Visitor centre scores a win

The Federal Government's only big-ticket commitment to the Great Southern in Tuesday night's Budget was an almost $1 million pledge towards the construction of the new Albany Visitor Centre.

It has pledged $997,000 to the project, the only one in the O'Connor electorate to receive funding through the National Stronger Regions Fund.

Federal Member for O'Connor Rick Wilson said although he would have liked to see more WA projects funded, he was pleased Albany was a successful applicant.

"The National Stronger Regions Fund is about providing economic drivers and ongoing economic activity and, of course, the tourism centre is going to support the tourism industry around the Albany area, so that's great news," he said.

Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said the commitment was a "fantastic" result for Albany.

Mr Wellington said the City would fund the other half of the building, which was expected to be co-located with the Albany Public Library.

The City of Albany was also awarded $2 million for improvement to road infrastructure through the Roads to Recovery Program.

Meanwhile, it is hoped today's State Budget will include further funding for local projects.

Mr Wellington said the State and Federal governments had been generous in recent times and would like to see movement on already-funded projects, such as the $27 million Centennial Park Precinct.

"We know the budget at this stage is pretty tight … we've had a good run out of the State and Federal Budgets in the short term so we will just get on with the jobs we've got going on right now," he said.

Member for Albany Peter Watson said he would like a share of the State Government's $560 million public housing package to ease the priority accommodation waitlist.

Mr Watson said he would also like to see a reduction in the payroll tax threshold, and funds to fix dangerous sections of Chester Pass Road and Albany Ring Road.

He said funding for more nurses at Albany Health Campus' dialysis unit should also be a priority.

Shire of Plantagenet president Ken Clements said he would like funding for local roads.

"At the moment, we are not getting enough money," he said. "It's all very nice for the Government to say we have to do something for road safety, but if they are not going to improve the quality of the roads, we are going to have more accidents."