The construction of a train station in the Mandurah suburb of Lakelands is one step closer, with Canning MP Andrew Hastie announcing $10 million worth of funding on Friday morning for stage 1 of the project.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in Western Australia for a three-day blitz and this morning will announce $96 million worth of infrastructure funding for projects across the wider Perth region.
With Lakelands and other surrounding suburbs growing, and a 23km gap in the train line between Warnbro and Mandurah, there has been a growing call from the community for additional transport options.
Mr Hastie said he has championed the construction of a train station in Lakelands since the promise of one was first brought to his attention by residents in 2016.
“Lakelands residents first raised the prospect of building a train station with me in 2016," he said.
"They explained that the promise of a train station had been included in the suburb’s development proposal. Many bought their first home or chose to retire in Lakelands because of that promise, some as long ago as 2006.
“A train station in Lakelands means that residents from the north of Mandurah won’t have to travel south by car before catching a train north to the city. That will mean fewer cars clogging up our roads and less pressure on the Mandurah train station car park.
“It will also mean easier access to more jobs and services for the people of Lakelands.
“We are committing $10 million today because this project needs leadership. WA Labor have ignored the people of Lakelands and refused to commit to the station. The Morrison Government is putting money on the table to get it started.
“This train station is a priority for the Morrison Government because it is a priority for the people of Lakelands.”
Mr Morrison said it was important people spend less time on the road and more time with their loved ones.
“That is why we are investing in public transport infrastructure that will make a real difference to people living in fast-growing suburbs,” he said.
”This will help families and businesses get back valuable time.”
Mr Hastie said the $10 million toward Lakelands train station came in addition to the $2 million delivered last year by the Liberals for the station’s business case. It will be used in the early works of the station’s construction.
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said congestion was a growing problem across Perth.
“The Urban Congestion Fund is designed to eliminate congestion issues where they are hurting the most – not only the major freeways but the local pinch points which can provide daily headaches to commuters,” he said.
Other investment projects to be funded in Perth as part of the $96 million funding pledge include:
- $20 million toward extending Lloyd Street in Hazelmere to ease congestion caused by limited freight access to the industrial areas of Hazelmere and Midlands.
- $13.25 million toward upgrading a three-kilometre stretch of Abernethy Road to tackle congestion caused by population growth and more heavy vehicles servicing nearby industrial areas in Kewdale.
- $2.5 million to bust congestion at the Shorehaven Boulevard/Marmion Avenue intersection at Alkimos, improving peak-period travel times and safety for Perth’s growing northern suburbs.
- $50 million to roll out the next section of widening of the Kwinana and Mitchell Freeways and to implement Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to monitor and control traffic flows.
The latest announcement comes after Mr Hastie announced $25 million worth of funding for the Peel Health Campus in Mandurah last month.