❓ WA Parliament Questions on Notice regarding the Oakajee Port and Rail project funding and the Perth City Link project's progress, specifically the commencement of commercial building construction at Kings Square.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OAKAJEE PORT AND RAIL PROJECT
270. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I ask again: was the
Treasurer correct when he said that the $330 million of taxpayers'
money allocated in the budget could be used for other purposes or was the
Premier correct when he said that the state would take primary responsibility
for the port; and what will happen to that $330 million?
270. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I ask again: was the
Treasurer correct when he said that the $330 million of taxpayers'
money allocated in the budget could be used for other purposes or was the
Premier correct when he said that the state would take primary responsibility
for the port; and what will happen to that $330 million?
AnswerView source ↗
The $330 million will be there when the time comes to develop
that port. In developing the port —
Mr M. McGowan : On
both sides of the fence.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : We can have non-government investment in a port so long as
that port is majority government-owned and controlled. The basic national and
state interest here, which the Labor Party did not understand when it was in
government, is not to have an overseas-owned and controlled deep-sea port on
the Australian west coast. The commonwealth government, the Labor federal
government, agreed with me on that principle. Then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
agreed that it was not appropriate to do that. That port needs to be an
Australian port, and it will be. The Chinese understand that, but having said
that it was also made clear to
me by the National Development and Reform Commission that while it was pleased
that we would take the lead on the port, it would be interested in investing as
a minority partner in the port. I think that is good.
PERTH CITY LINK —
KINGS SQUARE
271. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for Planning:
Can the Minister for Planning please update the house on the
commencement of works on three commercial buildings at Kings Square, which is
part of the Perth City Link project, and what they will include?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY replied:
I thank the member for the question. Another substantial
milestone was reached yesterday in the transformation of Perth as the capital
of Western Australia—the commencement of the construction of the first
commercial building in the Perth City Link area. I think most members would be
aware that the Perth City Link project is one of the major transformative
projects in the city, together with Elizabeth Quay, the Riverside project near
the Causeway and the transformation of the Perth Cultural Centre.
In the Perth City Link area major progress has been made in
recent times with the undergrounding of the Perth–Fremantle rail line.
That aspect of the project should be completed in the first half of next year,
and the undergrounding of the Wellington Street bus station will be commenced
and completed by 2016. The whole project will lead to much better pedestrian
connections and vehicle movement through the area from Northbridge to the Perth
CBD. Most importantly, it will provide a higher level of amenity and vibrancy
than that which exists at the moment.
Yesterday, construction of the first
commercial building commenced, which is being overseen by the Metropolitan
Redevelopment Authority as the planning authority. The MRA has been working
with the developers—Seven Group Holdings, Leighton Properties and also
the DEXUS Property Group—that are undertaking these developments. It is
very pleasing that Shell Australia will establish its headquarters in the first
building to be commenced and that John Holland Group and HBF, the health
insurance group, will be located in the other two buildings to be constructed
in the precinct. This project will provide for about 3 000 residents, 13 000
workers and a large number of offices, shops, restaurants and bars to be
established in the Perth City Link area. The Kings Square precinct, which is in
the immediate vicinity of these commercial buildings, will also be one of the
important public spaces in the Perth City Link area, together with the Queens Street
precinct and the major new city square, which we also expect to be completed by
2016. Major steps are being taken in the development of Perth.
that port. In developing the port —
Mr M. McGowan : On
both sides of the fence.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : We can have non-government investment in a port so long as
that port is majority government-owned and controlled. The basic national and
state interest here, which the Labor Party did not understand when it was in
government, is not to have an overseas-owned and controlled deep-sea port on
the Australian west coast. The commonwealth government, the Labor federal
government, agreed with me on that principle. Then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
agreed that it was not appropriate to do that. That port needs to be an
Australian port, and it will be. The Chinese understand that, but having said
that it was also made clear to
me by the National Development and Reform Commission that while it was pleased
that we would take the lead on the port, it would be interested in investing as
a minority partner in the port. I think that is good.
PERTH CITY LINK —
KINGS SQUARE
271. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for Planning:
Can the Minister for Planning please update the house on the
commencement of works on three commercial buildings at Kings Square, which is
part of the Perth City Link project, and what they will include?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY replied:
I thank the member for the question. Another substantial
milestone was reached yesterday in the transformation of Perth as the capital
of Western Australia—the commencement of the construction of the first
commercial building in the Perth City Link area. I think most members would be
aware that the Perth City Link project is one of the major transformative
projects in the city, together with Elizabeth Quay, the Riverside project near
the Causeway and the transformation of the Perth Cultural Centre.
In the Perth City Link area major progress has been made in
recent times with the undergrounding of the Perth–Fremantle rail line.
That aspect of the project should be completed in the first half of next year,
and the undergrounding of the Wellington Street bus station will be commenced
and completed by 2016. The whole project will lead to much better pedestrian
connections and vehicle movement through the area from Northbridge to the Perth
CBD. Most importantly, it will provide a higher level of amenity and vibrancy
than that which exists at the moment.
Yesterday, construction of the first
commercial building commenced, which is being overseen by the Metropolitan
Redevelopment Authority as the planning authority. The MRA has been working
with the developers—Seven Group Holdings, Leighton Properties and also
the DEXUS Property Group—that are undertaking these developments. It is
very pleasing that Shell Australia will establish its headquarters in the first
building to be commenced and that John Holland Group and HBF, the health
insurance group, will be located in the other two buildings to be constructed
in the precinct. This project will provide for about 3 000 residents, 13 000
workers and a large number of offices, shops, restaurants and bars to be
established in the Perth City Link area. The Kings Square precinct, which is in
the immediate vicinity of these commercial buildings, will also be one of the
important public spaces in the Perth City Link area, together with the Queens Street
precinct and the major new city square, which we also expect to be completed by
2016. Major steps are being taken in the development of Perth.
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