Special Report: Barnett’s new direction

Colin Barnett has shuffled priority infrastructure projects in lieu of the fading economy, but will the changes made now secure WA’s future or lead to further reprioritisation?

THE Royalties for Regions scheme couldn't have come at a better time for the state's rural areas, with the list of infrastructure projects being developed helping cushion the regions from the worst of the economic downturn.

MANY Western Australian ports are either planning, negotiating or constructing additional projects and facilities with the aim of expanding their operations and improving capacity.

TRANSPORT networks are crucial to Western Australia's ports, so it's essential that port planning applies the lessons learned from road and rail systems developed in the past.

THE state government has moved on two of the largest hospital developments undertaken in metropolitan and regional Western Australia, with the commitment of more than $3 billion in health projects.

THE drying climate and a growing population has resulted in Western Australia budgeting to spend an average of about $1 billion per year for the next five years on major water supply capital projects.

HOPES of Perth throwing off its Dullsville tag once and for all have been dashed with the government's belt-tightening and its shift in priorities for key infrastructure projects.