MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has cautiously welcomed the Liberal State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, stating a cross-agency approach is vital to identify priority projects.
Mr Bell said open collaboration across the three tiers of government, departments and the community was crucial to facilitate economic, business and social development within the region.
Premier Steven Marshall has pledged to establish a dedicated $750m decade-long funding stream for regional roads and infrastructure within the next month under an ambitious plan for the first 100 days of a Liberal Government.
The mining royalties scheme is the regional centrepiece of the newly-elected government and will see 30pc of revenue annexed for the delivery of key infrastructure improvements and other productivity and safety-enhancing projects.
The incumbent MP’s concern follows an inquiry into Western Australia’s royalty program, which found the scheme had been implemented in an “ad-hoc” manner with poor planning and a lack of accountability.
“What we have actually got to do is provide leadership and identify the programs Royalties for Regions can be funding,” he said.
“We need to make sure our councils, our regional development board and state and federal government are all lined up for these proposals.
“As a community, we need to identify what our top 10 priorities are and make sure everyone is agreeing with those.
“You have to have a solid plan to maximise the state’s resources and that is the work ahead of us.”
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said the funding stream would seek to address the backlog of road maintenance to support the contribution regions make to the state’s economy.
“There are two aspects of the Royalties for Regions, first of which is recognising that South Australia does not end at the toll gate and we are going to look after our regions,” he said.
“Our regions contribute over $25b a year to South Australia’s gross state product.
“Safe and efficient roads and infrastructure are absolutely critical in supporting our regional businesses.
“This funding will help support the contribution businesses make to our economy by fixing infrastructure, roads in particular, to prosper in the international market.”
