Following a number of catastrophic weather events in recent years, the new Kimberley Resilience Program will see $67.5 million spent to improve roads, ports and airports.
This initial spend, funded by the WA Government, will go towards a range of initiatives and projects that aim to boost supply chains and support the region to better respond to emergencies when they occur.
Getting the lion’s share of that funding is the replacement of the single-lane Brooking Channel Bridge with a dual lane crossing, at a cost of $53.5 million.
New infrastructure will be built at the Port of Broome to build greater import capabilities, at a cost of $6 million.
And, airstrips through the Aboriginal Community Airstrip Renewal Program will see $8 million in upgrades.
“The Kimberley will always be prone to flooding and cyclones, so it’s vital that we put the region in the best possible position to bounce back from natural disasters if and when they occur,” said Premier Roger Cook.
“Helping Broome to become a first port of entry will significantly reduce the Kimberley’s reliance on the road network, while opening up new trade opportunities for the state’s north.”
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti added, “We’ve seen how devastating extreme weather events can be in the Kimberley region, and this program is about ensuring the region can better respond to emergencies when they arise and ensure supply chains are as resilient as possible.
“We are targeting investments in key areas of the supply chains including at the ports, airports and roads.
“The initiatives we have announced today are just the start – we are looking at a range of other measures to further boost the resilience of the region.”
Improving infrastructure at the Port of Broome aims to support both the development of the port as a first point of entry (FPOE) and import capacity in times of emergency.
Further initiatives are being considered and may be included in the Kimberley Resilience Program at a later date, with the state government engaging closely with the federal government on potential funding arrangements.