STIRLING Mayor Mark Irwin led Federal Labor MPs on a tour of the City last week in a bid to drum up support for the Stirling city centre development.
The visit by Opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese and Perth MHR Tim Hammond was the result of lobbying by Cr Irwin following his meeting with Mr Albanese in Sydney in November. He also met former Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester.
He said he had been lobbying both sides of Government to try secure the $64 million needed for the project.
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READ NOW“This visionary project will transform the Stirling City Centre into an accessible, vibrant urban centre, providing increased jobs and housing and connecting transport from the heart of the City through to the iconic tourism destination of Scarborough Beach,” he said.
The State Government has committed $60 million for stage one of the project, which includes construction of the Stephenson Avenue extension and a new freeway interchange at an expected cost of $134 million.
Stage two proposes 7km of light rail along Scarborough Beach Road from the Scarborough redevelopment to Glendalough Station.
The trio also visited Mirrabooka and Scarborough to view the projects aimed at revitalising the areas.
Mr Albanese said he looked forward to working with Cr Irwin and the City to advance its vision for the Stirling City Centre.
“(It) was a great opportunity to see first hand the urban renewal taking place including the superb Scarborough aquatic facility and the vision that the City has for Stirling to improve transport links and amenity,” he said.
Cr Irwin believed the visit was positive and would continue to work with all levels of government on the project.
Federal Liberal Minister Angus Taylor toured the potential city centre with Stirling MHR Michael Keenan last year.
Mr Keenan said he had extended the same invitation to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce and Urban Infrastructure and Cities Minister Paul Fletcher.
“We’ve got the same vision and the same objectives as the City of Stirling to make our local community more economically productive, more efficient and more liveable, and I look forward to welcoming the two Ministers in the near future to see this project through,” he said.
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