WA’s $1.3B pipeline of infrastructure projects

Western Australia will be funded a record amount of $1.3 billion for major infrastructure projects with more to be announced in next week’s Federal Budget.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said investments into infrastructure projects like these would make WA roads safer, improve public transport and reduce travel times while creating thousands of local jobs.

Key funded projects include:

$347.5 million for METRONET: Hamilton Street-Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations, including Queens Park Station and Cannington Station and an enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension project, with new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale;
$200 million for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades – Coates Gully, Walgoolan to Southern Cross and Ghooli to Benari;
$160 million for the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements – Package 1
$112.5 million for the Reid Highway – Altone Road and Daviot Road-Drumpellier Drive – Grade-separated intersections;
$85 million for the Perth Airport Precinct – Northern Access;
$64 million for the Toodyay Road Upgrade – Dryandra to Toodyay;
$55 million for the Mandurah Estuary Bridge Duplication, and
$31.5 million towards the METRONET High Capacity Signalling project.

“Our record funding commitment is boosting businesses and communities as part of the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan,” said Morrison.

According to Morrison, upgrades on the Great Eastern Highway and creation of the METRONET will support grain growers and farmers in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt through improvements to rail and road lines.

“These projects will support more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs across WA,” said Morrison.

Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said that substantial funding delivered through this year’s budget is crucial in helping Australia recover post-COVID.

“In this budget, the federal government will continue our strong record of infrastructure delivery as we lay the economic foundations for recovery from the pandemic,” said McCormack.

Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts said that significant funding for digital technology investments is also included in the budget, in line with the Morrison Governments investment for Intelligent Transport Systems across Perth.

The federal government previously funded $556 million towards the northern and central sections of NorthLink WA in April 2020, with a further $276 million further invested by the federal government towards the Great Northern Highway upgrade between Muchea and Wubin.

Mark McGowan, Western Australian Premier said that an additional $1.26 billion would ensure a pipeline of infrastructure projects, giving a needed economic boost.

“This program has something for the city and regions, targeting major congestion pinch points in the eastern, northern and southern suburbs which are currently experiencing major population growth,” said McGowan.

With nine METRONET projects and 50 major road projects underway, McGowan said that these works will create infrastructure for tomorrow and local jobs for today.