AGED-CARE ACCOMMODATION — LEONORA
632. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Minister for
Regional Development:
(1)
Is the minister aware of a proposal entitled
''Leonora Ageing in Place Project—Independent Living
Accommodation—Eight Units Only'' by the Shire of Leonora,
seeking a contribution of $6 515 100 towards a total budget of $7 614 846,
and with a 67-page business case?
(2)
Is the minister aware of a letter dated 5 July 2018, reference DG2018410.300615-17,
signed by the acting director general, industry and economic development?
(3)
What are the three other proposals for an allocation, and what sum is sought in
each case?
(4)
When will a decision be made on the allocation of the final $7.64 million
available under the regional aged accommodation program?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(4)
Of course I am well aware of this. In 2017, the government set aside $22 million
in the budget for assistance with aged accommodation packages. That was in
addition to another wheatbelt one, which was another project of around $15 million.
The government said that the $22 million would be open for competition. A
number of local authorities and projects responded from across the state. The
government went on to fund those projects that it thought had established a firm
business case and were viable. I recently announced about $13 million worth of
projects. We were not convinced that a number of other projects, including the
Leonora project, were good value-for-money propositions. The government
determined to set some money aside and to work with the shires to see whether
we could come up with a more cost-effective model. The other shires that are
also being considered in a similar way are the Shire of Laverton, which sought
$3.3 million; the Shire of Goomalling, which sought $1.6 million; and the Shire
of Wickepin, which sought $1.6 million. I hope that we will have all that work
done and we will be able to make a decision by the first quarter of next year
at the latest.