❓ Minister Saffioti provides an update on METRONET projects, highlighting progress at various stations and criticising the opposition's stance on public transport. The response defends project timelines and emphasises government commitment.
AnsweredQoN 43Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET PROJECTS
43. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's unprecedented investment in
job-creating public transport infrastructure through Metronet.
(1) Can the
minister please update the house on the progress of new train stations being
built as part of Metronet and how they are supporting local jobs and
businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she is
aware of any alternative approaches to our transport future?
43. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's unprecedented investment in
job-creating public transport infrastructure through Metronet.
(1) Can the
minister please update the house on the progress of new train stations being
built as part of Metronet and how they are supporting local jobs and
businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she is
aware of any alternative approaches to our transport future?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Swan Hills for the question.
(1)–(2) It
has been a big summer for Metronet. If the member for Swan Hills were to look
at the Ellenbrook train station, she would
see that the structure is there and the platform is being built. People can
already step onto the platform at Ellenbrook. It is an incredible
achievement to have the new Ellenbrook train station well underway. The structure is there and the platform
is being built. It is an incredible sight, and I am sure that everyone
who goes past there understands it is this government that is delivering such a
major initiative.
At Whiteman Park piers have been
installed for the elevated station. The connection will go right through into
the suburb of Brabham and support the new housing developments that are being
built as a joint venture between DevelopmentWA and Peet. The developments will
mean affordable housing within a few hundred metres of the brand new Whiteman
Park train station. Member for Morley, the piling has commenced, and the
platform is being built for the new Noranda train station. At Yanchep, we have
seen that progress is well underway, and the member for Butler is very excited
by it. The work on the stations at Yanchep and Alkimos is very much underway.
Mr P. Papalia : He has so many
stations he loses track.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : He loses track of
how many stations he has, but we were commenting on how big and magnificent the Alkimos train station is looking. A lot of work is happening in Bayswater —
Mr R.S. Love : For a very long
time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : How would the
member for Moore know? When he looks out his window? Obviously, when he looks
out the window, he sees it.
I want to talk about Bayswater;
thanks for the interjection. When the former government committed funds to the
Forrestfield–Airport Link, do members know what it committed to
Bayswater station? It committed just $4 million for a new ramp. It was going to
leave Bayswater as a station lost in the 1960s, like the opposition's
policies. That is what it was doing. We came in and we have upgraded the
station. It will be magnificent but, of course, there is disruption. Yes, it will be announced that there
will be a closure of the rail line. Again, we apologise for the disruption because of those closures, but we really need to have that closure to—amongst
other things—build two kilometres of track connecting to the new piers
and to demolish the old Bayswater Bridge, which will be a big, big day. It will
be a big day when we demolish the Bayswater Bridge.
We also announced that during the
week we submitted the development approval application for the beautiful new
Midland station. We have also released some of the sketches for the public open
space underneath the new elevated rail through Victoria Park, and we will see a
lot of activity and a lot of beautiful community amenity.
Of course, we know the other side
does not support it. As of yesterday, the opposition was calling Metronet a vanity
project. How can the member for Moore, the Leader of the Opposition, appeal to
densely populated areas when he keeps
knocking projects like Metronet? Surely, when he looks out the window in the
morning, he thinks, ''Wow! This is great infrastructure for the
state!'' Surely, he thinks that. Of course, we know the Liberal Party —
Mr
R.S. Love : You think you're
going to deliver the Armadale line on time. You have not delivered anything on
time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : At least we
are delivering something.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Members! Leader of the Opposition, this is not your question. I am going to ask
the minister if she could draw her answer to a close, please.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I was at a Business
News presentation on Friday, and someone asked me about MAX light rail.
Several members interjected.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I said that, unlike
the other side, we deliver on our commitments. We are delivering all our rail lines. I know that the other side does not
support Metronet. Of course, it was the member for Vasse who put forward the flying cars concept in opposition, and she wanted to take it to the
election. As we look at our Perth parking —
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
The
SPEAKER : Points of order are to be heard in silence.
Mr R.S.
LOVE : I ask you to consider the relevance of the minister's
response and also the length of time she is taking to get to the point.
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI : You interjected!
