❓ Mr Jones asks about community reception to the Byford rail extension. The Minister responds positively, highlighting strong patronage, community support, and criticising the opposition's past stance on the project.
AnsweredQoN 553Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Byford rail extension
553. Mr Hugh Jones to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and
services. Can the minister update the house on the community's reception to the
Byford rail extension?
553. Mr Hugh Jones to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and
services. Can the minister update the house on the community's reception to the
Byford rail extension?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Darling Range for that question. What a great member for Darling Range we
have now. I remember his predecessor, who could not deliver quality
infrastructure to the suburbs, but here we are with the Byford rail extension.
History shows that
time and again, when tested, the opposition, the Liberal and National Parties, does
not support Metronet and the extension to Byford. There is a view out there
that there is no-one living in Byford and there is not a big enough population.
Of course, we know that Byford is a growing community hub. That suburb is
growing day by day. We have seen an incredible reaction to the new rail extension
to Byford. Today I caught the train with the member for Darling Range and we
sat next to Faith, from Byford, who was catching the train to her job in East Perth.
She told us what a great way it is for her to be able to connect directly to
her job.
As I have said,
there was an incredible turnout. Already the patronage stats are incredibly
strong. There were over 1,000 boardings on the Byford rail line every day in
the last week. We have seen the patronage bounce back across the line at Kelmscott,
Armadale, throughout the Gosnells area and from Cannington into the city. We
have seen incredible patronage stats. Again, there were those who said that
once the rail line was shut, no-one would ever get back on it. Do members
remember that? They said that once people did not have access to the rail line,
they would never get back on it. In fact, it has been the opposite. We have
seen incredible patronage stats and incredible enthusiasm for that rail line.
When we opened the rail line, over 20,000 people came out to celebrate the
opening of the rail line and Long Park. Over 10,000 residents went to the
Byford activities. We have seen overwhelming support for it. We have seen
incredible excitement for and activation of Long Park. We have conducted
surveys and it is clear that people will be using those parks not once or
twice, but weekly and every month. It will be part of their everyday lives.
There were those who said that if we elevated the rail, we would not create any
activity. They said it would be dark and dingy. Go and visit Long Park now.
Members will see the incredible spaces that can be created when the government
is bold and delivers what it committed to.
We are very proud of the extension of the rail line.
It gives people in the suburbs access to quality infrastructure, quality
parks and, in particular, affordable connections to their places of work, study
and other places of interest. We are proud to have delivered this. I thank the
WA community and everyone along the south-east corridor who was patient but who
now very much appreciate the infrastructure that only Labor governments
deliver.
for Darling Range for that question. What a great member for Darling Range we
have now. I remember his predecessor, who could not deliver quality
infrastructure to the suburbs, but here we are with the Byford rail extension.
History shows that
time and again, when tested, the opposition, the Liberal and National Parties, does
not support Metronet and the extension to Byford. There is a view out there
that there is no-one living in Byford and there is not a big enough population.
Of course, we know that Byford is a growing community hub. That suburb is
growing day by day. We have seen an incredible reaction to the new rail extension
to Byford. Today I caught the train with the member for Darling Range and we
sat next to Faith, from Byford, who was catching the train to her job in East Perth.
She told us what a great way it is for her to be able to connect directly to
her job.
As I have said,
there was an incredible turnout. Already the patronage stats are incredibly
strong. There were over 1,000 boardings on the Byford rail line every day in
the last week. We have seen the patronage bounce back across the line at Kelmscott,
Armadale, throughout the Gosnells area and from Cannington into the city. We
have seen incredible patronage stats. Again, there were those who said that
once the rail line was shut, no-one would ever get back on it. Do members
remember that? They said that once people did not have access to the rail line,
they would never get back on it. In fact, it has been the opposite. We have
seen incredible patronage stats and incredible enthusiasm for that rail line.
When we opened the rail line, over 20,000 people came out to celebrate the
opening of the rail line and Long Park. Over 10,000 residents went to the
Byford activities. We have seen overwhelming support for it. We have seen
incredible excitement for and activation of Long Park. We have conducted
surveys and it is clear that people will be using those parks not once or
twice, but weekly and every month. It will be part of their everyday lives.
There were those who said that if we elevated the rail, we would not create any
activity. They said it would be dark and dingy. Go and visit Long Park now.
Members will see the incredible spaces that can be created when the government
is bold and delivers what it committed to.
We are very proud of the extension of the rail line.
It gives people in the suburbs access to quality infrastructure, quality
parks and, in particular, affordable connections to their places of work, study
and other places of interest. We are proud to have delivered this. I thank the
WA community and everyone along the south-east corridor who was patient but who
now very much appreciate the infrastructure that only Labor governments
deliver.
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