❓ Opposition questions the Transport Minister about traffic modelling data related to the Roe 8 section of the Perth Freight Link, specifically regarding discrepancies in truck removal projections and transparency of information. The Minister defends the project and cites commercial confidentiality as reason for withholding data.
AnsweredQoN 736Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROE HIGHWAY STAGE 8 — PERTH FREIGHT LINK —
TRAFFIC MODELLING
736. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the new advertising
campaign promoting the Roe 8 section of the Perth Freight Link project that
claims that 5 000 heavy vehicles will be removed from local roads by 2021.
(1) Will the
minister now release all traffic modelling for all roads affected by the Perth
Freight Link, and why did Main Road Western Australia refuse to release traffic
information through the freedom of information process?
(2) Given these
advertisements, does the minister still stand by the business case executive
summary that states that Perth Freight Link would remove 500 trucks from Leach
Highway by 2031?
TRAFFIC MODELLING
736. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the new advertising
campaign promoting the Roe 8 section of the Perth Freight Link project that
claims that 5 000 heavy vehicles will be removed from local roads by 2021.
(1) Will the
minister now release all traffic modelling for all roads affected by the Perth
Freight Link, and why did Main Road Western Australia refuse to release traffic
information through the freedom of information process?
(2) Given these
advertisements, does the minister still stand by the business case executive
summary that states that Perth Freight Link would remove 500 trucks from Leach
Highway by 2031?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) This
is a great project for Western Australia; it has been planned for decades. We
have a city and a port that are growing and transforming. We talk about
congestion and the need for safety on our roads. By 2021, 5 000 trucks will be
heading south out of Fremantle port. They will head down predominantly Leach
Highway, South Street, Stock Road and Farrington Road. This is about removing
those trucks. It is also critical to make sure that people in that area can
move safely and freely. The project also tackles the congestion issue. When the
original business case was being looked at—I will share this—utilising
an e-TAG solution was being looked at. Consideration had not been given to the
state government's ability to regulate which roads container trucks
could use. If we are establishing a freight charge, a standard operating model
for toll roads around the rest of Australia shows a leakage of 42 per cent. We
worked that out by utilising GPS technology, as well as regulating the movement
of trucks so that we can dictate exactly where those trucks can go. By 2021 we
will take 2 000 trucks of Leach Highway on a daily basis. Members opposite can
say what they like about it but the greatest issue with safety and trucks is
the interaction at intersections because of traffic lights. If we want to
improve safety on our roads and the movement of heavy freight, we must attack
the issue of traffic lights. Roe 8 will take out six sets of lights. When we
get all the way through to the inner harbour, we are talking about 16 sets of
lights. The impact of trucks starting and stopping from an efficiency and
productivity basis and from a safety, congestion and environmental point of
view make this a very worthwhile project.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
are at the point at which tenders for Roe 8 are closed and we are about to let
a contract. We have always used the same argument that was used for the
Mandurah railway line: prior to the contract being released, we will not
disclose information that may prejudice the contract.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
have two parts to this contract.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, a quick
answer.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We have two parts to this contract. One is to establish the
construction contract and the other is to establish a first freight charge
through the Perth metropolitan area. These are two serious policy implications
that require a lot of work. We have discussed this with the federal government
and we do not believe it is in the state's interest for us to disclose
certain elements of that information at this point in time. We believe it to be
commercial-in-confidence.
is a great project for Western Australia; it has been planned for decades. We
have a city and a port that are growing and transforming. We talk about
congestion and the need for safety on our roads. By 2021, 5 000 trucks will be
heading south out of Fremantle port. They will head down predominantly Leach
Highway, South Street, Stock Road and Farrington Road. This is about removing
those trucks. It is also critical to make sure that people in that area can
move safely and freely. The project also tackles the congestion issue. When the
original business case was being looked at—I will share this—utilising
an e-TAG solution was being looked at. Consideration had not been given to the
state government's ability to regulate which roads container trucks
could use. If we are establishing a freight charge, a standard operating model
for toll roads around the rest of Australia shows a leakage of 42 per cent. We
worked that out by utilising GPS technology, as well as regulating the movement
of trucks so that we can dictate exactly where those trucks can go. By 2021 we
will take 2 000 trucks of Leach Highway on a daily basis. Members opposite can
say what they like about it but the greatest issue with safety and trucks is
the interaction at intersections because of traffic lights. If we want to
improve safety on our roads and the movement of heavy freight, we must attack
the issue of traffic lights. Roe 8 will take out six sets of lights. When we
get all the way through to the inner harbour, we are talking about 16 sets of
lights. The impact of trucks starting and stopping from an efficiency and
productivity basis and from a safety, congestion and environmental point of
view make this a very worthwhile project.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
are at the point at which tenders for Roe 8 are closed and we are about to let
a contract. We have always used the same argument that was used for the
Mandurah railway line: prior to the contract being released, we will not
disclose information that may prejudice the contract.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
have two parts to this contract.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, a quick
answer.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We have two parts to this contract. One is to establish the
construction contract and the other is to establish a first freight charge
through the Perth metropolitan area. These are two serious policy implications
that require a lot of work. We have discussed this with the federal government
and we do not believe it is in the state's interest for us to disclose
certain elements of that information at this point in time. We believe it to be
commercial-in-confidence.
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