Waste facility receives $9m fund

A $13 million industrial waste management facility in Onslow has been given a leg up with a $9 million funding boost from the Federal Government.

The Shire of Ashburton’s class IV regional waste management facility received $9,082,620 under the Building Better Regions Fund, one of several Pilbara projects to receive funding.

Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said the facility would enable the Shire to provide sought-after services to regional industry.

“Inadequate waste infrastructure has been a regional inefficiency for many years, posing a significant cost to industry and a barrier for economic growth,” she said.

“Thanks to the support of (Durack MHR) Melissa Price, all our WA parliamentary members and Regional Development Australia Pilbara, this project will now create a positive step forward for the entire Pilbara region.”

Construction is expected to be completed in early 2020, with funding secured from the Federal Government, Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project and the Shire of Ashburton.

It will be the second facility in WA, and first outside Perth, capable of accepting industrial hazardous waste.

Funding of $545,700 was also granted to a pilot program for off-grid solar and water treatment infrastructure at 5 Mile community, outside of Roebourne.

Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation received $255,851 to continue its work in digitising cultural maintenance material of national significance.

Ms Price said the funded projects were important to the region.

“The Onslow project is a fantastic example of an initiative that both improves the community and improves the economy of a regional town,” she said.

“The project will provide jobs to the town, a boost to the economy and will be of regional benefit, as this new industrial waste management facility will service industries right across regional Western Australia.

“The 5 Mile project is important because it is a real trial of how we can make remote Aboriginal communities more sustainable, and this investment in this trial solar program is part of that.

“Energy reliability is important in regional communities like 5 Mile, which are often drawing power from petrol or diesel generators that are expensive to run.”

WA Nationals deputy leader Jacqui Boydell welcomed the funding as a boost to local infrastructure.

“Building Better Regions is providing tremendous Federal funding support to regional projects of all scales — from roadside truck stops to community swimming pools and independent living for seniors,” she said.