❓ The Minister for Transport provides an update on the progress of key Metronet projects, including the Morley-Ellenbrook and Armadale lines, highlighting milestones and contrasting the current government's investment with the previous Liberal Party and Nationals WA's records.
AnsweredQoN 6Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
PROJECTS
6. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's record investment in transport infrastructure across Western
Australia, which is creating thousands of local jobs.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the progress
of key Metronet projects, including the Morley–Ellenbrook line and
the Armadale line transformation?
(2) Can the
minister outline how this compares with the records of the Liberal Party and
the Nationals WA?
PROJECTS
6. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's record investment in transport infrastructure across Western
Australia, which is creating thousands of local jobs.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the progress
of key Metronet projects, including the Morley–Ellenbrook line and
the Armadale line transformation?
(2) Can the
minister outline how this compares with the records of the Liberal Party and
the Nationals WA?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Swan Hills for that question. It has been a big summer
period for Metronet and public transport. We have just emerged from the summer
of free public transport, and we have also seen a number of milestones met
along the way. I was with the member for Butler just before Christmas when we
went on the first test train on the Yanchep railway line. The member for Butler
would agree that rapid progress is being made on the Yanchep rail line and we
are seeing some incredible stations at Alkimos, Yanchep and Eglinton. Progress
is being made and it is very much nearly completed.
With the Armadale rail line transformation,
we saw how quickly the existing stations were demolished. The existing railway
lines were ripped up and the new viaduct is being built. All those who can see
the work know that a big thanks is owed to all those workers who have been out
there in the heat over the past month in particular delivering this transformational
project. There are sections of elevated railway there and a lot of work has
been done in Byford through to Armadale, Cannington and Victoria Park.
The Ellenbrook railway line is
nearing completion and again progress has been made on the stations, the rail
track is being laid and the overhead pantograph is being set up. We had an
exciting announcement on the weekend. As part of the Ellenbrook railway line,
we will create an improved visitor experience at Whiteman Park. One of the
things about Whiteman Park is that it is very big, and we want to make sure
that visitors and Western Australians alike can experience the many, many
different beautiful museums and experiences in Whiteman Park. As well as the
incredible Whiteman Park station, we are connecting Whiteman Park into Whiteman Park proper. We asked all the companies we
are working with to contribute to the project, including ACCIONA
Construction, Alstom, Arc Infrastructure, BMD Constructions, Georgiou Group and
Laing O'Rourke. We are working with North Metropolitan TAFE, Minister
for Training and Workforce Development. Those who have been training in Midland
will come out and help weld the track. Again, it is a great experience for
those undertaking rail courses at North Metro TAFE. We will see a great
connection.
One of the best aspects of this
project is the heritage tram connection, as I said, whereby we are combining
the old and the new—the brand new Whiteman Park station with the old
tram. It is the tram that ran on the Inglewood line. Tram number 66 will be the
first tram that runs on the line. We are combining the old and the new. Unlike
the Liberal Party, which just discards older assets, we combine the old and the
new. We are very proud of that combination.
This is the biggest transformation
of the public transport system in the state's history. The opposition
believed that we should not have an Ellenbrook rail line until 2050 and we
should not build the Yanchep extension until 2031. Although it committed to the
Ellenbrook rail line and Metro Area Express light rail, it completely abandoned
its commitments. Over the Christmas period and during the ''Summer of
Free Public Transport'', people were
very willing to use our public transport as a cost-of-living measure, not just on the free Sundays but also because of the
two-zone fare cap. This is making sure that Western Australians have an affordable way to travel around our
community. The progress is there to see. This is a very exciting year
for Metronet, everybody.
thank the member for Swan Hills for that question. It has been a big summer
period for Metronet and public transport. We have just emerged from the summer
of free public transport, and we have also seen a number of milestones met
along the way. I was with the member for Butler just before Christmas when we
went on the first test train on the Yanchep railway line. The member for Butler
would agree that rapid progress is being made on the Yanchep rail line and we
are seeing some incredible stations at Alkimos, Yanchep and Eglinton. Progress
is being made and it is very much nearly completed.
With the Armadale rail line transformation,
we saw how quickly the existing stations were demolished. The existing railway
lines were ripped up and the new viaduct is being built. All those who can see
the work know that a big thanks is owed to all those workers who have been out
there in the heat over the past month in particular delivering this transformational
project. There are sections of elevated railway there and a lot of work has
been done in Byford through to Armadale, Cannington and Victoria Park.
The Ellenbrook railway line is
nearing completion and again progress has been made on the stations, the rail
track is being laid and the overhead pantograph is being set up. We had an
exciting announcement on the weekend. As part of the Ellenbrook railway line,
we will create an improved visitor experience at Whiteman Park. One of the
things about Whiteman Park is that it is very big, and we want to make sure
that visitors and Western Australians alike can experience the many, many
different beautiful museums and experiences in Whiteman Park. As well as the
incredible Whiteman Park station, we are connecting Whiteman Park into Whiteman Park proper. We asked all the companies we
are working with to contribute to the project, including ACCIONA
Construction, Alstom, Arc Infrastructure, BMD Constructions, Georgiou Group and
Laing O'Rourke. We are working with North Metropolitan TAFE, Minister
for Training and Workforce Development. Those who have been training in Midland
will come out and help weld the track. Again, it is a great experience for
those undertaking rail courses at North Metro TAFE. We will see a great
connection.
One of the best aspects of this
project is the heritage tram connection, as I said, whereby we are combining
the old and the new—the brand new Whiteman Park station with the old
tram. It is the tram that ran on the Inglewood line. Tram number 66 will be the
first tram that runs on the line. We are combining the old and the new. Unlike
the Liberal Party, which just discards older assets, we combine the old and the
new. We are very proud of that combination.
This is the biggest transformation
of the public transport system in the state's history. The opposition
believed that we should not have an Ellenbrook rail line until 2050 and we
should not build the Yanchep extension until 2031. Although it committed to the
Ellenbrook rail line and Metro Area Express light rail, it completely abandoned
its commitments. Over the Christmas period and during the ''Summer of
Free Public Transport'', people were
very willing to use our public transport as a cost-of-living measure, not just on the free Sundays but also because of the
two-zone fare cap. This is making sure that Western Australians have an affordable way to travel around our
community. The progress is there to see. This is a very exciting year
for Metronet, everybody.
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