Consortium named preferred proponent for the Morley-Ellenbrook line

The MELConnx Consortium has been named the preferred proponent to design and construct the Morley Ellenbrook rail line, which has been allocated $500 million from the Federal Government.

Comprising of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction the MELConnx Consortium will deliver the largest of four works packages on the project.

This will involve the construction of the rail line as well as building five new stations at Morley, Noranda, Malaga, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook.

The line will spurr off the Midland Line at Bayswater Station and run up the middle of the Tonkin Highway finishing at Ellenbrook town centre.

The other three work packages are the New Bayswater Station Project, with early works underway, Tonkin Gap Project’s associated works, with design and planning underway and forward works contracts.

Premier Mark McGowan said the project was one of his government’s key election commitments, which the Ellenbrook community had fought long and hard for and he was pleased it was closer to being delivered as the final construction contract was only weeks away.

“This has been talked about for decades and is a big step forward for this project, which will transform Perth’s growing north-eastern suburbs and benefit the local and surrounding communities,” he said.

“Now more than ever, big infrastructure projects like METRONET’s Morley-Ellenbrook Line are imperative to WA’s COVID-19 economic recovery as it creates a pipeline of work and supports thousands of jobs.”

Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said Perth’s north eastern suburbs have boomed recently and the population is predicted to increase dramatically over the next decade.

“We need to ensure our infrastructure keeps up with this growth – not only are we delivering on the much anticipated METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook line, we have also delivered key road upgrades including Northlink, the duplication of Reid Highway and the upgrade of Drumpellier Drive,” she said.

“The final construction contract is only weeks away – and with early works already underway at Bayswater Station and the Tonkin Gap project, getting works started on this project will bring our major infrastructure transformation in this area to life.”

The Federal Government allocated $500 million to the project in its 2018 budget. Final negotiations will now take place with the contract expected to be awarded in coming weeks.

Local businesses looking to be involved in the project are encouraged to complete METRONET’s Construction Business Register for details to be passed onto the Alliance which will advertise jobs on the projects.

The METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook line is jointly funded by the Federal and Western Australian Governments.

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