Thursday, 20 May 2010

Media Statements - Statements - State Budget 2010-11: Strong foundations....

AS POSTED HERE ---> Media Statements - Statements - State Budget 2010-11: Strong foundations....

NO MENTION OF ANY SPENDING IN OUR AREA!!!!!!!!!


The 2010-11 State Budget handed down by Premier and Treasurer Colin Barnett today includes $1.005billion for expenditure on assets in the South Metropolitan region.

The Premier and Treasurer said the $286million surplus announced in today’s Budget reflected the Liberal-National Government’s disciplined economic stewardship during the recent global downturn and created a strong foundation for future growth and improved service delivery.

“Today’s $286million surplus will ensure the State Government can focus on ensuring services are delivered efficiently, effectively and fairly across the State,” Mr Barnett said.

“This is a great result for all West Australians and I would like to specifically welcome today’s announcement of major projects and improved service delivery for the South Metropolitan region.

“This ongoing level of support for important initiatives in the South Metropolitan region highlights the Liberal-National Government’s commitment to ensuring the benefits and opportunities of a strong economy are shared throughout Western Australia.”

Planning for Applecross Senior High has commenced for the $56million redevelopment of Applecross Senior High School. A staged construction program is expected to be applied and completed in 2013.

The extension and improvement in health infrastructure and services for the South Metropolitan region is further assisted in the 2010-11 Budget:

· Work will continue on the $1.76billion Fiona Stanley Hospital
· Work will continue on the $115million Rockingham Kwinana Hospital upgrade
· Work will start on the $256million new State Rehabilitation Centre.

The 2010-11 Budget also includes the biggest-ever injection of additional funding for the State’s health system, significant increases to child protection services, money to strengthen the community sector and support for young people and families.

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

Treasurer’s office - 9222 9475

Specific projects funded in the Budget for the South Metropolitan region included:

Education

· Applecross Senior High School - planning has commenced for the $56million redevelopment of Applecross Senior High School. A staged construction program is expected to be applied and completed in 2013
· Atwell College - construction will commence on the $31million Stage Two of Atwell College. This will enable the school to progress to years 11 and 12. The project is expected to be completed for the 2012 school year
· Aubin Grove Primary School - construction will continue on the new $15million primary school in Aubin Grove. The project will provide relief to Harmony Primary school and is expected to be completed for the commencement of 2011
· Comet Bay College - Stage 2 - construction has commenced on the $25million Stage 2 Comet Bay College enabling secondary students at the school to continue to Year 11 in 2011 and Year 12 in 2012. The new facilities will be designed to include innovative and state-of-the art facilities, comparable to world-class best practice. The new facilities are scheduled to be completed in 2011
· Rossmoyne Senior High School - construction has commenced on the $14million upgrade to facilities at Rossmoyne Senior High School. Works are expected to be completed for 2011.

Clontarf College
Royalties for Regions will provide funding of $5.04million over four years, including funding of $1.64million in 2010-11. The purpose of the funding is to set up additional football academies to be hosted by regional schools.

Health
· Work will continue on the $1.76billion Fiona Stanley Hospital
· Work will continue on the $115million Rockingham Kwinana Hospital upgrade
· Work will start on the $256million new State Rehabilitation Centre.

Housing
· Completion of a project at South Street, Beaconsfield, comprising 10 units at a cost of $1.5million
· Completion of a project across several sites in a high density precinct near the Meve Town Centre in Beeliar, comprising 12 units for families at a cost of $1.8million.
· Construction of 541 dwellings under State and Commonwealth stimulus programs.

Land Development - Golden Bay
· $14million for civil works
Development of Stage 1 has commenced and will create a total of 150 lots. The lots will be offered for sale to the general public with preference being given to first homebuyers and owner-occupiers.

Police
· Planning for the Cockburn Central Police Station (District Hub) to be located in Cockburn Central has commenced with funding of $20.6million provided over the forward estimates.

Perth Metropolitan Radio Network (PMRN) Expansion ($8.7million). The PMRN expansion extends the existing radio and mobile data communications north to Lancelin, east to Northam and south to Dunsborough. It also provides for the State-wide implementation of mobile data by public carrier. This will result in improving:

· police response times within the PMRN expansion area through the capability to dispatch tasks to the officers best placed to respond rapidly to emergency calls
· information availability through direct access to central databases
· officer security through vehicle location tracking and encrypted voice communications.

Transport
· $30.3million funding for the $155million Mandurah Entrance Road.

Perth Metropolitan will have access to:

· $220million over next four years for Safer Roads and State Black Spot programs.

Water
· Expenditure - approximately $31.1million
· Also in this region, $9.7million will be spent upgrading sludge treatment facilities at Woodman Point, the State’s biggest wastewater treatment facility in the latest of several upgrades to ensure this facility continues to operate at optimum capacity.

The Water Corporation will spend more than $3.4billion over the forward estimates period on essential projects across the State, recognising the ongoing need for major water and wastewater infrastructure developments. These projects are essential as WA continues to grow strongly.

In 2010-11, the Water Corporation will spend $1billion on capital works projects across WA, with about $339million allocated to dozens of smaller projects across regional WA.

