❓ Mr. Sutherland asks about the impact of the Perth Central Railway Station closure due to the Perth City Link project. The Minister details the project's progress, disruptions, and contrasts it with the previous Labor government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 443Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CENTRAL
RAILWAY STATION — CLOSURE
443. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Transport:
I am well aware that this Friday, Perth central station will
be closed due to extensive works that are being undertaken as part of the Perth
City Link project. Can the minister please update the house on what impact this
closure will have in both the short and long term?
RAILWAY STATION — CLOSURE
443. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Transport:
I am well aware that this Friday, Perth central station will
be closed due to extensive works that are being undertaken as part of the Perth
City Link project. Can the minister please update the house on what impact this
closure will have in both the short and long term?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. As we know, Perth is
transforming, with the Perth Waterfront project, the new stadium and the Perth
City Link project.
Mr B.J. Grylls :
Does the opposition support any of them?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
No. The opposition does not support the stadium, I do not know what it thinks
about the Perth City Link project, and it is sitting on the fence in relation
to the Perth Waterfront project.
The Perth City Link project has two important components: firstly,
the sinking of the Fremantle railway line for approximately 600 metres to the
west of the current train station at a cost of around $260 million to be
delivered in 2014; and, secondly, the sinking of the bus station. This weekend
is an important milestone. Basically, the Fremantle line will be moved to the
south. It is a complicated piece of engineering work. Instead of abutting the
Midland line, it will move south and abut the Armadale line. To deliver that
outcome, from 10.30 tomorrow morning, we have to close Perth city station. That
means that commuters coming up from Fremantle will disembark from the train at
West Leederville; commuters coming in from Midland or Armadale will disembark
at Claisebrook. There will be a series of shuttle buses that will move people
through.
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I know that the member for Warnbro is disappointed about his
train station. I do not think he will get one from his side either.
This will have an impact on some
people; it will certainly have an impact tomorrow night on people getting home
during the peak period. I think the Public Transport Authority has done a very
good job of letting people know what the impact will be and the options that
are available to them. It is important that people plan ahead.
The other thing that people know is
that this government is getting on and getting things done. Yesterday I talked
about the clean-up in Esperance. Today we are highlighting another really good
example of the difference between this government and the Labor Party when it
was government. The Labor Party was fixated on sinking the railway line. It
started talking about it in 2002.
Mr
M. McGowan : We actually built it.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The Labor Party did not sink the railway line. In 2002, it
announced a $54 million plan to sink the railway line. It was at it again in
2003. There was going to be a museum as a result of sinking the railway line.
Of course, we know the Labor Party's view about the museum: we need
one, just not yet. Again, in 2004, Alannah MacTiernan said that the Labor Party
was going to sink the line.
Mr
M. McGowan : When are you starting construction of the museum?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The construction of the railway line is halfway through.
Mr
M. McGowan : How's your hearing?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : In 2005, there was an announcement of $190 million to do
what? It was to sink the railway line. Every couple of years there was a plan
to sink the railway line. Under the Labor government, there were more
announcements about the Northbridge Link project than Johnny Farnham has had
comebacks!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : You've used that one before; that's an old one.
Sorry; the former Treasurer used that one!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the
first time today.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I will conclude with the following observation: under this
government, there has been one announcement, and the project is underway.
transforming, with the Perth Waterfront project, the new stadium and the Perth
City Link project.
Mr B.J. Grylls :
Does the opposition support any of them?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
No. The opposition does not support the stadium, I do not know what it thinks
about the Perth City Link project, and it is sitting on the fence in relation
to the Perth Waterfront project.
The Perth City Link project has two important components: firstly,
the sinking of the Fremantle railway line for approximately 600 metres to the
west of the current train station at a cost of around $260 million to be
delivered in 2014; and, secondly, the sinking of the bus station. This weekend
is an important milestone. Basically, the Fremantle line will be moved to the
south. It is a complicated piece of engineering work. Instead of abutting the
Midland line, it will move south and abut the Armadale line. To deliver that
outcome, from 10.30 tomorrow morning, we have to close Perth city station. That
means that commuters coming up from Fremantle will disembark from the train at
West Leederville; commuters coming in from Midland or Armadale will disembark
at Claisebrook. There will be a series of shuttle buses that will move people
through.
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I know that the member for Warnbro is disappointed about his
train station. I do not think he will get one from his side either.
This will have an impact on some
people; it will certainly have an impact tomorrow night on people getting home
during the peak period. I think the Public Transport Authority has done a very
good job of letting people know what the impact will be and the options that
are available to them. It is important that people plan ahead.
The other thing that people know is
that this government is getting on and getting things done. Yesterday I talked
about the clean-up in Esperance. Today we are highlighting another really good
example of the difference between this government and the Labor Party when it
was government. The Labor Party was fixated on sinking the railway line. It
started talking about it in 2002.
Mr
M. McGowan : We actually built it.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The Labor Party did not sink the railway line. In 2002, it
announced a $54 million plan to sink the railway line. It was at it again in
2003. There was going to be a museum as a result of sinking the railway line.
Of course, we know the Labor Party's view about the museum: we need
one, just not yet. Again, in 2004, Alannah MacTiernan said that the Labor Party
was going to sink the line.
Mr
M. McGowan : When are you starting construction of the museum?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The construction of the railway line is halfway through.
Mr
M. McGowan : How's your hearing?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : In 2005, there was an announcement of $190 million to do
what? It was to sink the railway line. Every couple of years there was a plan
to sink the railway line. Under the Labor government, there were more
announcements about the Northbridge Link project than Johnny Farnham has had
comebacks!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : You've used that one before; that's an old one.
Sorry; the former Treasurer used that one!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the
first time today.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I will conclude with the following observation: under this
government, there has been one announcement, and the project is underway.
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