❓ Ms Saffioti questions the Minister for Transport about the Perth Freight Link stage 2, specifically regarding contract timelines and funding contingencies. The Minister avoids a direct answer, criticising past planning decisions and stating alternative options are being explored, potentially impacting timelines.
AnsweredQoN 699Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
FREIGHT LINK
699. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's new-found obsession with
project certainty.
(1) Is Perth
Freight Link stage 2 going ahead in accordance with the minister's plan
that contracts for that stage be awarded in December this year?
(2) Is the
commonwealth government's $925 million funding commitment contingent on
both stages of the project proceeding?
FREIGHT LINK
699. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's new-found obsession with
project certainty.
(1) Is Perth
Freight Link stage 2 going ahead in accordance with the minister's plan
that contracts for that stage be awarded in December this year?
(2) Is the
commonwealth government's $925 million funding commitment contingent on
both stages of the project proceeding?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I love it when members opposite talk about things that we are actually doing in
this state when they cannot commit to doing anything! We are working on
infrastructure projects around the state, particularly in Main Roads WA. We are
just completing the Gateway project, the largest Main Roads project ever
undertaken. Perth Freight Link will really run from Muchea all the way to the
Fremantle port—it is actually across the whole lot. The Roe 8 section
is the first section heading west from Roe 7 at the Kwinana Freeway junction
taking it through. I reckon that what occurred in planning done by Alannah
MacTiernan is disgraceful, because she set up the junction at the freeway so
that it could not be extended.
Point of Order
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : My question was about stage 2. Is that stage going
ahead according to the minister's plans and commitments in this place?
The
SPEAKER : Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER :
What we are doing is finalising the first stage, which is Roe 8 heading to the
port. We have said that tenders have closed. The second phase is what the
opposition is referring to. Alannah sold the land on the Fremantle Eastern
Bypass, which is an absolute disgrace. She worked out afterwards that she
should not have done it and started to plan taking trucks down High Street,
doing a double trench through Royal Fremantle Golf Club and widening High
Street and Leach Highway. That was her plan after she realised her mistake. I
feel sorry for the people of Fremantle, because they have to put up with trucks
going down Hampton Street.
Point of Order
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I refer again to the stage 2 project that the minister
announced in this place. He said that contracts would be awarded by December
this year. Is that happening?
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Mr
P. Papalia : It's the question!
The
SPEAKER : It is not a point of order.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Do
not question me, member for Warnbro. That is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
will try to shorten my answer. I think it is really important that people
understand the background of what is going on. Phase 2 has a base case, which
was set up by Alannah MacTiernan, to come down High Street, which is a double
trench through Royal Fremantle Golf Club, impacting on the residents in
Palmyra.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : That is the base case. The time line for that base case is
that we could go to contract in November or December. I do not like that route
because of the disruption it will cause the community. It is a second-rate
route and I am trying to explore a better option. We are getting prices on the
base case and prices on alternative options, which is what we have talked
about. I said that when we get that information, it may cause us to look at the
time lines. If it does, I will come back to Parliament at that point to advise
accordingly. Right at this point we are getting on with phase 1 and getting
that contract done. Then we will work through. I hope that we do not have to go
down the High Street–Leach Highway route, which is what Alannah MacTiernan
forced this government to consider. It was an absolute disgrace selling that
Fremantle Eastern Bypass. I am exploring options, which is what I will continue
to do.
I love it when members opposite talk about things that we are actually doing in
this state when they cannot commit to doing anything! We are working on
infrastructure projects around the state, particularly in Main Roads WA. We are
just completing the Gateway project, the largest Main Roads project ever
undertaken. Perth Freight Link will really run from Muchea all the way to the
Fremantle port—it is actually across the whole lot. The Roe 8 section
is the first section heading west from Roe 7 at the Kwinana Freeway junction
taking it through. I reckon that what occurred in planning done by Alannah
MacTiernan is disgraceful, because she set up the junction at the freeway so
that it could not be extended.
Point of Order
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : My question was about stage 2. Is that stage going
ahead according to the minister's plans and commitments in this place?
The
SPEAKER : Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER :
What we are doing is finalising the first stage, which is Roe 8 heading to the
port. We have said that tenders have closed. The second phase is what the
opposition is referring to. Alannah sold the land on the Fremantle Eastern
Bypass, which is an absolute disgrace. She worked out afterwards that she
should not have done it and started to plan taking trucks down High Street,
doing a double trench through Royal Fremantle Golf Club and widening High
Street and Leach Highway. That was her plan after she realised her mistake. I
feel sorry for the people of Fremantle, because they have to put up with trucks
going down Hampton Street.
Point of Order
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : I refer again to the stage 2 project that the minister
announced in this place. He said that contracts would be awarded by December
this year. Is that happening?
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Mr
P. Papalia : It's the question!
The
SPEAKER : It is not a point of order.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Do
not question me, member for Warnbro. That is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
will try to shorten my answer. I think it is really important that people
understand the background of what is going on. Phase 2 has a base case, which
was set up by Alannah MacTiernan, to come down High Street, which is a double
trench through Royal Fremantle Golf Club, impacting on the residents in
Palmyra.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : That is the base case. The time line for that base case is
that we could go to contract in November or December. I do not like that route
because of the disruption it will cause the community. It is a second-rate
route and I am trying to explore a better option. We are getting prices on the
base case and prices on alternative options, which is what we have talked
about. I said that when we get that information, it may cause us to look at the
time lines. If it does, I will come back to Parliament at that point to advise
accordingly. Right at this point we are getting on with phase 1 and getting
that contract done. Then we will work through. I hope that we do not have to go
down the High Street–Leach Highway route, which is what Alannah MacTiernan
forced this government to consider. It was an absolute disgrace selling that
Fremantle Eastern Bypass. I am exploring options, which is what I will continue
to do.
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