NE suburban schools and infill sewerage schemes are big Budget winners

10/4/97

Education and infill sewerage programs are the big winners in the north-eastern suburbs in this year's State Budget.

A total of more than $15 million has been allocated for two-year projects to upgrade Ballajura Senior High School, Mirrabooka Senior High School and Balga Senior High School.

Premier Richard Court said the big injection of funds would go a long way to ensuring that education infrastructure matched the high quality of education programs being delivered in State schools.

Mr Court said the Budget was responsible and fair and aimed at securing the State's financial position for the future.

"We do not want to leave debts for future generations as the Labor Government did," he said.

The Premier said $143,000 had been set aside to complete stage two of Ballajura Senior High School while $13 million had been allocated for stage three.

More than $4 million would be spent on stage three in 1997-98 and $8.6 million had been earmarked for the following financial year.

Another $750,000 had been allocated for upgrading Mirrabooka Senior High School, with $300,000 set aside for this financial year, while $1.5 million was due to be spent on upgrading Balga Senior High School, with $300,000 earmarked for this year.

As well, $122,000 had been allocated to continue work on the farm classroom at Lockridge Senior High School and $715,000 to complete additions to Tuart College.

The Balga TAFE campus would also benefit with this year's Budget providing $500,000 for a library extension.

Mr Court said the Government's commitment to its $800 million infill sewerage program across Western Australia would continue to be highlighted in Morley and Yokine, where millions of dollars had been allocated to new programs and works in progress.

He said the Budget included more than $24.7 million over four years to new infill sewerage programs in Morley, including $6.7 million for expenditure this year.

More than $2.5 million had been allocated to continuing sewerage programs in Yokine.

Mr Court said that the upgrading of the Eden Hill main pump station would start with an allocation of more than $2.5 million.

Road commuters in all northern suburbs would benefit from the Budget with an allocation of $25 million over four years for the extension of the Mitchell Freeway.

The Premier said the Mitchell Freeway would be extended from Ocean Reef Road to Hodges Drive to better service the transport needs of the growing Joondalup region. Four million dollars will be spent in the first year.

As part of works in progress, $680,000 would be spent on further work on the construction of the Reid Highway from Marmion Avenue to Roe Highway.

Mr Court said the Mirrabooka District Police Complex and the Morley Police Station also received a boost in this year's Budget.

More than $3.5 million had been allocated for on-going work at the complex and $1.5 million had been set aside to complete improvements at Morley.

Media contact: Casey Cahill 222 9475