Budget Boosts Infrastructure, Services for Regional WA

• 2025-26 State Budget delivers on Cook Labor Government's vision for regional WA
• More than $10 billion invested in the regions
• Significant investments in health, community safety, education and housing
• More than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions Program
• Ensuring people living in regional Western Australia have access to the infrastructure and services they need

The Cook Labor Government is delivering its vision for regional WA, with the 2025-26 State Budget providing significant investments in health infrastructure, mental health services, community safety, housing and community services.

Billions of dollars will be delivered to the regions, supporting the Cook Government's commitment to Western Australians, whether they live in our suburbs, regional centres, towns, or remote communities, they will have access to local job opportunities, major services and quality infrastructure.

The Budget will help keep costs down for WA families with billions of dollars in rebates and concessions, and household fees and charges being kept affordable with below inflation increases for a sixth consecutive year.

More than $4 billion in Royalties for Regions funding will also go towards projects which enhance regional communities, ensuring they remain exceptional places to live, work and raise a family.

Regional Western Australians will benefit from the Cook Government's $121 million investment in regional health and mental health infrastructure and services. This includes:

• $69.1 million for planning the Albany Health Campus expansion to commence planning for a 30bed ward delivered via innovative modular technology;
• $36.3 million to expand the WA Virtual Emergency Department and enable people to access expert emergency care from their own home, no matter where they live;
• $20.3 million in additional funding to the major Bunbury Hospital Redevelopment, bringing the total to $471.4 million;
• $13.8million to commence a mental health child and adolescent Acute Care and Response Team in Bunbury;
• $12.4 million for the establishment and operation of a residential Great Southern Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre;
• $12.2million to implement a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub, which will provide virtual mental health treatment and support services for children and their families;
• $10.8 million for key Kimberley Health initiatives including $8.8 million to deliver the Derby Wellness Centre and $2 million to progress planning for a low-medium alcohol and other drug withdrawal facility in Broome;
• $9.9 million to improve mental health service access in the Goldfields;
• $3.4 million for the Dampier Peninsula Clinics Transition to Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services;
• $8.2 million to establish GP ASK to connect WA GPs to dedicated and experienced specialists without the need for patients to travel to a hospital;
• $1.6 million to commence commissioning work for the Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment;
• $1 million project planning funding for delivery of an 8-bed Karratha Renal Dialysis Facility, a new hostel and expansion of Geraldton Renal Dialysis Unit;
• $1million planning funding towards a Geraldton Radiation Oncology service;
• $1million to upgrade air conditioning at the Kalbarri Health Centre; and
• $829,000 for the purchase of land to enable the construction of the Broome Sobering Up Centre.

The 2025-26 State Budget delivers cost-of-living support with rebates and concessions for people across regional WA, including:

• $3.5billion over the next fouryears to keep regional water and power prices in line with metropolitan prices;
• $337 million towards the WA Residential Battery Scheme, providing Horizon Power customers with up to $7,500 and Synergy customers $5,000 towards the cost of a household battery together with the Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, plus households with incomes of less than $210,000 per annum can access no-interest loans of up to $10,000;
• $88.7 million in cost-of-living relief to families for school expenses, including $250 for every secondary student and $150 for every primary and kindergarten student, through the second round of the Western Australian Student Assistance Payment;
• $28 million to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the South West;
• $25.7 million to deliver a further $100 increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card, bringing the total card value to $775 per year;
• $18.2million to halve the costs of Transwa rail and coach fares from 1January2026;
• $18.5 million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy from 26c per kilometre to 40c per kilometre; and
• $8million for the Country Week Assistance Program to support regional students participating in Country Week events.

