The McGowan Government has unveiled a $110.9 million package for the Kimberley region as part of the WA Recovery Plan, to drive economic and social recovery, and create a pipeline of local jobs.
The Kimberley Recovery Plan is focused on getting locals back to work and includes a significant investment in sectors including construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy, education and training, and agriculture.
It will deliver a pipeline of short and long term jobs supporting and strengthening our existing industries, as well as laying the foundation for jobs of the future.
As part of the McGowan Government's $229.2 million Rebuilding our TAFEs package, the plan includes upgrades to TAFE infrastructure in the Kimberley, including:
- $10 million to North Regional TAFE's Broome Campus for a new Hospitality and Student Services Centre, to expand training in hospitality and tourism with a particular focus on supporting Aboriginal businesses; and
- $6 million to North Regional TAFE's Kununurra Campus for a new Health and Hospitality Trade Training Centre, to deliver specialist training facilities for NDIS related courses and hospitality training.
The Kimberley Recovery Plan includes investment in local infrastructure, to create opportunities for local businesses and jobs for local workers. This includes $3 million to rebuild the early childhood education centre at Wyndham District High School.
The McGowan Government's revamped Buy Local policy will ensure local businesses are in the box seat to carry out this work. The plan includes:
- $3 million to construct the Broome Town Beach jetty allowing pedestrian, fishing and small boat access and enabling community members and tourists to access the Roebuck Bay foreshore;
- $20 million for the construction of a 70 bed Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation facility in Kununurra, providing temporary accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting Kununurra;
- $3.2 million for a water playground at the Kununurra Leisure Centre; and
- $2.96 million to relocate Horizon Power's call centre in Melbourne to Broome, creating 10 local jobs.
As well as supporting existing industries, the Kimberley Recovery Plan includes a focus on driving investment in renewable energy and new technologies, to create sustainable jobs. It includes:
- installing Battery Energy Storage Systems to allow more customers to install rooftop solar systems and reduce their power bills, including $10.3 million for Broome and $1.7 million for Yungngora;
- $9.92 million for Horizon Power to deploy standalone power systems that use solar and battery technology to generate and store electricity, making power safer and more reliable for North-West customers - including funding for up to four systems across the Kimberley; and
- $5.21 million to invest in renewable energy projects across Derby, including installing solar PV systems on council buildings, replacing street lights with energy efficient LEDs, and a large-scale solar panel and battery at Derby Health Campus.
Strengthening Western Australia's health and community services is a vital component of the WA Recovery Plan. In the Kimberley, the McGowan Government will invest:
- $9.77 million for Aboriginal regional suicide prevention plans in each region of WA prioritising Aboriginal-led and locally endorsed initiatives that accommodate a culturally informed social and emotional wellbeing approach to suicide prevention:
- $18.8 million towards operating costs at regional renal hostels including a new service in Broome and services in Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and Kununurra;
- $7.98 million towards the planning and development of the Broome Health and Wellbeing Campus, a Nyamba Buru Yawuru project;
- $1.85 million for upgrades to alcohol and other drug facilities in regional WA, including in Wyndham, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing; and
- establishing a regional deployment pool of metropolitan clinical staff that can be deployed at short notice to regional locations across WA to support healthcare delivery.
The Kimberley region will also benefit from a range of State-wide programs included in the WA Recovery Plan. For more information, visit http://inthistogether.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"I thank each and every member of the Kimberley community for their efforts and sacrifices during the pandemic.
"We must remain vigilant, but our work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 means we are in a strong position to continue the process of recovery.
"The Kimberley Recovery Plan will drive economic and social recovery in the region, to ensure it can recover stronger than ever.
"It will create a pipeline of short and long term jobs for locals and deliver huge improvements to local infrastructure and services."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Josie Farrer:
"This is an important step in the Kimberley's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Not only will the plan deliver improvements to our health system, provide more renewable energy options and infrastructure projects, it will ensure that in the coming months and years, opportunities for local workers and businesses are created and training opportunities for young people are increased so that they can remain in the Kimberley."
