❓ A parliamentary question regarding delays and cost overruns of the Perth-Mandurah railway project. The Minister's response deflects blame to the contractor and provides an updated, though uncertain, timeline.
AnsweredQoN 308Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTHERN SUBURBS RAILWAY - FIRST PAYING CUSTOMERS AND OVERALL COST
I refer to the minister’s refusal last Tuesday to reveal the final completion date for the Perth-Mandurah railway, which is already hundreds of millions of dollars over budget. (1) When will paying customers be able to travel on the first trains between Perth and Mandurah; and, if not 29 July, what date will it be, and what is the reason for the latest delay? (2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
I refer to the minister’s refusal last Tuesday to reveal the final completion date for the Perth-Mandurah railway, which is already hundreds of millions of dollars over budget. (1) When will paying customers be able to travel on the first trains between Perth and Mandurah; and, if not 29 July, what date will it be, and what is the reason for the latest delay? (2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(1) When will paying customers be able to travel on the first trains between Perth and Mandurah; and, if not 29 July, what date will it be, and what is the reason for the latest delay? (2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(1) When will paying customers be able to travel on the first trains between Perth and Mandurah; and, if not 29 July, what date will it be, and what is the reason for the latest delay? (2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(2) What it the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the entire New MetroRail project? (3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(3) Given that the minister previously suggested that people take a holiday during the planned shutdown of the Joondalup and Fremantle lines to connect the southern suburbs railway, which had first been earmarked for the July school holidays and then the September-October school holidays, how can rail commuters plan ahead when a date for the work is unclear, and should they be planning to go on vacation at Christmas? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
(1)-(3) Obviously, until such time as the contractor provides a realistic timetable, we are unable to give a firm start date. I have already made it very public that we will not be able to commence the rail operations in July this year, quite simply because the contractor has not finished the work. We now learn that the contractor is saying that the work will be finished some time in October. Unfortunately, the government does not necessarily have confidence at this point that the contractor will be able to meet that timetable. We expect that a more realistic date is some time in November. The government is at the mercy of the contractor, which had obligations to finish the rail project but has been unable to do so. However, the contractor is now expressing the view to its favoured journalist, Mark Drummond of The West Australian , that it believes the work will be finished some time in October. We take some heart from the fact that the contractor is now publicly making that statement. We have yet to see convincing evidence that the contractor will be able to do that, but we will continue to work with the contractor. The government’s expectation for completion of the railway is that it will more likely be some time in November. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the members for Capel, Roe and Murdoch.
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