Regional roads and transport infrastructure will continue to be upgraded, with investments in key projects including:

• $250million over five years to expand the Regional Road Safety Program to local roads across the State;
• $40 million towards Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront, that will complete construction of the Casuarina Boat Harbour breakwater, bringing the total project to $112 million;
• $35million to progress road works at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in PortHedland;
• $25 million to deliver the Northam Pithara Road Realignment and Bridge Replacement project (Wheatbelt);
• $25million to commence road enhancements on sections of South Coast Highway between Cheyne Road and Kojaneerup;
• $14million for first point of entry infrastructure at the Port of Wyndham;
• a further $11.5 million for upgrades to Albany Regional Airport, bringing the State's contribution to the project to $14 million;
• $10.8million to undertake planning work for the Port of Albany general purpose berth project;
• $8.3 million to progress planning and negotiations to bring the Freight Rail Network back into government hands;
• $7.7 million for the long-awaited upgrade to Bayley Street in Coolgardie;
• $3.5 million towards the design of berth 8 and 9 at Geraldton Port;
• $3 million to resolve a long-standing access problem at Austin Lakes in South Yunderup, by upgrading Shoales Bend and the intersection of Forrest Highway and Beacham Road;
• $1.5million for a barge landing facility at the Port of Derby; and
• $500,000 to create a business case for cruise terminal facilities at the Port of Broome.

The 2025-26 Budget will continue to build safe and strong regional communities with key commitments, such as:

• more than $480million perannum for services provided by the WesternAustralia Police Force's regional districts, including 123police stations and around 1,900police officers and staff;
• $390million perannum on court and tribunal administration in the regions, community corrections, and the operation of the State's eight regional prisons (and work camps);
• $14.3million to redevelop a WesternAustralia Police Academy accommodation block, which will be used to provide free accommodation to regional recruits to encourage people living in regional areas to become police officers;
• $10million, as part of the Fire and Emergency Services Package, towards the construction of a new evacuation centre and multipurpose complex in Fitzroy Crossing;
• $5.9 million over the next three years to help establish the first Night Space program in Kununurra, providing a safe place for children after hours;
• $5million for contracted security services and minor upgrades at regional courts;
• $3.5 million for expansion of the Community Emergency Services Manager program;
• $3.1 million towards a new State Bushfire Mitigation Branch, including 12 additional staff;
• $2.5million for Kalgoorlie LED streetlighting;
• $2million, funded by the Commonwealth Government, to establish a WesternAustralian Telecommunications Resilience Pilot Program in the Wheatbelt and Western Goldfields;
• $3million for the Marra Worra Worra Night Place - Fitzroy Crossing to provide wraparound support for young people and their families in the Kimberley;
• $1.6 million to assist the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup in development of a replacement facility for the Argyle Irishtown Bush Fire Brigade; and
• $250,000 towards the Kalbarri Evacuation Centre.

The Cook Government's budget will deliver a $1.4 billion investment to support housing and homelessness measures. Key regional housing initiatives include:

• $103.8 million in funding to deliver more Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) homes for essential government workers in the regions;
• $43.2 million to deliver 169 lots in the Mulataga residential development in Karratha, partially funded by the Commonwealth;
• $25 million over four years for the Regional Housing Support Fund which will provide grants of up to $5 million to support new housing and land supply across regional WA, supporting regional subdivision and providing additional support to key worker and community housing projects;
• $20 million towards the Pringle Village Stage 2 - Seniors Independent Living in Kalgoorlie;
• $13.7 million for regional staff accommodation costs to attract and retain staff in regional areas;
• $8.3 million from the Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to support four wastewater projects in the Kimberley and South West regions and enable over 5,600 residential lots in the longer term;
• $5million to unlock and expedite new housing projects and land supply;
• $5 million for the Water Lily Place Housing Development in East Wyndham; and
• $3.1million to expand Housing First Homelessness Support Services in Bunbury and surrounding suburbs for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping.

