Three shovel ready and federally funded infrastructure projects in Busselton have been snubbed by the WA Government in its COVID-19 recovery plan for the South West.
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On August 27, 2020, the Premier announced a $252.3 million package for the South West to drive economic and social recovery to create a pipeline for local jobs.
The South West Recovery Plan focused on getting locals back to work and investment in construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy, education and training, and agriculture sectors.
In the 46 initiatives to be funded in the recovery plan, the Busselton Jetty's Australian Underwater Discovery Centre, the City of Busselton's performing arts and convention centre and the Busselton Margaret River Airport terminal project were all excluded.
Directly benefiting taxpayers in the area were a share of free TAFE short courses, road upgrades and a range of state-wide programs included in the WA Recovery Plan.
A state government spokesperson said since the pandemic hit, the government has so far invested $2.77 billion in relief and stimulus measures for WA.
"Throughout the pandemic, we have consulted with all sections of the community to help shape the path to recovery," the spokesperson said.
"The WA Recovery Plan is the next step in our COVID-19 journey and will help drive WA's economic and social recovery across the whole state, to ensure we can recover, stronger than ever.
"This comprehensive plan will deliver a pipeline of WA jobs, supporting and strengthening our existing industries, as well as laying the foundation for jobs of the future.
"WA Recovery Plan initiatives are a bonus to all the other initiatives underway in the regions to create jobs and will continue to complement other investments made."
Read more: Funding for South West road safety works
The spokesperson said it was pleasing to see Busselton continued to thrive as a tourism hot spot as people continued to pack the shops, restaurants and cafes.
"The feedback from industry from the last school holidays was that Busselton along with the rest of the South West experienced big numbers when it came to visitation which is a big boost to the local economy and great news for locals," the spokesperson said.
Busselton largest regional WA local government area outside of Perth-Peel
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the three major projects in Busselton were all ready to go, would drive jobs and had already received investment from the Federal Government.
"We have 40,000 people living here and are the largest local government area outside of the Perth-Peel area, one of the fastest growing areas of people in a regional area," he said.
"We are growing and need some support from the state government.
"The state government is spending taxpayers money and they should be going to all electorates regardless of their political sway.
"We just find that disappointing."
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said not only did Busselton and Dunsborough see nothing in the South West COVID-19 response but the government had the audacity to suggest they would be ripping funds from the airport and repurposing them across the South West.
"These are all worthwhile projects, but how a Premier can simply ignore the needs of an area, especially when the whole state is suffering from the same pandemic is beyond me," she said.
"We are one of the largest regional cities in WA to be ignored by this government again is an insult.
"These are not Labor party funds these are taxpayer funds and it is only fair that the economic response to COVID has a reach beyond political interests."
Busselton and Margaret River among hardest hit due to COVID-19
South West MLC Adele Farina said it was disappointing the City of Busselton and Shire of Augusta Margaret River had not received their fair share of funding.
"The South West region extends beyond Bunbury and Collie," she said.
"The City of Busselton has fared much worse with no new infrastructure projects funded under the recovery plan.
"ABS unemployment figures show the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and the City of Busselton are among the hardest hit areas in the state due to COVID-19, with 51 per cent of businesses in Margaret River and 45 per cent of businesses in Busselton applying for JobKeeper payments.
"The need for economic stimulus in Busselton and Margaret River is as great, if not greater, than other areas, yet sadly this is not reflected in the recovery plan.
"The Busselton Jetty has won the top tourist attraction in the state for two years running yet has failed to secure state funding for the expansion of its tourism offerings which would attract many more visitors to the area.
"This is disappointing and a failed opportunity to inject much needed State Government investment to see this project realised.
"A lack of affordable rental properties and social housing in Margaret River and Busselton has been a long term problem, made worse by COVID-19.
"Busselton and Margaret River businesses, particularly in retail and hospitality are struggling and many workers in these sectors have lost their jobs.
"More needs to be done to assist these sectors and workers.
"The State Government needs to reassure all West Australians that we are in this together by ensuring all areas in the state receive their fair share of the recovery funding and funding assistance is targeted to those individuals, sectors and industries hardest hit."
It is pretty obvious it was a political announcement not an economic one.
- South West MLC Steve Thomas
The Vasse electorate is a safe Liberal seat, which the party has held since it was founded in 1890. It is also one of the fastest growing regional areas in Australia.
South West MLC Steve Thomas said Vasse was obviously not a target Labor seat and that funding for the Busselton Margaret River Airport terminal could have been redistributed.
"I have been a supporter to redirect funding for the Busselton Margaret River Airport terminal and I see the City of Busselton Council have been knocked back again," he said.
"I think there is a risk that money will evaporate and it would not be the first time that has happened. If it does not get spent over a period of time it gets taken back.
"There are plenty of other projects around the Busselton region the government could have looked at like making Caves Road safer would be a prime example.
"There would have been many projects where money could have been invested."
In October 2019, the federal government announced it would commit $13 million to the Busselton Jetty's Australian Underwater Discovery Centre.
It is set to become the biggest natural marine observatory in the world and is expected to create 200 construction jobs along with 2,500 ongoing jobs bringing $200 million economic benefit to WA.
With $20 million in funding already secured for the $30 million project the Busselton Jetty were hoping to receive a $10 million investment from the state government.
Busselton Jetty Inc chairman Barry House said they had requested $10 million in matching funds for the past 18 months from the state government.
"We would have liked to have seen it in this package but we are optimistic that other post COVID-19 stimulation measures might include us," he said.
Premier Mark McGowan thanked the South-West community for their efforts and sacrifices during the pandemic.
"We must remain vigilant, but our work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 means we are in a strong position to continue the process of recovery," he said.
"The South West Recovery Plan will drive economic and social recovery in the region to ensure it can recover stronger than ever.
"It will create a pipeline of short and long term jobs for locals and deliver huge improvements to local infrastructure and services."
For more information on WA's recovery plan please visit inthistogether.wa.gov.au.
