Perth City Rail Advisory Committee to be reformed.

24/4/02
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today announced the re-establishment of the Perth City Rail Advisory Committee.
Ms MacTiernan said the committee would oversee a workshop where technical experts, professional bodies, retail interests and the Perth City Council would consider the outstanding issues relating to the route of the south-west metro rail through the city.
The committee was originally convened to evaluate options for bringing Perth's new railway from the Narrows Bridge to the city centre.
Ms MacTiernan said the committee's report to Government had put forward three recommended options: eastern, central and western. However, a more detailed analysis of the two options the Government was prepared to consider - the western and central options - would now be undertaken by the committee before a final decision was made.
"The reconvened committee will examine the detailed work on both options that has taken place in response to their last report," she said.
"They will also consider community and stakeholder views and provide an objective recommendation on which is the best long term option for Perth by mid-May."
Ms MacTiernan said that the Perth City Rail Advisory Committee had not only earned community support for its work, but also the respect of all stakeholders as an independent expert panel.
Previous Perth City Rail Advisory Committee chair Stuart Hicks, who oversaw electrification of Perth's passenger rail system and construction of the Northern Suburbs Railway, would chair the reconvened committee.
Ms MacTiernan said the committee would present its recommendations by mid-May. She said the Government was expected to announce its decision on the preferred route by the end of May.
"The rail alignment into the city has caused much interest and debate among the community and industry stakeholders," she said.
"We have received over 3,000 submissions from members of the public who have taken the opportunity to have their voice heard on which route they believe is best.
"The workshop will aim at identifying what is necessary to make each option workable and financially possible.
"It is absolutely critical that when the Government makes its final decision on the route into the city it does so based on the best transport and urban planning principles."
Ms MacTiernan said the other members on the committee included:

• Frank Bryant, Consulting Engineer, Chairman, BSD Consultants;
• Carey Curtis, Planning Lecturer, Curtin University;
• John Hoare, Railway Engineer;
• Sharni Howe, Architect and Urban Designer;
• Tony Packer, President, Property Council of WA;
• Richard Day, General Manager Rail Development, NSW State Rail Authority; and
• Lisa Scaffidi, Perth City Councillor.