Pilbara gets nearly $500K in state budget spend

The Pilbara has been allocated more than $468 million in this year's state budget.

Nearly $160 million will be spent continuing works on the Great Northern Highway in Port Hedland.

A total of $123 million has been set aside for water infrastructure, while $107 million is allocated for Horizon Power projects.

There is $1 million to be spent getting started on the what the Government is calling its North-West Health Initiative.

The plan is to spend $160 million over the next four years, upgrading health and aged care facilities in towns such as Tom Price, Onslow, Newman, Roebourne and Paraburdoo.

More than $5 million has now been allocated to the planned Karratha Health Campus, with a further commitment of $200 million across future budgets.

The Minister for Regional Development, Brendon Grylls, is due to announce today information about the location of the campus, which is expected to take the next four years to complete.

Under the continuing Pilbara Cities Initiative, funds will also be spent progressing the Karratha City Centre project.

Money has also been allocated for continued improvements to Karratha and Hedland senior high schools, as well as upgrades to the Pilbara Institute campuses in South Hedland and Karratha.

Meanwhile, the Gascoyne has been allocated more than $100 million in the budget.

Most of the money will be spent on ongoing projects such as the Carnarvon police and justice complex, flood levees and Carnarvon power station redevelopment.

Additional money has been set aside for the redevelopment of Carnarvon's hospital.

For more information http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-09/pilbara-gets-nearly-500k-in-state-budget-spend/4876690?&section=news