❓ Dr. Stratton questions the Minister for Transport on the expansion of the CAT bus network and the trial of cleaner technology. The Minister responds positively, outlining expansions, trials of electric CAT buses, and the introduction of the purple CAT.
AnsweredQoN 128Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CAT BUSES
128. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented investment in public transport services
across Western Australia, including the transformation of the CAT bus network.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
McGowan Labor government is delivering on its commitment to expand the
CAT network, responding to the needs of the community and providing new
connections to key tourism, education, health and business hubs?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on the government's trial of new, cleaner
technology to power our CAT buses?
128. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented investment in public transport services
across Western Australia, including the transformation of the CAT bus network.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
McGowan Labor government is delivering on its commitment to expand the
CAT network, responding to the needs of the community and providing new
connections to key tourism, education, health and business hubs?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on the government's trial of new, cleaner
technology to power our CAT buses?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Nedlands for
that question. I am so proud to be part of a Labor government delivering so
much for Nedlands, member!
(1)–(2) We are doing a lot in the CAT network. First, in December,
we expanded the red and blue CAT, with over 20 new bus stops installed,
which includes the red CAT now going to the locally built Matagarup Bridge, and
operating later into the night with expanded hours to midnight on Friday and
Saturday and 9.00 pm through the week. Of course, the member for Perth, who I think
is in this place or maybe not—he walked out!—is very excited
about the CAT. There he is! He undertook a review of the CAT system last year,
and much of what we are doing is in response to that review, member for Perth.
We also expanded the blue CAT to include Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park and new
destinations in Northbridge.
We are also trialling the electric
CATs through Joondalup. We have two new electric CATs working the streets of
Joondalup. The member for Joondalup is very proud of those electric CATs! We
have installed solar panels. We have lithium
batteries. We are basically making sure that they are cleaner, and we are also testing their reliability and, in
particular, their range. With air-conditioning and other issues, we are making sure that we have got them absolutely right before we roll them out to the rest
of the network. Of course, we want to make them here, members, as part of our
local manufacturing of not only trains, but also buses and the new electric CATs.
We have, of course, introduced the
very, very successful purple CAT, member for Nedlands. It is just a coincidence
that purple is the colour of the Fremantle Dockers! This new, free service
links the CBD to Perth Children's
Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the University of Western Australia,
Elizabeth Quay bus station, Kings
Park Road and Thomas Street. The member would be happy to know that since its
launch three weeks ago, there have been over 20 000 boardings already.
It is one of the most popular CATs across
WA. Who does this benefit? Who does this service? This services many people,
such as the residents of Nedlands, teenagers, students and the workforce
at the university. Of course, Minister for Health, it services the hospital, and that means that the workforce and those
visiting people in hospital now have a very cheap—free!—and
efficient way of travelling throughout the area. The purple CAT is delivering a
lot of benefits to everyone. Because it links Perth to the western suburbs, it
also benefits the Nationals WA members, so that is a very positive thing! That
is another part of the constituency that is benefiting from our rollout of
public transport across WA—the purple CAT, the extensions to the red
and blue CATs and the new electric CATs.
that question. I am so proud to be part of a Labor government delivering so
much for Nedlands, member!
(1)–(2) We are doing a lot in the CAT network. First, in December,
we expanded the red and blue CAT, with over 20 new bus stops installed,
which includes the red CAT now going to the locally built Matagarup Bridge, and
operating later into the night with expanded hours to midnight on Friday and
Saturday and 9.00 pm through the week. Of course, the member for Perth, who I think
is in this place or maybe not—he walked out!—is very excited
about the CAT. There he is! He undertook a review of the CAT system last year,
and much of what we are doing is in response to that review, member for Perth.
We also expanded the blue CAT to include Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park and new
destinations in Northbridge.
We are also trialling the electric
CATs through Joondalup. We have two new electric CATs working the streets of
Joondalup. The member for Joondalup is very proud of those electric CATs! We
have installed solar panels. We have lithium
batteries. We are basically making sure that they are cleaner, and we are also testing their reliability and, in
particular, their range. With air-conditioning and other issues, we are making sure that we have got them absolutely right before we roll them out to the rest
of the network. Of course, we want to make them here, members, as part of our
local manufacturing of not only trains, but also buses and the new electric CATs.
We have, of course, introduced the
very, very successful purple CAT, member for Nedlands. It is just a coincidence
that purple is the colour of the Fremantle Dockers! This new, free service
links the CBD to Perth Children's
Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the University of Western Australia,
Elizabeth Quay bus station, Kings
Park Road and Thomas Street. The member would be happy to know that since its
launch three weeks ago, there have been over 20 000 boardings already.
It is one of the most popular CATs across
WA. Who does this benefit? Who does this service? This services many people,
such as the residents of Nedlands, teenagers, students and the workforce
at the university. Of course, Minister for Health, it services the hospital, and that means that the workforce and those
visiting people in hospital now have a very cheap—free!—and
efficient way of travelling throughout the area. The purple CAT is delivering a
lot of benefits to everyone. Because it links Perth to the western suburbs, it
also benefits the Nationals WA members, so that is a very positive thing! That
is another part of the constituency that is benefiting from our rollout of
public transport across WA—the purple CAT, the extensions to the red
and blue CATs and the new electric CATs.
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