FREMANTLE MP Josh Wilson has lashed the Barnett government’s controversial Roe 8 project as illogical and economically unsound.
While most of the negative attention surrounding the project has stemmed from the clearing of about 100 hectares of bushland in Beeliar Wetlands, Mr Wilson has slammed the commercial nature of the project.
“Roe 8 is stage one of the Perth Freight Link which has no logic other than as a private road to serve a private port whose sale is supposed to cover the Barnett government’s blushes when it comes to their massive state debt,” Mr Wilson wrote in an article on The Guardian.
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READ NOW“The Perth Freight Link will create two private monopolies by building a commercially operated toll road in order to facilitate the fire sale of Fremantle Port.
“Private monopolies are the worst model of service delivery.
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“They don’t involve or benefit from competition and they aren’t managed in the public interest.”
And Mr Wilson hit out at the Barnett government’s announcement of Roe 9 – a tunnel between Stock Road and Stirling Bridge.
“As it stands, the Perth Freight Link doesn’t even reach the port, but ends at the traffic lights on Canning Highway,” Mr Wilson wrote.
“It will be the most expensive road on a per kilometre basis in WA’s history.
“The government’s announcement of a 3km tunnel from Stock Rd to Stirling Bridge is ridiculous and laughable.
“The basis for such an ‘announcement’ was little more than a line of red crayon on a Google map, and was designed to mollify people in the new seat of Bicton in the hope of helping the Liberal candidate win that seat.
“Roe 8 is not acceptable as a piece of transport infrastructure, and it will likely cost more than $3bn if it is ever completed.”