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Ellenbrook wins big in budget with $140m committed to transport

Lisa ThomasThe Advocate

TRANSPORT in Ellenbrook has featured as a priority in the 2017-18 State Budget, with the Government allocating more than $140 million into transport construction and infrastructure.

The Lord Street duplication project, which incorporates the earthworks for the Ellenbrook rail line and preliminary works at the train station site received $49 million, while $20 million was committed towards the detailed planning of the Morley to Ellenbrook line.

A pre-election promise to ease congestion and commute times for people living in Ellenbrook and surrounds was cemented, with $70 million allocated to the Reid Highway dual carriageway between Altone Road and West Swan Road.

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Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the Budget had shown the government was committed to delivering on election promises for people in Ellenbrook and the Swan Valley.

“People in West Swan were continually disappointed by the Liberal-National Government’s failure to deliver quality transport,” she said.

“Metronet will deliver a world class transport system throughout the Perth metropolitan area.”

Swan Hills MLA Jessica Shaw said she was excited about the commitments toward key projects in the region.

“We’ve already started many of our local Metronet projects, including the 335 and 356 bus routes, connecting Ellenbrook and Midland to the Joondalup rail line,” she said.

“The planning for the Morley to Ellenbrook train line will continue the foundation works we announced back in April, associated with the Lord Street duplication project. The earthworks are underway and we’re also preparing the station site, with the relocation of the Ellenbrook telecommunications tower.

“The detailed planning announced last Thursday will allow completion of a detailed business case for the whole Morley to Ellenbrook project.

“We’re trying to maximise the value of this significant project – it’s going to unlock the north east corridor and needs to be planned and designed carefully.”

Tourism and jobs in the Swan Valley will receive a boost after the government delivered $1.4 million towards the Swan Valley Development Package.

The Government will commit to ongoing funding to support the Ellenbrook police station’s 24-7 operating hours, which began in July following an election promise.

$11 million has been allocated towards an 80 million litre water storage tank, which will safeguard Ellenbrook’s continued growth and $1.75 million towards a child and parent centre at Arbor Grove Primary School.

Ms Shaw said the Budget was responsible, but would help unlock the north east corridor.

“We won’t put un-costed projects in the budget like the Barnett Liberals, which led to huge blow outs on the final build costs,” she said.

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