9. Support improved environmental health, social and economic outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities and town-based reserves by improving the quality and resilience of infrastructure and services, ensuring they are safe, reliable, equitable and fit for purpose, including:
- developing a sustainable funding model and investment framework for state government infrastructure that considers whole of lifecycle asset costs, including recurrent funding for the operation and proactive maintenance of assets
- ensuring state agencies and government trading enterprises share information relating to the delivery of state government infrastructure and services to improve efficiency and coordination
- investigating opportunities for the private sector to fund and/or participate in the delivery, operation and maintenance of infrastructure and services
- evaluating the outcomes of the Bidyadanga Land Activation Pilot Project, and once completed, assessing the suitability of the model for application in other remote Aboriginal communities and town-based reserves
- ensuring licensed and regulated water, wastewater and power services are provided by accelerating the regularisation of water and wastewater services to the Water Corporation and power services to Horizon Power, and prioritising these works based on agreed criteria
- establishing and implementing a tiered regulated water, wastewater and power service standard for remote settlements (including remote Aboriginal communities and town-based reserves) to achieve equitable levels of service with other population centres of a similar size across the state
- clarifying the roles and responsibilities of entities providing municipal infrastructure and services, including roads, waste management and sport and recreation facilities
- determining appropriate funding arrangements for the provision of municipal infrastructure and services, including the need for subsidies
- investigating and pursuing opportunities for local Aboriginal residents to be trained to deliver operations and maintenance services for infrastructure.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 9 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
9.16 Commit to improving the quality and resilience of infrastructure services provided in homeland (remote) Aboriginal communities and town-based reserves, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap target 9b
9.17 Progress the transfer of responsibility for power, water and wastewater services to homeland (remote) and town-based Aboriginal communities from DC to the state-owned utilities Horizon Power and Water Corporation
9.18 Investigate land tenure reform to unlock land for future land-use activities – including an evaluation of the Bidyadanga Land Activation Pilot project
2/3 actions on schedule
1/3 actions complete
9.16 On schedule
The Remote Communities Fund (RCF) Steering Group will soon finalise the RCF master plan. Pending this, Remote Essential Municipal Services will commence works planning to complement RCF new builds and refurbishments, prioritising works across communities.
A Remote Communities Blueprint has been established by Horizon Power and engagement commenced with over 50 communities. A range of asset replacement and upgrades have been completed. The next milestones include defining the future energy system plan and decarbonisation strategy for remote communities.
9.17 Complete
Implementation is complete, noting that the responsibility for power, water and wastewater services in 141 Aboriginal communities transferred to Horizon Power and Water Corporation between 1 April - 30 June 2023.
9.18 On schedule
GTEs and DPLH continue to work on the development of the necessary deeds of transfer to effect the transfer of assets for individual communities. Formal negotiations for the transfer on land tenure in the Bidyadanga community are progressing.