❓ Mr Alban asks about the Gateway WA project's impact on transport needs in Forrestfield and Kewdale. The Minister details the project's scope, funding, and benefits, particularly addressing traffic congestion and airport access.
AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GATEWAY WA
— PERTH AIRPORT AND FREIGHT ROAD NETWORK PROJECT
246. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for Transport:
I note that on Sunday the minister revealed the first vision
of the flyover for the $1 billion Gateway WA project. Can the minister explain
to the house how this unprecedented investment in infrastructure will address
future transport needs in this state, in particular in the very important
suburbs of Forrestfield and Kewdale?
— PERTH AIRPORT AND FREIGHT ROAD NETWORK PROJECT
246. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for Transport:
I note that on Sunday the minister revealed the first vision
of the flyover for the $1 billion Gateway WA project. Can the minister explain
to the house how this unprecedented investment in infrastructure will address
future transport needs in this state, in particular in the very important
suburbs of Forrestfield and Kewdale?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills. It is good to see he
shares the transport concerns of people who may not be his constituents—he
probably provides a better service to a lot of them than the existing member.
I am very pleased to provide additional details of the
Gateway project, which we made available to the public on Sunday. On Sunday we
basically announced some time frames, following the shortlisting of the alliance
contract partners bidding for the alliance contract, and we released some
footage of what this transformational road investment program will deliver to
the people of Perth. At $1 billion, to my recollection, it is the largest
single metropolitan road infrastructure package ever entered into in the
history of this state. I should acknowledge—as I did on Sunday and as I
always do—that 68 per cent, give or take, of that funding is being
provided by the commonwealth, and 32 per cent is being provided by the state
government.
Why is it important? That area of Perth is experiencing
incredible population growth, especially in that south eastern corridor out
around the Perth hills and the foothills and further to the south east; it is
the epicentre of the freight effort that is currently servicing the mineral and
resources boom in Western Australia. Perth Airport, which sits right at the end
of Leach Highway, has experienced a 10 per cent growth in passenger numbers in
recent years, which is putting a lot of stress on the roads. What happens out
there on any morning, where there are three or four of the worst intersections
in Perth, is that local residents get stuck in traffic, heavy vehicle drivers
find it incredibly difficult to get around the suburbs, and visitors to Perth—in
particular through the international airport—probably spend the first
30 to 45 minutes of their time in Western Australia stuck in traffic at the
bottom end of Horrie Miller Drive. This project will be delivered in two
packages. To help the member for Forrestfield understand which roads we are
talking about, I have brought in a big map, which I am happy to table later. It
is important for members to understand the extent and complexity of the
project. There are effectively two packages of work. Package 1 will start early
next year and be completed in early 2015. It will fix up three of the worst
intersections in Perth. Tonkin Highway and Leach Highway will become the
biggest road interchange in Western Australia. Tonkin Highway and Horrie Miller
Drive, which is over here —
Mr A.P. O'Gorman :
You don't know!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
most certainly know where it is, member for Joondalup.
The other intersection is Leach Highway and Abernethy Road.
Effectively, three of the worst intersections in Perth are being fixed up from
the start of next year through until 2015. One important outcome is that the
entrance to Perth Airport will move from Brearley Avenue across to Leach
Highway. Commuters will travel down Leach Highway, across Tonkin Highway and
into the airport, moving off to the left to the Qantas terminals and off to the
right to other terminals. The timing fits in nicely with Westralia Airports
Corporation's expansion plans. It was a very difficult piece of
engineering around that intersection because Leach–Tonkin Highways
intersect right at the end of the runway. A lot of money, time and effort have
gone into working out how we can lower the intersection into the road so that
the odd errant jet does not attempt to line up on Leach Highway!
The second package will involve upgrades to Tonkin and Roe
Highways. It will also see Tonkin Highway expand to six lanes effectively from
Great Eastern Highway right through to Roe Highway. It will be delivered by an
alliance contract. There is a short list of three. We expect to announce the
successful alliance partners before the end of this year.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Do
you still have a business interest at Perth Airport or did you sell it?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
have never had a business interest at Perth Airport. I have never had a
business interest in Thailand. The only business interest I have had at Perth
Airport is when I put money in the registers to pay for my parking, member for
Perth. What is the member for Perth insinuating? What is the member for Perth's
allegation?
Mr J.N. Hyde : No
allegation; it is your declaration of financial interests.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
do not have a friend with a business interest in Lacey's brothel,
member for Perth, who I helped take care of when I was on the City of Perth. I
do not have any of those interests, member for Perth.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members, I will put a full stop there. Minister for Transport,
there is a document you wish to table. If you have part two of an answer to the
member for Swan Hills' question, I will enable you to do that. That is
all I want to hear at this stage.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker—I will.
