Investment in Coolangatta Industrial Estate welcome, but why isn’t it an official state Strategic Industrial Area

The Member for the South West and Shadow Minister for Energy Minister Dr Steve Thomas has welcomed the State Government announcement by the Premier today of investment into the Coolangatta Industrial Estate in Collie, but questioned why the as yet undeveloped Shotts Industrial Estate was on the state list of important industrial areas when all the investment was going to Coolangatta.

“Shotts Industrial Estate is on the State Government’s list of Strategic Industrial Areas (SIAs) and is also in Collie, but it is receiving no attention despite the Government’s budget announcement of a $500 million dollar Strategic Industries Fund.

“Coolangatta Industrial Estate, which is not an SIA,  is now getting $134 million out of the already existing Collie Industrial Transition Fund.

“It seems to me the Government is confused about its priorities and has so much money in its election money bin that it can throw around hundreds of millions of dollars on things outside its own strategic plan.

“They should be deciding which industrial estate they actually want to develop.” 

The Government announced in the new Strategic Industries Fund “to unlock Western Australia's strategic industrial areas (SIAs)” in the May state budget, with $500 million placed in a Special Purpose Account for future use.

“Of the half a billion dollars available, $126 million is already committed for the Kwinana and Rockingham industrial areas, with only a paltry $20 million set aside for the South West and Goldfields combined” Dr Thomas said.

“Why the Government decided to link the two separate industrial areas that are 700km apart is anybody’s guess.

“It seems however that any actual industrial strategy seems to have been bypassed anyway given today’s announcement.”

-ENDS-