Published on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 at 9:30:00 AM
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has welcomed a number of commitments in the 2025-26 WA State Budget, including investments in housing, health, water infrastructure, and regional services.
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the commitments marked a positive step forward but stressed that continued collaboration and further investment were needed to ensure lasting impact on the ground.
“We’re pleased to see the State Government’s support regional WA, including several long-standing priorities for the City and our community,” Mayor Wilson said.
“These initiatives will make a difference for our residents but we’re also calling for deeper investment and more targeted delivery to meet the needs of our growing city.”
Tackling the Housing Crisis
The Mayor said the $25 million Regional Housing Support Fund, along with funding for local projects like Pringle Village Stage 2, was a welcome step, calling it a win for the city’s ageing population.
“This is a project that has been championed locally by Doug Daws for years, and it means many can live their twilight years here, and families don’t have to move away as their parents get older.”
Despite these commitments, housing remains a critical issue, with the city needing more than 400 new homes each year to meet demand.
“Right now, land is limited, rentals are scarce, and essential workers are struggling to find a place to live,” Mayor Wilson said.
“It’s holding back growth and affecting our ability to attract and retain the people we need.”
“These investments are a start, but we’ll keep advocating for faster land release, more enabling infrastructure, and housing options that match the needs of our growing workforce.”
Supporting Health and Mental Health Services
The City welcomed investment in regional health and mental health services, especially for children and young people.
“Families in Kalgoorlie-Boulder have been telling us for years that there are simply not enough local mental health services for children. This investment is a much-needed step toward early intervention and long-term support, helping young people access the care they need without having to leave their support network.”
“Funding for the Kalgoorlie Health Campus master plan is a good first step – but we’ll continue advocating for a full redevelopment. Much of the hospital is no longer fit for purpose, and our community deserves strong, modern healthcare here not hours away.”
Community Safety and Justice
Recent funding to upgrade LED streetlighting was also welcomed, with Mayor Wilson noting this aligns with community calls for improved safety.
“Streetlighting is one of the biggest concerns raised in our annual surveys. Smart LED upgrades by Western Power will make our streets safer and more sustainable.”
The City also highlighted the urgent need for more police resources and stronger outcomes from the regional justice system.
“We’ve expanded our Safer Streets Patrols, but they’re not a replacement for police. The community is calling for more boots on the ground – and we’ll keep pushing for our fair share of police resourcing.”
Strategic Infrastructure and Water Security
The City continues to strongly advocate for the Kalgoorlie Rail Realignment and Intermodal Terminal, describing it as a “nation-building project” for regional freight and industry.
“We support the return of WA’s freight rail network to public ownership and applaud the State’s commitment to the business case for the realignment project,” said Mayor Wilson.
“It’s about unlocking major economic opportunities and future-proofing logistics.”
The Mayor also welcomed $5 million in State funding for the City’s Water Bank Project, which aims to drought-proof Kalgoorlie-Boulder and meet the rising water demands of local industry.
“This funding allows us to build a new recycled water dam and upgrade the South Boulder Treatment Plant. But we have been waiting over a year for a Federal Government funding announcement to get the project underway and we’re calling on both levels of government to help us deliver this shovel-ready project.”
Transport and access to essential services
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the regional travel measures in the State Budget offered some meaningful support but also stressed the need for continued investment to meet the needs of a growing regional community.
“We welcome the increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card. That extra $100 can go a long way in a place like Kalgoorlie-Boulder, where getting to appointments, shops or family often involves significant travel.”
“Halving Transwa fares is also very positive, especially for residents who rely on public transport to stay connected with Perth and other parts of the state. But we also need to look at the trains themselves. The Prospector has served us well, but after more than two decades, it’s well overdue for an upgrade and would go a long way in improving travel for our residents.”
“Capped airfares have made regular travel more affordable for people in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, whether it’s for medical visits, family reasons or business. We’d like to see that scheme continue and improve, so more people can access fair and reliable regional flights.”
Aboriginal Ranger Program and Connectivity
The City welcomed the $20 million expansion of the Aboriginal Ranger Program and the Telecommunications Resilience Pilot Program.
“These are practical programs that support jobs, culture, and safety. We want to make sure Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the broader Goldfields region benefit from both,” the Mayor said.
On support for local governments
Mayor Wilson said more needs to be done to ensure regional local governments can meet the needs of their communities.
“Local governments like ours are delivering far more than just roads, rates and rubbish,” he said.
“We’re filling service gaps, managing critical infrastructure, and responding to growing social and economic challenges often with limited and unreliable funding. Federal Financial
Assistance Grants haven’t kept pace, and that has real consequences for service delivery in the regions.”
Mayor Wilson will join several Councillors in Canberra this week for the National General Assembly of Local Government, where they will advocate for stronger Federal support.
“We’ll be making the case for fairer funding, better housing and infrastructure investment, and a more consistent commitment to regional Australia,” he said.
“Our region plays a major role in the national economy, and we need this to be recognised in funding decisions.”
Mayor Wilson said Kalgoorlie-Boulder is proud to lead in areas like rural health training, homelessness response, and regional economic development – but sustained partnerships with government are critical.
“We’re doing the work on the ground. Now we need a strong, sustained collaboration to make sure these investments deliver real, lasting outcomes for our community.”
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