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Perth Transport Plan suggests no rail for Yanchep until 2031

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

PERTH’S latest transport plan suggests Yanchep rail should be delivered later than both sides of politics have promised.

Released for public comment last Friday, the Perth Transport Plan for 3.5 Million and Beyond proposes to extend the Joondalup rail line to Yanchep by the time Perth’s population reaches 2.7 million, which is expected to be about 2031.

Last month, Butler MLA John Quigley said WA Labor was committed to delivering the northern extension as part of its Metronet plan by 2022.

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Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles said the State Government policy proposed to finish the extension by 2024, not the timeframe indicated by the independent plan.

“The transport planners have different views on what needs to go in,” he said.

“We are going to build the Yanchep extension for 2024.”

Both said they would not build rail without stations between Butler and Yanchep, a request put forward by developer Yanchep Beach Joint Venture if it partly funded the extension without contributions from Alkimos and Eglinton developers.

The Perth Transport Plan said existing rail lines should be extended to cater for growing suburbs, and Yanchep would be the last extension to the Joondalup line.

It said the Mitchell Freeway extension to Yanchep would be needed by the time the population reached 3.5 million, in about 2050, and the extension into Indian Ocean Drive would come after that.

“Mitchell Freeway will be extended to tie in with Indian Ocean Drive in the north and be constructed to freeway standard to Toreopango Avenue, Yanchep,” it said.

“The Whiteman-Yanchep Highway would connect the Tonkin Highway to the Mitchell Freeway… around Gnangara Road with Mitchell Freeway at Pipidinny Road, Eglinton by 3.5 million.

“It will be constructed to freeway standard between Tonkin Highway and Wattle Avenue north of Neaves Road in Neerabup.

“Tonkin Highway together with the Whiteman-Yanchep Highway will provide the second north-south distribution spine across the metropolitan area.”

The plan said major new urban areas included east Wanneroo and Alkimos to Two Rocks, with the north-west population expected to reach 740,318 people by 2050; up from 322,486 in 2011.

“These new urban areas will be serviced by a network of arterials connecting with the planned freeway network,” it said.

“Demand generated by the East Wanneroo urban expansion will be serviced by the planned Whiteman-Yanchep Highway and a network of urban arterials.

“Two interchanges will be provided on Whiteman-Yanchep Highway between Gnangara and Neaves Roads to provide high-standard access to the area.

“The area from Alkimos to Two Rocks will be serviced by the Mitchell Freeway extension and Marmion Avenue, together with planned east-west arterials.

“The arterials include Lukin Drive, Romeo Road, Alkimos Drive, Pipidinny Road, Yanchep Beach Road, Toreopango Avenue, Reef Break Drive and Breakwater Drive, most of which will be constructed to four-lane divided standard, connecting to Mitchell Freeway via interchanges.”

The plan also identified priority bus routes, including one from Fitzgerald Street to Alexander Drive, another on Wanneroo Road from Newcastle Street to Lake Joondalup and access to major rail/bus transfer stations such as Whitfords and Warwick.

The link from Two Rocks to Yanchep was listed sixth, followed by one on Gnangara Road.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the plan gave transport options to accommodate an extra 1.4 million people.

“High-frequency bus services running every five minutes are proposed for Yanchep, Alkimos, Joondalup, Gnangara Road, Whitfords and Hillarys,” he said.

“While this is a plan prepared by transport planning experts, everyone has a right to have a say on what we aspire our city to look like.”

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said not building the Yanchep extension until 2031 was “ludicrous”.

“Labor is fully committed to the Yanchep link and we will build it as part of our key priorities, well before 2031,” he said.

“With no plan to build the Ellenbrook line until after 2050, the pressure on the northern suburbs line looks set to get even worse.”

Welcoming the proposals, Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts said the plan lacked timeframes.

“Overall they have identified some key infrastructure that we are very supportive of,” she said.

“They are looking at the timeframes dependent on the population – timeframes will provide that certainty to our planning and also certainty to our local community.”

Conceptual plans to develop Perth’s transport network over the next 35-40 years include an East Wanneroo Rail Link.

The Perth Transport Plan for 3.5 Million and Beyond recommended building the rail link in stages, with the first to Marshall Road by the time Perth’s population reached 2.7 million; expected in about 2031.

The next stage would need to connect with the Joondalup Line near Clarkson by the time the population reaches 3.5 million.

“There will be some expansion to this suburban radial system with the new East Wanneroo Rail Link starting from the city and going underground to Morley and then coming to the surface and sweeping around Wanneroo before joining the Joondalup line,” the plan said.

“The railway is expected to be delivered in three stages, with the first stage from the Perth CBD, via a tunnel to Morley, to a station near Marshall Road in Beechboro.

“The second stage connects to the Joondalup line. The third stage will see a rail spur built from Marshall Road to Ellenbrook.

“The first and second stages will be required in full before the population of Perth reaches 3.5 million.

“The new railway will connect the northeast quadrant of the city to the wider rapid transit network and provide an alternative for some passengers currently using the Joondalup line.

“The north east quadrant of Perth is currently not well-served by rapid transit.

“The popularity of routes such as the 950 Superbus highlights a strong demand for fast, reliable public transport in the area.

“Stage two will give passengers travelling from Yanchep a choice of utilising either the Joondalup line or the east Wanneroo rail link.

“Modelling indicates the East Wanneroo Rail Link could account for over 20,000 CBD-bound passengers during the morning peak period.”

The plan said many of the projects proposed in the plan were new and in the conceptual stage.

“They will be subject to further investigations as to scope, engineering and design, cost estimation, funding options and timing,” it said.

“This will occur as part of the government’s usual planning and investment decision making processes.”

More information here.; the public comment period closes October 28.