$111 million investment in critical regional programs

  • McGowan Government to invest $111.6 million in important regional programs and projects
  • Funding was due to expire at the end of the financial year
  • Investment provides security and continuity of funding for key environmental, community, sports and arts programs 
  • The McGowan Government will invest $111.6 million in funding to continue critical State Government programs and projects across regional Western Australia.

    Funding for the next four years has been locked in ahead of this year’s Budget, recognising the importance of more than a dozen regional State Government programs.

    The funding package includes $25 million over the next four years for Healthy Estuaries WA, which continues and expands on the previous work under the Regional Estuaries Initiative and Revitalising Geographe Waterways projects. Healthy Estuaries WA supports restoration and management of estuaries in the Peel, South-West and Great Southern regions.

    Another $18.5 million will be invested into Broome, Derby and Kalgoorlie Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation, to ensure sustainable operations at three critical short-stay facilities in the Kimberley and Goldfields.

    To continue to help protect regional communities from the risk of catastrophic bushfires, the McGowan Government will add another $15 million to extend mitigation efforts.

    The funding package also supports important community programs for the regions, including:

    • $3.2 million for the Regional Men’s Health Initiative, ensuring the successful men’s wellbeing program can continue to operate in regional and rural communities;
    • $4.2 million for the Aboriginal Governance and Leadership Development Program, to support Aboriginal business capacity in the regions;
    • $3 million for the Regional Athlete Support Program, to ensure WA continues to foster talented athletes in regional areas;
    • $2.4 million for the Family and Domestic Violence Therapeutic Women’s Refuge Peel to support operations at the refuge over the next four years;
    • $1.5 million for regional financial counselling services; and
    • $1 million for the Better Beginnings program, supporting delivery of family literacy services to regional areas.  

    The McGowan Government will invest $2.1 million to provide ongoing funding for management of the Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay Marine Park.

    Details on additional regional programs and projects that have secured funding will be released in coming weeks.

    As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

    “As we look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that we get on with delivering the programs and projects that matter to regional Western Australians.

    “This Royalties for Regions investment will ensure that vital programs can continue to be delivered across regional WA.”

    As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

    “This $111 million investment provides security of funding for key regional programs and projects spanning arts, environment, health, sport and more.

    “The Aboriginal Governance and Leadership Development Program has been a successful tool in driving jobs and development opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and businesspeople across the State.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.