❓ Ms Shaw asks about the Morley-Ellenbrook rail line's progress and how the government's approach compares to the Liberal and National parties. The Minister responds by highlighting progress on the Whiteman Park station and criticising the opposition's past record on public transport.
AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELLENBROOK RAIL LINE
401. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to this WA Labor government's
commitment to creating local jobs through its pipeline of infrastructure
investment across WA.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's construction of the 21-kilometre Morley–Ellenbrook line, which will include five new train stations, continues to reach
significant milestones?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's approach to building public transport infrastructure compares to that of the Liberal and National Parties?
401. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to this WA Labor government's
commitment to creating local jobs through its pipeline of infrastructure
investment across WA.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's construction of the 21-kilometre Morley–Ellenbrook line, which will include five new train stations, continues to reach
significant milestones?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's approach to building public transport infrastructure compares to that of the Liberal and National Parties?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Swan Hills for that question. The member for Swan Hills
and I were just in Ellenbrook recently talking to some local community groups
about how we can leverage this excellent new train station in Ellenbrook with
the many community activities we can generate around it. There is a lot of excitement
in Ellenbrook to see that station emerge.
Today
I visited the new Whiteman Park train station. Whiteman Park is a jewel of the
north east corridor. It is a major
attractor of visitors and overseas tourists. Over one million visitors each
year visit Whiteman Park . We are building a brand new Whiteman Park
train station, a train station that will replace the existing bus stations in
the major drawcard for visitors from the suburbs and, of course, from
interstate and overseas. Whiteman Park train
station will also service the growing communities of Brabham, Dayton and Henley Brook, with 32 000 people expected to be living in this corridor over
the next five to 10 years. Housing developments are happening right now, and we
will have a brand new station servicing the local community and Whiteman Park, which is a Western Australian icon. To
date, 12 of the 40 beams needed to complete the elevated rail
infrastructure have been installed. There will be full connection to the new suburbs, in particular pedestrian crossings and
walkways. There will be 900 car parking bays, 10 bus stands , charging
infrastructure for electric vehicles and a number of other features that will,
again, make the new train station the envy of the nation. Another component is
that we are connecting the train station to the middle of Whiteman Park, where
there are existing museums and access to other activities. We have been working
with the Bus Preservation Society of WA on building a dedicated bus port for
some of the older buses to link passengers who get off at the Whiteman Park
train station. We are also working with the tram society in Whiteman Park so
that people will be able to catch a tram from the train station into Whiteman
Park. Those are some exciting new initiatives for the entire area.
Of course, people of the north east
corridor are excited to see all the work that is happening because the previous
government's commitment to the Ellenbrook rail line is an example of
how it let down people in those suburbs. We produced the book, ''A
Liberal History of the Ellenbrook Rail Line'', and due to an overwhelming response, we have had to go for a second
print run! That was because people overwhelmingly wanted to understand
exactly how many times the Liberal and National Parties committed to but never
delivered the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mr T.J. Healy : Make sure it
goes in the museum.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There will be
a series. The next one will be ''Metro Area Express Light Rail: How We
Let You Down'' by the Liberal and National Parties. We will announce a whole
series of books on public transport including ''How We Closed the
Midland Railway Workshops'' and ''How We Said You Could Never
Again Build Rail Stock in WA''. We will produce a whole series of books.
Also, ''How They Closed the Fremantle Line.'' There is a lot
there. The opposition still argues against the cost of public transport.
Members opposite ask question after question and say it is not valid to support
public transport. But we say it is. Public transport is a key way for people to
participate in society. It helps to address cost-of-living pressures and
supports people accessing jobs, education opportunities
and medical facilities, and connecting to their community. We are strong
believers in public transport . The opposition says, ''You should
be building this faster'', but at the same time says we should not be
building it at all. That is what members opposite do.
If members are in that corridor, they should drive past and
have a look at the Whiteman Park station. It is emerging. It is beautiful.
Again, it will be a major drawcard for everyone in this state.
thank the member for Swan Hills for that question. The member for Swan Hills
and I were just in Ellenbrook recently talking to some local community groups
about how we can leverage this excellent new train station in Ellenbrook with
the many community activities we can generate around it. There is a lot of excitement
in Ellenbrook to see that station emerge.
Today
I visited the new Whiteman Park train station. Whiteman Park is a jewel of the
north east corridor. It is a major
attractor of visitors and overseas tourists. Over one million visitors each
year visit Whiteman Park . We are building a brand new Whiteman Park
train station, a train station that will replace the existing bus stations in
the major drawcard for visitors from the suburbs and, of course, from
interstate and overseas. Whiteman Park train
station will also service the growing communities of Brabham, Dayton and Henley Brook, with 32 000 people expected to be living in this corridor over
the next five to 10 years. Housing developments are happening right now, and we
will have a brand new station servicing the local community and Whiteman Park, which is a Western Australian icon. To
date, 12 of the 40 beams needed to complete the elevated rail
infrastructure have been installed. There will be full connection to the new suburbs, in particular pedestrian crossings and
walkways. There will be 900 car parking bays, 10 bus stands , charging
infrastructure for electric vehicles and a number of other features that will,
again, make the new train station the envy of the nation. Another component is
that we are connecting the train station to the middle of Whiteman Park, where
there are existing museums and access to other activities. We have been working
with the Bus Preservation Society of WA on building a dedicated bus port for
some of the older buses to link passengers who get off at the Whiteman Park
train station. We are also working with the tram society in Whiteman Park so
that people will be able to catch a tram from the train station into Whiteman
Park. Those are some exciting new initiatives for the entire area.
Of course, people of the north east
corridor are excited to see all the work that is happening because the previous
government's commitment to the Ellenbrook rail line is an example of
how it let down people in those suburbs. We produced the book, ''A
Liberal History of the Ellenbrook Rail Line'', and due to an overwhelming response, we have had to go for a second
print run! That was because people overwhelmingly wanted to understand
exactly how many times the Liberal and National Parties committed to but never
delivered the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mr T.J. Healy : Make sure it
goes in the museum.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There will be
a series. The next one will be ''Metro Area Express Light Rail: How We
Let You Down'' by the Liberal and National Parties. We will announce a whole
series of books on public transport including ''How We Closed the
Midland Railway Workshops'' and ''How We Said You Could Never
Again Build Rail Stock in WA''. We will produce a whole series of books.
Also, ''How They Closed the Fremantle Line.'' There is a lot
there. The opposition still argues against the cost of public transport.
Members opposite ask question after question and say it is not valid to support
public transport. But we say it is. Public transport is a key way for people to
participate in society. It helps to address cost-of-living pressures and
supports people accessing jobs, education opportunities
and medical facilities, and connecting to their community. We are strong
believers in public transport . The opposition says, ''You should
be building this faster'', but at the same time says we should not be
building it at all. That is what members opposite do.
If members are in that corridor, they should drive past and
have a look at the Whiteman Park station. It is emerging. It is beautiful.
Again, it will be a major drawcard for everyone in this state.
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