THE state Budget includes $61 million to complete upgrades to Toodyay Road and a further $2m towards planning and pre-construction activities to improve access to Swan Christian College on Great Northern Highway.
A joint $1.1 billion investment by the Albanese and Cook Labor governments will also deliver critical upgrades to Anketell Road between Leath and Abercrombie Roads.
The transformational road upgrades will improve freight efficiency and safety for all road users, as well as support the construction and future operation of the new Westport container terminal and productivity across the wider Western Trade Coast.
The Budget will improve the state’s road network with $3.6b committed for regional roads over the next four years.
The 2026-27 state Budget includes investment to progress a range of critical road projects across WA, including, $127.4m to replace priority timber bridges across regional WA, a $113.5m boost for the Main Roads maintenance program, and $7.5m towards the safer local roads and infrastructure program for new and expanded heavy vehicle rest areas.
The government is also continuing its investment in WA’s world-class public transport network, so it remains affordable and accessible right across the State.
The Budget includes $139m for public transport infrastructure, including $68m for further upgrades to electric bus depots to support the state’s growing fleet, and $3m to undertake project definition for upgrades to support improved connectivity and access at McIver Station and the Royal Perth Hospital precinct.
THE Wheatbelt region will benefit from the 2026-27 state Budget through initiatives to help unlock and deliver more land supply, build thousands of homes, and help first home buyers get into the market.
This will include $1.6 billion for the construction and refurbishment of more than 1800 social and affordable dwellings, 500 homes for first home buyers, land acquisition, and maintenance and participation in the Commonwealth’s 100,000 Homes for First Home Buyers program, supporting the delivery of 11,000 dwellings over eight years reserved exclusively for first home buyers.
There will also be a $50 million top-up to the Regional Housing Support Fund, increasing the fund’s value to $75m.
Other initiatives include $2 million to support ongoing negotiations and due diligence on the state’s freight rail buyback proposal, more funding for lower fee and free fee TAFE in Northam, $33.1m contribution to the nationally co-ordinated fuel excise relief program, and a further $4.5m for the deferral of heavy vehicle fee increases, supporting industry in the Wheatbelt, $18m to deliver Aboriginal tourism initiatives and $1.4m to deliver a second round of the small business growth grants.
A number of investments include $294m additional investment in regional health infrastructure, $214m for an uplift to WA Health’s state-wide maintenance programs including $143m for additional investment in medical equipment and imaging replacement, $68.6m for the WA Country Health Service to maintain regional palliative care, renal care, cancer and eye services, and continued support programs.
Quality infrastructure and services will also be supported through the Budget with $61m to be invested in upgrades to Toodyay Road and a number of timber bridges to be replaced as part of the $127.4m regional bridge replacement program.
The Budget has also allocated $61.4m to continue the Target 120 early intervention program for young people coming into repeated contact with WA Police, including Northam, $52.9m to establish a regional water source fund and $24.7m to continue biosecurity and animal disease preparedness activities.
HOUSING is a key priority in this year’s state Budget, with a focus on boosting supply, helping young people and families purchase their first home and alleviating pressures in the rental market.
The Budget delivers an additional $4.7b illion investment in housing with residential land supply being boosted with $1.3b in land development and power, water, and other enabling infrastructure.
This includes $694 million for DevelopmentWA to develop residential land to create thousands of new lots across the state and activate Metronet station precincts including Midland, Ellenbrook, Woodbridge and Bassendean, along with $522m for power and water infrastructure to unlock 83,200 lots as part of the Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund.
The Woodbridge build-to-rent development, located close to the new Midland Station, will deliver 56 one and two-bedroom apartments of which 44 will be affordable and 12 will be social homes.
The Budget continues significant investment in social and affordable housing with an additional $1.5b, including more than $1b of new investment under the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) partnership between the state and federal governments to deliver an additional 1426 social and affordable homes and $452m to deliver a further 165 social housing dwellings, refurbish 215 houses, support land acquisitions, and undertake maintenance for WA’s 45,000 social homes.
The government is funding targeted initiatives and tax relief to help more first home buyers get into the market, including $375m to deliver 500 affordable dwellings to be targeted specifically to first home buyers with a shared equity component, and a $250m pre-sale guarantee to unlock more than 1000 new apartments and townhouses through Keystart.
THE state Budget will deliver more than $1 billion in cost-of-living support for WA families this year, including a new $100 fuel support payment to assist drivers with the rise in fuel costs.
The package will see families with two children receive more than $2100 a year, and up to $3600 for families with two children in concessions in total assistance.
The Budget will deliver real relief to those who need it most and will include assistance for families, commuters, renters, carers, regional communities, and vulnerable Western Australians.
The Budget includes $124 million to continue low-fee and fee-free TAFE in 2027, $51.6m for the passenger transport subsidy scheme, $51m for energy bill relief measures, $33.7m to make free Sunday travel permanent across the public transport network, $36.4m to continue free public transport for school students, half price Transwa fares, $5.5m to extend the $300 KidSport vouchers and $1.5m for the low-income pet sterilisation program.
