mixed use, office and residential floor space,” Mr Prosser said.

The residential component will be three-storey buildings overlooking playing fields and the Ferguson hills and will include one and twobedroom apartments.

The commercial project will involve two-storey buildings with a mix of offices on the first floor and retail and restaurants on the ground floor.

The plans were presented to Dardanup Shire Council in December.

“Right now trying to get office accommodation in Bunbury is very, very difficult because of the planning scheme of Bunbury that restricts offices in most of the zones other than the CBD,” Mr Prosser said.

There had been population growth of about 6 per cent each year in Eaton, which had a young and wealthy demographic.

“Their incomes are one of the highest in the State and that is because of where they work,” he said.

“In the bulk, they work at Worsley, Wagerup, Collie and Kemerton and they are all on big money.

“A lot of them live there because of lifestyle. You have schools, hospitals, and are close to the water with crabbing and crayfishing.”

The strong growth is expected to continue, with the further development of Millbridge Estate, the Bethanie Fields retirement village, Treendale, Kingston and the Twin Rivers Estate.

“This is also a reflection of the fact that residential growth is now limited in the City of Bunbury municipality, because of the mature residential market and limited land release,” Mr Prosser said.

Citygate already has approval for a $33 million expansion at Eaton Fair which would see the establishment of a 6366sqm discount department store, a 500sqm expansion of the existing Woolworths supermarket and an additional 1550sqm of floor space allocated for specialty shops.

The gross floor area would total 17,350sqm. The approval was gained before the gazettal of the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme, when Eaton Fair was limited to being a neighbourhood shopping centre.

“We could start this tomorrow,” Mr Prosser said. “But our view is that this ($62 million expansion) is a better and more exciting proposal.

“Fellow director Steve Prosser and I want to make this development something we can be proud of and we believe that there will be tangible benefits for the Eaton and districts community.”

An additional 345 full-time equivalent jobs would be created from the proposed expansion and it has been estimated that there will be an extra 313 indirect long-term jobs, as part of the multiplier effect of the expansion.

Eaton Fair is well patronised, attracting more than 32,000 people each week, which is more than the population of the City of Bunbury.

CATHY SAUNDERS

[GAbE27]

why would West Australian funds create jobs in a northern territory town?

Karratha... my fingers want me to to Kathrine... :nuts:

[Bonga]

why would West Australian funds create jobs in a northern territory town?
Perhaps they're just really desparate to find ways to spend the $700 million. ;)

[dallastexjr]

Such as this lol?


From WA Business News online

New $135m hospital for Albany
8-January-09 by Edited announcement

The state government has given the go-ahead for a new $135 million hospital in Albany, which will service more than 50,000 local residents in the Great Southern region.

The green light represents the largest country hospital development ever undertaken in Western Australia.

Premier Colin Barnett today announced that the government would honour its election commitment and construct the new hospital, which will replace the current Albany Regional Hospital with a new purpose-built facility.

The new hospital will establish the Albany Health Campus as a Regional Resource Centre for the Great Southern region, servicing more than 50,000 local residents.

"We have committed to a rebuild of Albany Hospital, which is ageing and requires replacement," Mr Barnett said.

"This will be a brand new facility, built on vacant land close to the hospital and once completed, the old hospital will be demolished.

"It will be the largest hospital development ever undertaken in regional WA and the Liberal-National Government is committed to delivering the new building as soon as possible.

"With this investment in a new hospital, more than 80 per cent of patients from the Great Southern region will be able to be treated in Albany, closer to where they live."

Health Minister Dr Kim Hames said a replacement of Albany Hospital would deliver a superior, purpose-built modern facility that would service the needs of the Great Southern community well into the future.

"The new facility will include a new, much larger Emergency Department with state-of- the-art equipment. It will also include additional mental health beds and expanded renal dialysis, palliative care and cancer services," Dr Hames said.

"Modern ward areas will offer a far greater level of patient amenity.

"Regional surgical services will be enhanced with a purpose-built surgical centre incorporating three new theatres, a scope room and a procedure room, which will allow for more elective and day surgeries to be performed in Albany."

Dr Hames said obstetric and birthing facilities would also be substantially upgraded, meaning more women would be able to have their babies nearer to their home and families. A special care nursery would also allow for more sick babies to remain in the region.

He added the new facility with expanded services would ensure patients in the Great Southern region received the best health care available.

"Providing a new hospital with modern and expanded services will enhance both the quality of patient care in Albany, as well as ensure patient safety is of the highest standard and Great Southern residents receive the best possible health care close to home," he said.

Work on the detailed design of the new hospital will start within three months, with the project expected to go to tender in 2010.

Construction of the new Albany Regional Resource Centre is expected to commence in 2010 with completion of the hospital section scheduled for mid-2013.

"The project is made more complex by the need to build around a very busy existing hospital, however, the Government expects to draw heavily on private sector procurement expertise to minimise the development timeframe," Dr Hames said.

"The project will also create other opportunities for private sector involvement in areas such as ambulatory services, imaging and private medical suites at the new health campus, providing even more choices for Albany people.

"It will also have a positive flow-on to local small businesses providing work for building and trades contractors during the construction phase."