The second part of the answer,
member for Swan Hills—I thank him again for his interest in this area
of Perth—is that when we take this project of $1 billion, add it to the
$112 million to be spent separating Roe and Great Eastern Highways, and add to
that the $325 million that will be spent upgrading the Great Eastern Highway
through the member for Belmont's electorate, in that eastern and south
eastern corridor, it will be the most significant investment in road
infrastructure that has ever happened. It is being delivered, in partnership
with the commonwealth, by this Liberal–National government.
[See paper 4838.]
shares the transport concerns of people who may not be his constituents—he
probably provides a better service to a lot of them than the existing member.
I am very pleased to provide additional details of the
Gateway project, which we made available to the public on Sunday. On Sunday we
basically announced some time frames, following the shortlisting of the alliance
contract partners bidding for the alliance contract, and we released some
footage of what this transformational road investment program will deliver to
the people of Perth. At $1 billion, to my recollection, it is the largest
single metropolitan road infrastructure package ever entered into in the
history of this state. I should acknowledge—as I did on Sunday and as I
always do—that 68 per cent, give or take, of that funding is being
provided by the commonwealth, and 32 per cent is being provided by the state
government.
Why is it important? That area of Perth is experiencing
incredible population growth, especially in that south eastern corridor out
around the Perth hills and the foothills and further to the south east; it is
the epicentre of the freight effort that is currently servicing the mineral and
resources boom in Western Australia. Perth Airport, which sits right at the end
of Leach Highway, has experienced a 10 per cent growth in passenger numbers in
recent years, which is putting a lot of stress on the roads. What happens out
there on any morning, where there are three or four of the worst intersections
in Perth, is that local residents get stuck in traffic, heavy vehicle drivers
find it incredibly difficult to get around the suburbs, and visitors to Perth—in
particular through the international airport—probably spend the first
30 to 45 minutes of their time in Western Australia stuck in traffic at the
bottom end of Horrie Miller Drive. This project will be delivered in two
packages. To help the member for Forrestfield understand which roads we are
talking about, I have brought in a big map, which I am happy to table later. It
is important for members to understand the extent and complexity of the
project. There are effectively two packages of work. Package 1 will start early
next year and be completed in early 2015. It will fix up three of the worst
intersections in Perth. Tonkin Highway and Leach Highway will become the
biggest road interchange in Western Australia. Tonkin Highway and Horrie Miller
Drive, which is over here —
Mr A.P. O'Gorman :
You don't know!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
most certainly know where it is, member for Joondalup.
The other intersection is Leach Highway and Abernethy Road.
Effectively, three of the worst intersections in Perth are being fixed up from
the start of next year through until 2015. One important outcome is that the
entrance to Perth Airport will move from Brearley Avenue across to Leach
Highway. Commuters will travel down Leach Highway, across Tonkin Highway and
into the airport, moving off to the left to the Qantas terminals and off to the
right to other terminals. The timing fits in nicely with Westralia Airports
Corporation's expansion plans. It was a very difficult piece of
engineering around that intersection because Leach–Tonkin Highways
intersect right at the end of the runway. A lot of money, time and effort have
gone into working out how we can lower the intersection into the road so that
the odd errant jet does not attempt to line up on Leach Highway!
The second package will involve upgrades to Tonkin and Roe
Highways. It will also see Tonkin Highway expand to six lanes effectively from
Great Eastern Highway right through to Roe Highway. It will be delivered by an
alliance contract. There is a short list of three. We expect to announce the
successful alliance partners before the end of this year.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Do
you still have a business interest at Perth Airport or did you sell it?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
have never had a business interest at Perth Airport. I have never had a
business interest in Thailand. The only business interest I have had at Perth
Airport is when I put money in the registers to pay for my parking, member for
Perth. What is the member for Perth insinuating? What is the member for Perth's
allegation?
Mr J.N. Hyde : No
allegation; it is your declaration of financial interests.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
do not have a friend with a business interest in Lacey's brothel,
member for Perth, who I helped take care of when I was on the City of Perth. I
do not have any of those interests, member for Perth.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members, I will put a full stop there. Minister for Transport,
there is a document you wish to table. If you have part two of an answer to the
member for Swan Hills' question, I will enable you to do that. That is
all I want to hear at this stage.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker—I will.
The second part of the answer,
member for Swan Hills—I thank him again for his interest in this area
of Perth—is that when we take this project of $1 billion, add it to the
$112 million to be spent separating Roe and Great Eastern Highways, and add to
that the $325 million that will be spent upgrading the Great Eastern Highway
through the member for Belmont's electorate, in that eastern and south
eastern corridor, it will be the most significant investment in road
infrastructure that has ever happened. It is being delivered, in partnership
with the commonwealth, by this Liberal–National government.
[See paper 4838.]
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