PERTH’S northern suburbs will be better connected with rail and road infrastructure under the 2018-19 State Budget.
Road safety, accessibility and creating jobs were priorities for the State Government’s second budget, with the allocation $420 million towards extending the rail line to Yanchep, including stations at Yanchep, Eglinton and Alkimos with bus interchanges and park and ride facilities.
The WA Planning Commission will also contribute a further $100 million to the project.
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READ NOWOne of WA’s most dangerous roads, Indian Ocean Drive will get $20 million allocated over 2018-19 and 2019-20 to widen a 58km stretch of road from Two Rocks to Lancelin and install audible line markers along the centre lines and shoulders in an effort to reduce the risk of head-on collisions and vehicles running off the road.
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Extensions of the Mitchell Freeway to Romeo Road were not in this year’s budget, despite funding from the Federal Government last month, but $15 million was allocated to upgrade the freeway northbound from Hutton Street to Cedric Street and $40 million to widen it southbound from Cedric Street to Vincent Street.
Bridges will be built at the intersections of Wanneroo and Ocean Reef roads, and Wanneroo Road and Joondalup Drive, with $115 million allocated, while $31 million has been allocated for the Wanneroo Road dual carriageway between Joondalup and Flynn drives.
Funding for the extension of Stephenson Avenue between Scarborough Beach Road and the Mitchell Freeway will increase by $65 million between 2018-19 and 2020-21 thanks to funding from the Commonwealth.
Joondalup Health Campus will receive $158 million towards eight new operating theatres, a six-bed stroke unit, an expanded emergency department as well as additional beds for inpatients and mental health departments, and $24.9 million towards Osborne Park Hospital for the election commitment of neonatal, midwifery and rehabilitation services.
Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton said the funding for JHC would allow for a “much-needed upgrade and expansion” to ensure “local residents will be able to receive quality healthcare close to home”.
“Local school communities at both Beaumaris Primary School and Currambine Primary School will be very pleased with the announcement of $400,000 for the installation of perimeter fences,” she added.
“This will provide a safe environment for students and the wider school community to live and play safely.” Tapping Primary School will also get $400,000 to continue upgrades, while Wanneroo Secondary College will get $5 million and Kinross College $2.5 million for upgrades and Yanchep Secondary College will get $13.7 million towards the second stage of its build.
Wanneroo MLA Sabine Winton said as a local teacher of 27 years she was “proud” to see the school funding.
“I am also very excited about the $850,000 investment over the next two years to identify and develop food precincts in areas including Carabooda,” she said.
“The agricultural industry is facing many opportunities and challenges.
“This investment into the Wanneroo food growing industry is a win for our local growers.” A new Banksia Grove East primary school to open in 2020 will get $18.8 million, with $3.2 million for early childhood facilities, and $52.4 million will go to a new secondary school for Butler North, also to open in 2020.
Ocean Reef Senior High School will get $5 million for a performing arts centre, as announced last year, which is due to open in 2020.
“This will provide additional space for the school’s specialist contemporary music program to operate, as well as providing another location in the northern suburbs to service the local community,” Ms Hamilton said.
To help protect the habitat of the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo, $2.5 million has been allocated – as the Times announced last month – to reduce pine plantation harvesting in northern Gnangara, Pinjar and Yanchep.
The government will also spend $9.4 million to provide an energy recovery system for the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant in Craigie.
This project uses biogas, a by-product of the treatment process, to generate electricity for use in the plant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs.
Funding of $15.5 million has also been allocated to relocate the Water and Environmental Regulation Department’s head office to Joondalup in early 2019.
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