AGRIBUSINESS

WA government to provide $9.1billion for regional infrastructure

THE Western Australian Government will pump hundreds of millions of dollars into agriculture as part of its 2021-22 state budget.

Staff writer
 Roads and infrastructure in regional WA are included in the state's budget. Picture Mark Saunders.

Roads and infrastructure in regional WA are included in the state's budget. Picture Mark Saunders.

The budget, announced last week, includes a $9.1 billion investment in regional infrastructure and $4.2 billion through Royalties for Regions. Other allocations cover ongoing support for services across regional WA, including $463 million for regional school bus services.

A major part of the agricultural allocation is $200 million to improve agricultural supply chains by upgrading WA's freight transport network, including $22 million for grain freight upgrades at Moora, Brookton, Broomehill and Cranbrook.

Efforts have also been directed to revitalise WA's TAFE and training sector, with a $198 million investment per annum in regional WA over the next four years, including:

* Continuing the lower fees, local skills program, which has seen a 22 per cent increase in enrolments in the Wheatbelt in 2021;
* Delivering $9.1 million at Muresk Institute for a specialist centre for agricultural mechanisation, plus a new industry standard shearing shed;
* Delivering $2 million for Central Regional TAFE's Northam campus for an upgraded workshop;
* $25 million to WA TAFEs for new state-of-the-art equipment;
* $29.8 million to provide 8000 additional VET places in schools across WA, on top of an additional 1350 VET places introduced in 2021;

Economic development allocations include $19.8 million to make air travel for regional residents more affordable, $10.1 million towards the Processed Oats Industry Growth Partnership, which aims to double the value of the oat grain industry in WA over the next 20 years and $15 million for the Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund.

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

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