Praising the community for its sacrifices during the pandemic and announcing plans to get more visitors to the Peel region were on the agenda as WA Premier Mark McGowan visited Mandurah on Saturday.
The plans included replacing the ageing timber boardwalk in Lake Goegrup Nature Reserve, upgrades to Serpentine Falls National Park and more than $1 million for better camp sites, bridges and sections of the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail.
He also unveiled the complete Peel Recovery Plan, which lists new state government-funded projects designed to get people into jobs.
Most of the projects that form the $5.5 billion plan had previously been announced, including a new hospitality and tourism training centre at Mandurah TAFE, free TAFE short courses and a performing arts centre and sports hall for Pinjarra Senior High School.
Projects announced for the first time were solar panels for Mandurah train station, new roads and drainage in East Keralup and upgrades to Waroona Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services.
The plan includes a $2 million upgrade to Mandurah Police Station.
Aside from that, there was money for the Peel-Harvey estuary system and the Regional Land Booster package which discounts some residential lots at Mandurah Junction and Ranford.
And there is money to double the size of a new women's refuge from six to 12 accommodation units.
The refuge is already under construction in Mandurah and expected to be operating by the end of the year.
The rest of the projects were expected to get underway "soon", Mr McGowan said.
"All the evidence is there, we need to invest to create jobs in shovel-ready projects...that can be implemented quickly...and solve long-term problems.
"I thank each and every member of the Peel 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."
Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the tourism upgrades would continue to build on the strong market of West Australians now travelling within WA.
"Over the July school holidays local accommodation, hospitality and tourism providers were inundated with holiday makers taking advantage or all our beautiful region has to offer," Ms Clarke said.
Daniela Cooper
Daniela has returned to her first love after a decade of working in local, state and federal governments, non-profits and the corporate world. She has a passion for injustice; to be a voice for those who don't have one; to hold power to account; and to bring readers the news without fear. She loves to explore new places and unfamiliar topics (both in her professional and private life) but her go-to loves are travel, health, social justice, foreign affairs and the outdoors. Email daniela.cooper@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Daniela has returned to her first love after a decade of working in local, state and federal governments, non-profits and the corporate world. She has a passion for injustice; to be a voice for those who don't have one; to hold power to account; and to bring readers the news without fear. She loves to explore new places and unfamiliar topics (both in her professional and private life) but her go-to loves are travel, health, social justice, foreign affairs and the outdoors. Email daniela.cooper@austcommunitymedia.com.au
