❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Minister for Transport regarding the Thornlie-Cockburn Link project's costs, timeline, scope changes, and overruns. The Minister acknowledges disruptions due to COVID-19 and cites Dr. Thomas's previous support for project timeline adjustments, while maintaining the budget at $716 million.
AnsweredQoN 840Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
THORNLIE–COCKBURN LINK
840. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link project.
(1) What was the
original total cost and project time line from commencement to completion of
the project at the time that the first contracts were signed?
(2) What works of the project have
been initiated and completed to date?
(3) What changes
of scope have been applied to the project since the McGowan government was
elected to power in March 2017, and what is the proposed cost of each of those
changes in scope?
(4) Have there
been any cost over-runs on the original scope of work during construction of
the project; and, if so, what are these?
(5) What is the current expected total cost and
project time line for commencement to completion of the project?
840. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link project.
(1) What was the
original total cost and project time line from commencement to completion of
the project at the time that the first contracts were signed?
(2) What works of the project have
been initiated and completed to date?
(3) What changes
of scope have been applied to the project since the McGowan government was
elected to power in March 2017, and what is the proposed cost of each of those
changes in scope?
(4) Have there
been any cost over-runs on the original scope of work during construction of
the project; and, if so, what are these?
(5) What is the current expected total cost and
project time line for commencement to completion of the project?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) The
COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains with particular pressure
across the civil construction industry. Combined with record low unemployment
and a record number of road and rail infrastructure
projects, Western Australia is experiencing incredible demand across our
construction and infrastructure sectors. Following extensive
consultation and the skills summit hosted by the state government in July this year, the state government made a decision to
review the asset investment program to ease pressure on industry, extend
Western Australia's economic boom and support jobs into the future. As
part of this, several project schedules have been adjusted to ensure the
sustainability of the asset investment program, including the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link.
I
note the member's comments in the Legislative Council on 14 September
2021 in support of this approach by the state government, and I quote —
� the extension of some of these
projects is probably not a bad idea, economically speaking. It is probably
quite reasonable of the government to extend the time frame on some of its
Metronet projects so that it is a bit less
in competition with the private sector � it would be quite reasonable for them to occur �
Works started on the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link in late 2019, with completion now expected by late 2024. Significant works are underway, including
relocating critical underground infrastructure, relocating freight rail
lines to the northern portion of the corridor, building a wider and higher
Ranford Road Bridge, various enabling road works such as the completed Karel
Avenue Bridge, site works at the future Ranford Road and Nicholson Road stations, and preparatory works to widen the Mandurah
line tracks. No material changes have been made to the scope of the
project, and although the cost to deliver the project continues to be
monitored, the budget remains as $716 million.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) The
COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains with particular pressure
across the civil construction industry. Combined with record low unemployment
and a record number of road and rail infrastructure
projects, Western Australia is experiencing incredible demand across our
construction and infrastructure sectors. Following extensive
consultation and the skills summit hosted by the state government in July this year, the state government made a decision to
review the asset investment program to ease pressure on industry, extend
Western Australia's economic boom and support jobs into the future. As
part of this, several project schedules have been adjusted to ensure the
sustainability of the asset investment program, including the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link.
I
note the member's comments in the Legislative Council on 14 September
2021 in support of this approach by the state government, and I quote —
� the extension of some of these
projects is probably not a bad idea, economically speaking. It is probably
quite reasonable of the government to extend the time frame on some of its
Metronet projects so that it is a bit less
in competition with the private sector � it would be quite reasonable for them to occur �
Works started on the Thornlie–Cockburn
Link in late 2019, with completion now expected by late 2024. Significant works are underway, including
relocating critical underground infrastructure, relocating freight rail
lines to the northern portion of the corridor, building a wider and higher
Ranford Road Bridge, various enabling road works such as the completed Karel
Avenue Bridge, site works at the future Ranford Road and Nicholson Road stations, and preparatory works to widen the Mandurah
line tracks. No material changes have been made to the scope of the
project, and although the cost to deliver the project continues to be
monitored, the budget remains as $716 million.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.