The City of Belmont has said while it welcomed the announcement regarding the Airport Rail project, it was hoping it would be completed in 2018 as originally planned.
It will now be completed in 2019 according to Mr Buswell but Belmont CEO Stuart Cole said the council was pleased the government had made a commitment to the project.
‘The City trusts the government will honour this commitment and ensure Budget pressures do not change this priority project,’ Mr Cole said.
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READ NOW‘This project is fundamental in activating the proposed residential redevelopment of part of Redcliffe and the airport’s proposed business park.
‘The ability to move thousands of workers to the airport precinct and give Belmont residents direct access to rail transport will ensure Belmont continues to grow into a modern, desirable area.
‘Coupled with Gateway WA, an improved Great Eastern Highway, Belmont will be part of a dynamic and progressive Airport City.’
But Victoria Park MLA and shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said the late delivery of the project represented another broken election promise.
‘For all his debt and tax increases, Mr Barnett has only managed to fund 9 per cent of the promised airport rail and 22 per cent of the MAX light rail,’ Mr Wyatt said.
‘Both projects will not be delivered by 2018, as promised by Mr Barnett during the State election campaign.’
RAC Head of Advocacy Matt Brown also expressed concern at funding shortfalls for the major projects.
‘The MAX light rail and the heavy rail link to the airport and Forrestfield are included in this budget but again the majority of funding is out beyond the forward estimates,’ he said.
‘The projects are slated as costing about $3 billion but little more than $600 million is in the forward estimates.’