Media Statement - 16th November 2007
Federal Labor today announced four infrastructure projects in a major boost to support jobs and economic activity in Western Australia.
This is about using AusLink to gain the best economic advantage for the nation and Western Australia’s business, easing infrastructure bottlenecks and boosting exports.
Investing in Transport and Freight corridors – for business
Federal Labor today announced a further $350 million for the Perth Urban Transport and Freight Corridor to improve supply chains and connections to the Fremantle Port.
Fremantle Ports handle 90 per cent of Western Australia’s seaborne imports and 27 per cent of exports by value. Nearly half a million containers and 19 million tonnes of bulk cargo go through the port each year.
Within the next decade, Fremantle Inner Harbour will be bursting at the seams and the Outer Harbour will need expansion to cope with growth – but for 11 years, the Howard Government has neglected this.
Federal Labor’s $350 million from AusLink II is a down payment to get moving now on this billion dollar corridor – which is an important link in the Western Australia economy. It will be delivered between 2009 and 2014.
The investment will cover:
- Dual carriageway the Leach Highway from Carrington Street to the Stirling Highway;
- A state-of-the-art, job-generating Kewdale industrial area and intermodal terminal network;
- Tonkin Highway, Roe Highway and Kwinana Freeway upgrades to streamline the connection between Midland, Kewdale and the ports; and
- Fremantle Outer Harbour expansion, including road and rail connections.
Road maintenance – practical measure
In addition in a major practical measure, Federal Labor will provide $280 million for road maintenance crews. They will fix pot holes, keep the road safe, maintain bridges and culverts and improve guardrails and line marking.
A Rudd Labor Government will work with the Western Australian government to improve vital road and rail infrastructure to help prepare for the State’s future economic development.
This is about keeping Western Australia moving and is part of a more than $1.5 billion investment in Western Australian roads, rail and ports. The Howard Government has neglected Western Australian infrastructure for 11 long years. Federal Labor has a vision for Perth’s transport future.
A Rudd Labor government will work with the Western Australian government to separate freight from vehicle movements and will build a modern, seamless intermodal freight system, linking roads, rail, inland freight hubs and the ports.
This is a comprehensive transport network strategy developed by the Western Australian government, and Federal Labor will work shoulder to shoulder with the State and the private sector to deliver it.
These projects will get trucks off local streets and unchoke Perth’s roads. This is about making a more efficient transport system, reducing costs for business, boosting our exports and creating jobs for Western Australia into the future.
This funding for Western Australia is part of Federal Labor’s commitment to focus its transport policy on Australia’s national economic priorities – productivity gains in export supply chains and the general freight task, integrating land transport with ports, and easing urban congestion.
Today’s announcement builds on Federal Labor’s previous $248 million Perth roads commitments:
- $180 million to six-lane the Great Eastern Highway from the Tonkin Highway in to Kooyong Road;
- $48 million to grade separate the intersection of the Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway;
- $10 million to grade separate the intersection of the Reid Highway and Alexander Avenue; and
- $10 million to upgrade Hepburn Avenue in the Cities of Swan and Wanneroo.
They will also build on Federal Labor’s $664 million commitment to other major Western Australian ports and their linkages:
- $361 million for Perth-Mandurah-Bunbury roads including the New Perth Bunbury Highway, the Mandurah Entrance Road and the Bunbury Port Access Road / Outer Ring Road
- $60 million to improve access to Esperance Port for grain and mineral exporters
- $80 million for the Dampier Highway linking the town of Karratha with the rapidly growing industrial and port areas of Dampier and the Burrup Peninsula
- $160 million to improve the efficiency of Port Hedland as well as access and road safety between South Hedland and Port Hedland communities
- $3 million to find a solution to get the branch lines back on track in the wheat belt