THE Bridgetown Regional Water Supply Scheme and the Nannup bore transfer project were the big local winners in the State Budget announced by Treasurer Eric Ripper last week.

The Bridgetown scheme will receive an injection of $15 million, while $15.6 million will be spent on continuing work at the Nannup bore transfer main.

These two projects were responsible for the bulk of water related funding coming to the area as a result of the budget. Other projects funded included road works at Nannup, sewerage works at Boyup Brook and Donnybrook and other water related works at Donnybrook and Boyup Brook.

Collie-Wellington MLA Mick Murray, the member for Collie-Wellington, said that providing funding for infill sewerage work in Donnybrook was great news.

He said the shire would also benefit from funding allocations to the Bunbury TAFE campus and medical services in Bunbury. However, both Terry Waldron, the member for Wagin, and Brendon Grylls, the leader of the National Party, have slammed the State Government for ignoring the inland parts of the state in favour of Perth and the coastal strip from Mindarie to Margaret River.

Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance said $158million will be invested into agriculture and food, including $68.5 million in regional projects.

The Department of Agriculture and Food’s budget included $42 million for biosecurity initiatives and $45 million for natural resource management.

Mr Chance said a significant proportion of the $45 million committed to natural resource management will go towards the development and implementation of the State Salinity Strategy and more money will be allocated to Natural Resource Management research.

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has welcomed the changes to Stamp Duty but wants the Treasurer to implement the tax cut immediately.

REIWA president Rob Druitt said that the stamp duty thresholds had not been adjusted for 26 years.

Failing to reform property tax had allowed bracket creep to push more than 90 per cent of home sales into the two top tax brackets.

Mr Druitt said that while homebuyers might welcome the savings, the industry is worried that delaying the reform until July 1 could seriously stall an already sluggish market.

Reducing land tax for the owners of rental properties might also provide some small relief to the pressure on rents by reducing holding costs for landlords.

What we got in the State Budget...

Bridgetown

• $15million to continue Regional Water Supply Scheme.

• $3milllion for water treatment plant;

• $7million for new Millstream Dam.

Boyup Brook

• $185,000 infill sewerage.

• $685,000 for 1000kl water storage tank.

• $340,000 water quality improvements.

Donnybrook

• $1.67million infill sewerage.

• $2.26million to upgrade waste water treatment plant.

• $150,000 to construct new water supply bore.

Nannup

• $15.6million to continue work at the Nannup bore transfer main.

• $2.5 million to continue construction and sealing Mowen Road.

• $1.6million for infill sewerage.

• $1.1million to continue work on water bore to supply the Bridgetown Regional Water Supply Scheme.