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Transport misses out again: Mayor

Staff ReporterFremantle Gazette

Her comment came after the State Budget 2013-14 was revealed last week, which provided $5 million to plan for the system.

She said the funding would not allow the project to be finished by 2018, as promised by Troy Buswell in 2012, but rather 2020.

The State Government now estimates the light rail to be finished by 2019.

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‘This is not incompetence, this is deliberate duping of the public, feeding them some crumbs and saying, ‘we’re going to build this and build that,’ but whenever a choice has to be made about what they’re going to do it’s the public transport projects that are put back,’ she said.

But Mt Lawley MLA Michael Sutherland said he was pleased to see a ‘firm commitment to the major rail projects’.

‘This is a good, responsible budget reflecting our State’s need for major infrastructure investment while facing tough financial reality,’ he said.

‘Good financial management is making choices that are not always easy or desirable but have to be made.’

Mr Sutherland said he was also happy to see funding for improvements to Mt Lawley SHS, including $500,000 this year and $1.5 million next year.

Ms MacTiernan said she was pleased to see Mt Hawthorn PS receive $500,000 funding this year and $250,000 next year.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi applauded funding for key, long-term city projects including Perth City Link, Elizabeth Quay, the new museum, State Library and light rail.

But she said the City was disappointed the State Government increased the parking levy by 10 per cent.

While Mr Buswell said the budget was a program of strategic, long-term infrastructure projects to transform WA for future generations, WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan described it as a ‘the budget of broken promises’.