Lack of funding for SW lamented

The State Government has defended its funding decisions as questions arise about stalled or stagnated community projects within the City of Busselton.

Former Vasse independent candidate and Dunsborough resident Gary Norden told theTimes he was frustrated by the “massive inequality” in distribution and believed the Government intentionally threw funding — particularly Royalties for Regions — at northern towns in a bid to win political support.

Mr Norden pointed to Karratha’s $65 million “leisureplex”, performing arts centre, new school and the town’s $65 million face lift, as well as South Hedland’s new aquatic centre.

“A litany of projects have been announced in the north… whereas our rates are increasing more and our council is funding more,” he said.

South West Labor MLC said there were “significant infrastructure needs and challenges in the Pilbara”, but said it should not be a competition in which one region missed out.

A performing arts centre in Busselton has been in the works for several years and Dunsborough residents have recently begun pushing for a new school and aquatic centre, but no State funding has yet been committed.

However, Culture and Arts Minister John Day said funding for Karratha’s performing arts centre was to restore a “long-term community asset” destroyed in a flood, and Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said investment for sport was based on need and assessed by an independent panel.

Mr Norden said the booming population in the south — compared with the north’s decline — indicated a need for State funding.

But Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said a regional centre’s population did not determine the level of Royalties for Regions investment.

“Part of the rationale of Royalties for Regions was to address years of neglect across regional WA and much of this neglect and underinvestment was in far smaller and more isolated community than the South West,” he said.

South West MLC Adele Farina said the South West was the fastest growing region in the State outside of the metropolitan area and to meet the challenges of growth, infrastructure was needed.

She said unless the distribution was “recalibrated”, the region would face an “infrastructure crisis”.