SA State Budget 2016: Leigh Creek thrown $20 million cash lifeline by Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis

LEIGH Creek has been thrown a $20 million lifeline by the State Government to create new jobs after the closure of the town’s largest employer, the Alinta coal mine.

The State Government has thrown Leigh Creek has been thrown a $20m lifeline by the State Government. Photo: Tricia Watkinson

LEIGH Creek has been thrown a $20 million lifeline by the State Government to create new jobs after the closure of the town’s largest employer, the Alinta coal mine.

The funding, over four years, was for jobs creation and transition initiatives to ensure the town’s future in an area where unemployment was 9.5 per cent.

Another windfall for the Mid-North in Thursday’s budget, which contributed $384 million into regional SA, was $5 million for the redevelopment of the Port Pirie Memorial Oval.

As expected, $50 million was committed towards the future of the Whyalla steelworks.

Small businesses experiencing cash flow problems as a result of Arrium’s position can access a $9.6 million interest-free loan scheme.

The town’s community mental health service also received an $8.5 million injection over four years for its 10 beds to remain open, after the Federal Government withdrew funding.

However, no funding was assigned to keep similar mental health beds open in Mount Gambier in the state’s South East, despite a last-minute plea by the Opposition.

Instead the South East received funding to expand Mount Gambier’s prison by an extra 40 beds, $2.95 million towards expanding the region’s airport and $940,000 to upgrade the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre.

Murray Mallee irrigators continue to battle on opening water allocations of 36 per cent and have received little relief in the Budget, but $34 million would go towards stage two of the Riverine Recovery project to improve the health of the River Murray.

Kangaroo Island did not miss out and received $9 million for its airport upgrade, following the region recording the highest percentage growth over the past financial year of 1.3 per cent.

Overall, $106 million over three years was committed to improve technology and science facilities at all public schools in regional areas.

A further $15 million per annum was committed to continue the Regional Development Fund to improve infrastructure, drive economic growth and create jobs.

An independent report by Ernst and Young found the fund in 2015/16 generated $933 million in economic activity and created 2265 regional jobs.