❓ Ms Saffioti (Labor) questions the Transport Minister (Liberal) about the safety of the proposed Metro Area Express light rail project, particularly concerning its route through Fitzgerald Street. The Minister's response focuses on project prioritisation and cost-effectiveness, following changes in federal funding.
AnsweredQoN 256Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRO AREA EXPRESS LIGHT RAIL — SAFETY
CONCERNS
256. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
concerns about the safety of light rail through Fitzgerald Street, the narrow
roads and his concern for the safety of people in and around the area.
(1) Why did the
Liberal Party commit to Metro Area Express light rail down Fitzgerald Street if
the Liberal Party thought it was so unsafe?
(2) When were these safety concerns
raised with the minister?
(3) Do buses
travelling down these narrow streets at 50 kilometres an hour to 60 kilometres
an hour also pose a safety concern?
CONCERNS
256. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
concerns about the safety of light rail through Fitzgerald Street, the narrow
roads and his concern for the safety of people in and around the area.
(1) Why did the
Liberal Party commit to Metro Area Express light rail down Fitzgerald Street if
the Liberal Party thought it was so unsafe?
(2) When were these safety concerns
raised with the minister?
(3) Do buses
travelling down these narrow streets at 50 kilometres an hour to 60 kilometres
an hour also pose a safety concern?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) We
are committing to delivering a public transport solution in the northern
corridor. We went to the last election with two projects that we wished to
undertake.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Members should let me answer the question. At the time, the
federal government indicated that it would support both projects. There was a change
in the federal government and it indicated that it was not going to look at
supporting public transport.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. I want
a short, concise answer, minister.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Certainly, Mr Speaker. We took the economically responsible
decision to stagger the projects.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I do not know what is so surprising about that. We have been
upfront and honest about that all the way through. I am trying to finish.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The contract has been set for the Forrestfield–Airport
Link project and construction will start by the end of this year. Construction
is underway. We have said that we are committed to a northern corridor. We have
taken the opportunity to review and continually look at things. If members go
back to when these decisions were taken, they would see that there was a widely
held view that we could not deliver a below‑ground solution in Western Australia
at an appropriate cost. We have been able to prove that, taking an above-ground
budget for the Forrestfield–Airport Link and setting about delivering
it underground all the way. We have set the contract. The contract is in place
and construction will start this year. That is a complete change of thinking in
Western Australia. We are able to use innovative processes and world-leading
construction companies to deliver world-leading solutions for Western Australia.
This government has had the courage to challenge the status quo and continue to
explore and deliver the best possible outcome. That is what this government is
doing.
are committing to delivering a public transport solution in the northern
corridor. We went to the last election with two projects that we wished to
undertake.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Members should let me answer the question. At the time, the
federal government indicated that it would support both projects. There was a change
in the federal government and it indicated that it was not going to look at
supporting public transport.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. I want
a short, concise answer, minister.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Certainly, Mr Speaker. We took the economically responsible
decision to stagger the projects.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I do not know what is so surprising about that. We have been
upfront and honest about that all the way through. I am trying to finish.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The contract has been set for the Forrestfield–Airport
Link project and construction will start by the end of this year. Construction
is underway. We have said that we are committed to a northern corridor. We have
taken the opportunity to review and continually look at things. If members go
back to when these decisions were taken, they would see that there was a widely
held view that we could not deliver a below‑ground solution in Western Australia
at an appropriate cost. We have been able to prove that, taking an above-ground
budget for the Forrestfield–Airport Link and setting about delivering
it underground all the way. We have set the contract. The contract is in place
and construction will start this year. That is a complete change of thinking in
Western Australia. We are able to use innovative processes and world-leading
construction companies to deliver world-leading solutions for Western Australia.
This government has had the courage to challenge the status quo and continue to
explore and deliver the best possible outcome. That is what this government is
doing.
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