The Cook Government will invest $219.7million in regional primary and secondary school infrastructure, upgrades and new builds, as well as a range of measures to support families across regional Western Australia, including for early education and outside of school hours care. Key initiatives include:

• $43.3 million towards the first tranche of the Cool the Schools program that will deliver air conditioning upgrades to schools across WA and the regions;
• $42 million for the first tranche of minor works for schools across the State and regional WA;
• $30.3 million for the School of Isolated and Distance Education to support more students learning in regional WesternAustralia;
• $29 million to trial nation-leading free full-time, school-based kindy, which includes $2.3 million for minor infrastructure upgrades to five regional pilot sites;
• $15 million to expand the number of outside school hours care services at public primary schools, of which $1 million is for schools in Manjimup and Bunbury;
• $10million for additional transportable classrooms, including $4.4 million to establish long-term accommodation for the Alternative Learning Settings programs in Northam and Karratha;
• $8.6million to facilitate the New Schools and Maintenance Vision, comprising $6.7million to deliver a range of minor works projects, including classroom refurbishments, sports facilities, play equipment, and student services upgrades;
• $1.7million to progress planning for seven major upgrade projects;
• $200,000 to begin planning for a proposed new secondary school in the Dawesville catchment;
• $8million for the Remote Schools Infrastructure Program to address critical infrastructure needs at 14 eligible schools in the remote Kimberley region; and
• more than $4million as part of the Government's small commitments to support minor works and noninfrastructure projects at more than 70 public and nongovernment schools.

Around $277 million per annum will be invested to deliver Vocational Education and Training, career and employment advice, and TAFE support services across regional Western Australia, with further asset investment of $65 million towards regional TAFE projects. This includes:

• $11.6million for another round of the TAFE Modern Equipment program to enhance facilities and infrastructure assets in the regions;
• $8.6million to deliver fee-free TAFE-housing and construction courses, upskilling the local workforce to build regional houses; and
• $5.9million through the Adult Apprentice Incentive Scheme, AUKUS Incentive Scheme and Collie Job App.

The Cook Government is focused on diversifying regional economies, delivering more jobs and powering WA on clean energy. This includes investments of:

• $500million increase to the Strategic Industries Fund (to $1billion), which will support activating strategic industrial areas across the State, including in the Pilbara, South West and MidWest;
• $30million towards the Collie Industrial Transition Fund (allocated beyond the forward estimates) to further support the transition of Collie's economy to new and emerging industries;
• $20million to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program in the regions;
• $13.5million to undertake network connection works required for a new 50 per cent renewable power generation station;
• $8.9 million funding boost to the Exploration Incentive Scheme to encourage mining exploration and support jobs in regional WA;
• $6.7million for the Grain Harvest Program and aerial fire response capability including the establishment of two strike teams;
• $6million to more than double the State's contribution to the Wine Industry Export Growth Partnership;
• $5.3million for the new Blackstone Power Station and Solar Farm (partially funded by $1million in Commonwealth funding);
• $4.5million to finalise the replacement of a transformer at the Murdoch Drive Zone substation in the Pilbara;
• $4million (funded from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund), to deliver the Allanson Farm Shop Restaurant and Caravan Park;
• $2.5 million to expand and fit out the Kalgoorlie Driver and Vehicle Services centre;
• $2million to undertake a study into establishing a space launch facility;
• $1.6 million towards the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan; and
• $1 million to the Collie Mine Workers Institute.
• Securing regional WA's water future is a priority for the Cook Government, with substantial investments in the budget, including:
• $543.3million to the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme Upgrade;
• $20.6 million for the Onslow Seawater Desalination Plant;
• $8.5million to protect and improve thewater quality of the PeelHarvey estuary through the continued implementation of the Bindjareb Djilba (PeelHarvey Estuary) Protection Plan;
• $5 million for the KalgoorlieBoulder Water Bank Project;
• $4.5million to undertake environmental regulation and water licensing assessment and approvals for the Pilbara region; and
• $4.2million to update water planning information and water allocation plans in the Pilbara region.

A commitment of $33.3 million to support family and domestic violence (FDV) victim-survivors has been included in the budget, including:

• $11.5 million to deliver the Safe at Home program to seven additional locations, including in regional Western Australia; and
• $1.4 million to support planning and business case development for the expansion of Albany and Geraldton refuge capacity, and further expansions of FDV refuges at five locations across the State.