The SPEAKER : Minister, I will
ask you one last time to wrap up your answer, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Okay. I will
wrap it up. I am reading from an article dated 12 March 2021. Josh Zimmerman wrote the article, and I hope the member for Vasse
is not saying he is a liar. This is referring to the member for Vasse —
She also allegedly told party members
the State Government needed to commission the feasibility study ''for
where and how to construct heliports for flying cars''
The good thing is that, as we review
the Perth parking levy, the member for Vasse can put forward helipads for
flying cars, and we will take that into consideration as we reform our
legislation.
member for Swan Hills for the question.
(1)–(2) It
has been a big summer for Metronet. If the member for Swan Hills were to look
at the Ellenbrook train station, she would
see that the structure is there and the platform is being built. People can
already step onto the platform at Ellenbrook. It is an incredible
achievement to have the new Ellenbrook train station well underway. The structure is there and the platform
is being built. It is an incredible sight, and I am sure that everyone
who goes past there understands it is this government that is delivering such a
major initiative.
At Whiteman Park piers have been
installed for the elevated station. The connection will go right through into
the suburb of Brabham and support the new housing developments that are being
built as a joint venture between DevelopmentWA and Peet. The developments will
mean affordable housing within a few hundred metres of the brand new Whiteman
Park train station. Member for Morley, the piling has commenced, and the
platform is being built for the new Noranda train station. At Yanchep, we have
seen that progress is well underway, and the member for Butler is very excited
by it. The work on the stations at Yanchep and Alkimos is very much underway.
Mr P. Papalia : He has so many
stations he loses track.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : He loses track of
how many stations he has, but we were commenting on how big and magnificent the Alkimos train station is looking. A lot of work is happening in Bayswater —
Mr R.S. Love : For a very long
time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : How would the
member for Moore know? When he looks out his window? Obviously, when he looks
out the window, he sees it.
I want to talk about Bayswater;
thanks for the interjection. When the former government committed funds to the
Forrestfield–Airport Link, do members know what it committed to
Bayswater station? It committed just $4 million for a new ramp. It was going to
leave Bayswater as a station lost in the 1960s, like the opposition's
policies. That is what it was doing. We came in and we have upgraded the
station. It will be magnificent but, of course, there is disruption. Yes, it will be announced that there
will be a closure of the rail line. Again, we apologise for the disruption because of those closures, but we really need to have that closure to—amongst
other things—build two kilometres of track connecting to the new piers
and to demolish the old Bayswater Bridge, which will be a big, big day. It will
be a big day when we demolish the Bayswater Bridge.
We also announced that during the
week we submitted the development approval application for the beautiful new
Midland station. We have also released some of the sketches for the public open
space underneath the new elevated rail through Victoria Park, and we will see a
lot of activity and a lot of beautiful community amenity.
Of course, we know the other side
does not support it. As of yesterday, the opposition was calling Metronet a vanity
project. How can the member for Moore, the Leader of the Opposition, appeal to
densely populated areas when he keeps
knocking projects like Metronet? Surely, when he looks out the window in the
morning, he thinks, ''Wow! This is great infrastructure for the
state!'' Surely, he thinks that. Of course, we know the Liberal Party —
Mr
R.S. Love : You think you're
going to deliver the Armadale line on time. You have not delivered anything on
time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : At least we
are delivering something.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Members! Leader of the Opposition, this is not your question. I am going to ask
the minister if she could draw her answer to a close, please.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I was at a Business
News presentation on Friday, and someone asked me about MAX light rail.
Several members interjected.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I said that, unlike
the other side, we deliver on our commitments. We are delivering all our rail lines. I know that the other side does not
support Metronet. Of course, it was the member for Vasse who put forward the flying cars concept in opposition, and she wanted to take it to the
election. As we look at our Perth parking —
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
The
SPEAKER : Points of order are to be heard in silence.
Mr R.S.
LOVE : I ask you to consider the relevance of the minister's
response and also the length of time she is taking to get to the point.
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI : You interjected!
The SPEAKER : Minister, I will
ask you one last time to wrap up your answer, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Okay. I will
wrap it up. I am reading from an article dated 12 March 2021. Josh Zimmerman wrote the article, and I hope the member for Vasse
is not saying he is a liar. This is referring to the member for Vasse —
She also allegedly told party members
the State Government needed to commission the feasibility study ''for
where and how to construct heliports for flying cars''
The good thing is that, as we review
the Perth parking levy, the member for Vasse can put forward helipads for
flying cars, and we will take that into consideration as we reform our
legislation.
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