❓ Mr. Ripper questions the Premier about traffic management plans and funding related to the Perth Waterfront Project, particularly concerning the diversion of traffic and potential removal of emergency lanes on the Graham Farmer Freeway. The Premier responds by outlining project progress, budget allocation, and traffic management strategies.
AnsweredQoN 15Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH WATERFRONT PROJECT — TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS
15. Mr E.S. RIPPER to the Premier: Mr Speaker, I do have a question, but the Premier is not here. Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT
15. Mr E.S. RIPPER to the Premier: Mr Speaker, I do have a question, but the Premier is not here. Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr Speaker, I do have a question, but the Premier is not here. Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr Speaker, I do have a question, but the Premier is not here. Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr R.F. Johnson : He is here. You can ask the question. Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr M. McGowan : Come on; hurry up. Punctuality and courtesy: they are important things. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition—deja vu. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the government’s Perth foreshore development and to the plan to permanently divert 30 000 vehicles a day that currently use Riverside Drive into the central business district and along the Graham Farmer Freeway. (1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(1) What plan does the Premier have right now to ensure that these already heavily congested routes to and from the eastern suburbs can cope with this dramatic increase in traffic? (2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(2) What funding will the Premier include in the forthcoming budget to improve these traffic routes so they can cope? (3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(3) Will the Premier today specifically undertake to not recklessly and stupidly expand the Graham Farmer Freeway and the tunnel by removing the emergency lanes? (4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(4) If the Premier is planning to remove these emergency lanes, what consultation has he undertaken with the police, ambulance and fire departments about this contemplated course of action? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
(1)–(4) At least now the opposition is conceding that the waterfront project is going ahead. It has finally conceded it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Not yet, though; not yet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I hope the Leader of the Opposition will join me when we dig out the first bit of dirt for that project towards the end of this year to mark the start of construction. And the budget will have $270 million in it to fund the construction over a 30 — Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And the local member? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I will invite the local member too. And it will be a 30-month construction period. Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
Obviously, one of the major decisions in constructing an inlet into the base of the buildings of the city skyline is the issue of the roads. In the early stages, various options were looked at—tunnels, bridges and the like. The construction will interfere with the current seamless flow along Riverside Drive. However, work has been done on different transport alternatives. The Riverside Drive traffic will come in around the back of the inlet. Those roads will be designed so that the traffic continues to flow smoothly. Riverside Drive as it is will remain in place and in use until 2013. It will be one of the last pieces of land to be excavated, so that will continue to operate for some time. In the meantime, the government will have time to look at any re-routing and changing of roads in the central city area with the City of Perth. There is no intention to expand the tunnel, but as people drive through the tunnel, they will see that there is scope for three lanes, and that is one of the options that will most likely be put in place. There are some issues in doing that, and, apart from simply remarking the lanes, there will be some work at either end of the tunnel. However, that work is some time off and will happen in conjunction with the actual changes to Riverside Drive. The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
The project is happening. I know the opposition hates that. I love it, and it is going to happen. There are issues, but those issues have been looked at. We did not come out with the Disneyland model that the former government had. We took our time. We put money into last year’s budget for the Minister for Planning to oversee the project. All those issues have been looked at carefully and properly. We are satisfied as a government; that is why we took the decision to proceed with the project and to allocate the $270 million net cost to the project. As members will see, immediately after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the area will be fenced and preliminary site works will get underway—the preparatory works. Then the major construction and excavation work will start early in 2012.
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