FESA
FESA’s Budget for 2010-11 is $271.4million which represents an increase of $38.4million from last year’s Budget.

· $33.1million to continue with the construction of the Emergency Services Complex in Cockburn with completion expected in 2011-12 at an estimated total project cost of $51.6million
· Continued availability of a Type 1 helicopter for bushfire suppression in, and around the Perth metropolitan area and the Darling Scarp at a gross cost of $2.8million in 2010-11 ($11.9million over the forward estimates period).

Planning
· There is a need to safeguard natural assets, assemble land for industry and to acquire land required for highways, railways, ports and other infrastructure. Over $50million has been allocated to the Western Australian Planning Commission for the purchase of reserved land for the future of the State.

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Isaacs a finalist - Local heroes - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia

AS POSTED HERE ---> Isaacs a finalist - Local heroes - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia

PROMINENT Aboriginal leader and social justice campaigner Robert Isaacs of Langford is a finalist in this year’s WA Citizen of the Year awards.

The awards recognise contributions of outstanding individuals and service organisations, and are presented in 10 categories.

Mr Isaacs, who has been nominated in the community service category, has more than 40 years of commitment to the community and received the Order of Australia in 2000.

His contributions include councillor and deputy mayor of the City of Gosnells (1991-1997), President of the Aboriginal Medical Service WA, state chairman for Reconciliation WA and senior advisor for the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Mr Isaacs said he was honoured to be nominated.

He began his career in 1973 as a health worker assisting doctors and nurses to liaise with Aboriginal communities and provide essential care. In 1981 he became chairman administrator of the Aboriginal Housing Board and is currently employed as state manager for the Aboriginal Home Ownership and Access Disability Scheme.

“One of my most memorable moments was becoming the first Aboriginal elected to local government when selected to represent Gosnells ward,” he said.

“These and other roles have allowed me to be at the forefront of many initiatives in a wide range of areas, especially indigenous, and including health, education, housing, employment, social justice and equality.”

The Southern River-based Amanda Young Foundation was also nominated for The Gold Swan.

This award honours an organisation demonstrating an outstanding , ongoing commitment to the wider community, and provides a service that improves lives and opportunities of West Australians.

The winners will be announced on Saturday.

Thursday, 13 May 2010

Lowrie expands base on high demand - WA Business News

AS POSTED HERE ---> Lowrie expands base on high demand - WA Business News

Lowrie Constructions has expanded its manufacturing facilities in Maddington due to increasing demand for switch and control rooms from the mining and liquefied natural gas sectors.

The company said today it had increased its fabrication facilities by 10 per cent by moving into an additional 2,500 square metre factory.

The expansion takes the company's entire manufacturing operations to 26,300sqm across three sites, including Madrid Place and Cobalt Way, both in Maddington.

"Strong demand across our product range provided the catalyst for us to increase our fabrication facilities," general managerAdrian Poyner said.

"Our new site will primarily undertake component fabrication to support the main workshop facility that will now have an opportunity to increase base frame production output by 20 per cent.

"This new facility will be fully operational by mid May.

"Additional base frame capacity will be further developed at the new site, specifically to build smaller switch rooms, communication rooms and operators cabins.

"We expect this to increase base frame output by an additional 10 per cent.

"Lowrie Constructions continues to make excellent progress in its core markets, and is busy developing its client base in the oil and gas sector, along with a number of overseas resource related projects."

Lowrie Constructions - part of the Adelaide-based Paragon private equity firm - was formed in 1991 to primarily provide remote area housing for Aboriginal communities in WA's North West.

It quickly diversified and won its first contract to supply a switch room for a mining company the same year.

Lowrie has since manufactured about 430 buildings for the mining sector in WA, including about 300 switch rooms and 30 control rooms.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Man faces murder charges as police name Wattle Grove car victims | Perth Now

AS POSTED HERE ---> Man faces murder charges as police name Wattle Grove car victims | Perth Now

POLICE say they will upgrade charges to murder over the bodies of two women found incinerated in a four-wheel-drive in Wattle Grove earlier this month.

Detectives today revealed that the accused killer Brett Nicholas Richard Kuzimski, 35, allegedly only knew his victims for five or six hours before they died and their charred remains were found inside a gutted Toyota Landcruiser in bush near the Tonkin Highway on May 1.

Firefighters who extinguished the blaze found the remains of one woman on the front passenger seat while the other was laying in the rear foot well of the vehicle.

Today, police named the two women as Melanie Carle, 26, and Kellie Maree Guyler, 32. Both lived in Mars Street, Carlisle.

Detective Inspector David Bryson said police would allege that the women were murdered and their bodies then placed in the car before it was set alight. It is understood an accelerant was used.

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``Essentially, we don't have a motive for it. The sad part about it is that obviously he met both of the girls the night before. . . then he's set fire not only to the car that they had, but also to the two bodies inside the car,'' he said.

``The fire was extremely intense so as a crime scene, it was very difficult for the guys to work their way through that.''

Det-Insp Bryyson would not reveal the cause of death.

Police have charged Mr Kuzimski, 35, of Thornlie, with criminal damage by fire.

He is due to appear in court for a second time on May 24, when police say the charges will be upgraded to murder.