The Cook Government's budget will also support local industry and amenity, community activities, sport and recreation across regional WA. Some of the projects and initiatives include:

• $115.6 million to build a new Ningaloo Reef tourism hub and boating facility at Exmouth's Tantabiddi Boat Ramp to support recreational and commercial users, improve safety and the overall visitor experience at this drawcard tourist destination;
• $93 million towards the first tranche of sport and recreation infrastructure upgrades across WA, including the regions;
• an additional $40 million toward the Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront project, with $5.7 million to complete construction of Stage 2B and $34.1 million for Stage 3 Phase 1 works;
• $25.2million to establish a Regional Racing Fund for key infrastructure upgrades at up to 24 racing, harness, turf and trotting clubs;
• $22.5million towards the construction of a new aquatic facility in South Hedland;
• $15.5 million towards the upgrade and expansion of the indoor courts at the Leschenault Leisure Centre;
• $7.5 million for the Newman Youth and Community Hub;
• $6million as part of the Women's Sport Boost to encourage participation of women and girls in sport, including $3million to upgrade Geraldton Building Services and Cabinets Sports Park with new unisex changerooms, and $1.5million towards a new pavilion and women's changerooms at Dwellingup Oval;
• $4 million to establish the Veterans' Facilities fund to help RSL and veterans organisations upgrade their local facilities and RSL clubs;
• $3 million to continue an uplift in baseline funding to financial counselling services across the State, including services in Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Roebourne and Exmouth;
• $2.8million to the Geraldton Netball Association for upgrades to its Wonthella facility;
• $800,000 for North Pinjarra Park upgrades;
• $750,000 for Edenvale Heritage Precinct upgrades;
• $750,000 for Harvey Accessible Playground; and
• $500,000 for the Janyba Centre for Culture, Arts and Story in Broome.

The 2025-26 State Budget also includes $19million for regional initiatives which will drive regional tourism across WesternAustralia and support local jobs and businesses as part of in the Government's Outdoor Adventure Tourism package, including:

• $5million for Stage One of the Jarrahdale Trails Centre, which will provide a new hub for the growing trails tourism industry in SerpentineJarrahdale;
• $3.5million to deliver upgraded facilities at William Bay National Park, including pedestrian access to Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool and to realign the Munda Biddi Trail;
• $3million to increase the marron population and boost recreational fishing opportunities at Harvey, Logue Brook, and Wellington Dams in the SouthWest region;
• $2.9million to expand the kiosk and undertake water and electrical upgrades to facilities at Wellington National Park;
• $1.7million to deliver a mountain bike trail in the Kalgoorlie area;
• $1.5million to create a new walking and cycling path from Serpentine town to the Serpentine National Park; and
• $200,000 to plan an all-abilities fishing jetty in Albany.

The Cook Government's 2025-26 State Budget delivers another strong surplus for Western Australia, and with debt levels remaining affordable, puts WA in the best position to invest in what matters for all Western Australians.

For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au

As stated by Premier Roger Cook:

"This Budget delivers on my government's vision for regional Western Australia.

"We want all Western Australians - no matter if they live in our suburbs, regional centres, towns, or remote communities - to have local job opportunities, and access to essential services and infrastructure.

"The 2025-26 Budget will see billions of dollars invested in our regions, driving economic growth, diversifying regional economies, and creating jobs for our future generations.

"Only the Cook Labor Government can deliver this future - a future that is Made in WA."

As stated by Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:

"Our State Budget reinforces our government's commitment to the regions.

"The Cook Labor Government is paving the way to ensure our communities have the resources they need to thrive including better roads, quality healthcare and access to housing.

"Through Made in WA, the projects we are investing in today will bolster our regional economies now and into the future.

"Regional WA plays a significant role and our investments announced today in the State Budget reflect just that."