Wheatbelt Recovery Plan unveiled
Wheatbelt Recovery Plan unveiled
6th August, 2020
Boosting the region's training, jobs and economy
Wheatbelt Recovery Plan unveiled
6th August, 2020
Boosting the region's training, jobs and economy
A multimillion dollar package for the Wheatbelt region has been unveiled as part of the WA Recovery Plan to drive economic and social recovery, and create a pipeline of local jobs. The Wheatbelt Recovery Plan is focused on getting locals back to work and includes a significant investment in sectors including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy, education and training. 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 State Government's $229.2 million Rebuilding our TAFEs package, the plan includes upgrades to TAFE infrastructure in the region including:
- $8 million to the Muresk Institute in Northam for a new trades workshop, classrooms and specialist facilities for agricultural machinery apprentices, and a new workshop space for shearing skills;
- $2 million to Central Regional TAFE's Northam campus for major upgrades to workshop facilities and equipment;
- $25 million for free TAFE short courses to upskill thousands of Western Australians, with a variety of free courses available at Central Regional TAFE and at South Regional TAFE's Narrogin campus; and
- $32 million to expand the Lower fees, local skills program and significantly reduce TAFE fees across 39 high priority courses.
The Wheatbelt Recovery Plan includes investment in local infrastructure to create opportunities for local businesses and jobs for local workers.
The revamped Buy Local policy will ensure local businesses are in the box seat to carry out this work. It includes:
- $35 million through the Regional Road Safety Program to upgrade 400 kilometres of Wheatbelt roads with shoulder sealing and installation of audible lines, creating around 150 local jobs;
- $80 million across the State for targeted maintenance programs for regional social, remote and government workers housing properties, including approximately 150 homes in the Wheatbelt;
- $141.7 million to refurbish social, remote and government workers housing across WA's ageing housing stock, including approximately 60 homes in the Wheatbelt; and
- $1.63 million statewide funding for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades in remote Aboriginal communities, including at Badjaling.
The plan also includes a significant investment in infrastructure and programs to drive tourism and create jobs, including:
- $425,000 for upgrades to visitor facilities in Nambung National Park, including improving services at the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre and sealing the access road and car park at Lake Thetis; and
- $175,000 for upgrades to visitor facilities in parks across the Wheatbelt region, including upgrading buildings, trails, camp sites and roads in the proposed Dryandra Woodland National Park and at Eaglestone Rock.
The Wheatbelt region will also benefit from a range of statewide programs included in the WA Recovery Plan. This includes:
- $23 million across the State for green jobs to employ people with no prior skills on environmental restoration including fencing, seeding and rehabilitating degraded land, in regional locations including across the Wheatbelt;
- $10 million towards the Clean Energy Future Fund to invest in clean energy technologies; and
- $8.1 million to continue the eConnected Grainbelt Program to promote the availability of information and ag-tech tools across WA's grain industry to provide growers with tailored information including weather, pests and diseases and to maintain 187 automated weather stations.
For more information, visit inthistogether.wa.gov.au