Parties trumpet transport proposals with Bayswater and Morley named as key areas

The State Government released its Perth Transport Plan, which aims to prepare Perth for a future population of 3.5 million.

Under the plan, the Forrestfield-Airport Link would connect with the Midland line near Bayswater station and run to Forrestfield via the airport through underground tunnels.

The line will also provide extra rail services from Bayswater to Daglish stations and relieve capacity issues on the Midland and Fremantle lines.

It sets out Bus Rapid Transport routes to connect Ellenbrook to Bassendean station, Midland and the new East Wanneroo Rail Link.

However, West Swan MLA Rita Saffioti said the Liberal plan ignored upgrades on heritage lines Midland, Armadale and Fremantle. “A key focus for us is to upgrade stations on those lines, remove level crossings,” she said.

Ms Saffioti said Bayswater would be a main rail hub under their plan and connect the Perth, Midland and Forrestfield, and Ellenbook line.

She said Labor was keen to see what came out of the City of Bayswater’s Bayswater town structure plan. “They only plan to invest $7 million into Bayswater and we believe that’s not enough,” she said.

The State Government also committed to a heavy rail tunnel to Morley, as Transport Minister Dean Nalder said freeing up the northern corridor was a priority.

He said it would take about two years to finalise the tunnel’s planning.

Adjunct Professor Fred Affleck, Planning and Transport Research Centre chairman, said Morley was a key “activity centre”. “I think the Morley connection is a very important one, it’s the same one that the MAX light rail was designed to address,” he said.

“It is the one major activity centre, in the whole of the inner ring of Perth, which is not at the moment served by a major transport link – it needs to be connected,” Dr Affleck added.

However, Ms Saffioti said Labor preferred a circle route option, as the proposal would see Morley disconnected.

“So we’ll have a situation where Morley won’t be connected to Bayswater and Morley won’t be connected to the airport,” she said.