- McGowan Government allocates $1.34 billion in 2017-18 Budget for METRONET
- METRONET election commitments being delivered, creating thousands of jobs
- The plan will ease traffic congestion and deliver world-class public transport
- Majority of funding allocated from the cancelled Perth Freight Link budget
The McGowan Labor Government is getting straight to work and building METRONET.
As part of the 2017-18 State Budget, $1.34 billion has been allocated over the next four years to start work on stage one METRONET priority projects.
The long-term plan will connect suburbs with world-class public transport and deliver well planned liveable communities across Perth.
A key component of the McGowan Government's Plan for Jobs, METRONET will create thousands of jobs over the life of each project, including in the manufacturing industry as part of the $508.2 million commitment to develop Western Australia's own rail car manufacturing capability.
The State Budget also includes the following METRONET projects:
- The Forrestfield-Airport Link, as the first METRONET project, is estimated to have $406.5 million expended in 2017-18, with completion expected in late 2020;
- The $535.8 million Thornlie-Cockburn Link (with $423 million over four years);
- The $520.2 million Yanchep Rail Extension (with $440.8 million over four years);
- $22.1 million allocated for detailed planning and design work of the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and Byford Rail Extension;
- $70 million to remove the Denny Avenue level crossing and begin planning for the future removal of level crossings at Caledonian Avenue, Oats Street and Wharf Street;
- $28.2 million towards the Midland Station Project, involving the relocation of the existing Midland Station to Cale Street and an extension of the line to Bellevue;
- Planning for the new Karnup Station on the Mandurah Line, as part of $101.3 million committed towards new stations and existing station upgrades; and
- A new multi-storey car park at Mandurah Station, with $16.1 million allocated, subject to a matching funding contribution from the Federal Government.
In order to allow increased service frequencies on the future METRONET network, $7.4 million has been allocated to undertake planning for an automatic train control system. This would replace the existing signalling system and allow trains to run more often.
For more 2017-18 State Budget information, visit http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"We're building METRONET and in the process delivering our election commitments.
"METRONET will be built by Western Australians, for Western Australians.
"It will create thousands of jobs and will deliver world-class public transport across Perth."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"METRONET is our long-term plan to not just reduce traffic congestion, but to connect our suburbs and drive sustainable new developments.
"Work is underway on the Yanchep Rail Extension and the Thornlie-Cockburn Link projects, with business cases already submitted to Infrastructure Australia.
"Construction has started on the Forrestfield-Airport Link and is expected to be completed by late 2020 and detailed planning work will now be completed for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and the Byford Rail Extension.
"As further planning work is completed on a number of METRONET projects, additional funding will be announced as part of subsequent budgets."
Comments attributed to Treasurer Ben Wyatt:
"The 2017-18 Budget has a significant amount of funding allocated towards the priority projects of METRONET to allow for the State Government to deliver on its commitments.
"In this Budget, METRONET is funded predominantly from the reallocation of State and Federal Government funding from the now cancelled Perth Freight Link project.
"As promised, additional land sales and a new value-capture method will be used to offset the cost of METRONET, with $104.8 million of revenue expected over the forward estimates."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500
Treasurer's office - 6552 5900
