Today I inspected progress on the partly Federally-funded Perth City Link project, and had the privilege to venture down into the new 625 metre long tunnel which will carry the Fremantle Line beneath the CBD.
This visionary project is part of Federal Labor’s historic investment in urban public transport infrastructure around the country.  Indeed, we’ve already committed more Federal dollars to such projects than all our predecessors since Federation combined.
As the first stage in the City Link project, the package of works now underway and on track to be completed in 2014 includes:

• Sinking the Fremantle Line between William Street and Lake/King Street;


• Upgrading Perth Station with new tiling, lighting and services along with converting the current Platform 9 into an island Platform 8/9;


• Building a new Platform 10;


• Extending the existing Joondalup line tunnel roof to Milligan Streets;


• Creating a new pedestrian underpass connecting Perth Underground Station to all the platforms at Perth Station.

Once completed, this redevelopment will make Perth an even more productive, sustainable and liveable city.  In particular, sinking the Fremantle Line will reunite the business district with the Northbridge entertainment precinct, and open up some 50,000 square metres of land for new retail, commercial and residential developments.
Our $236 million contribution towards this $360 million project represents a significant investment by the national government in Perth and its future as a modern, vibrant metropolis.
The State Government and the City of Perth are providing the balance of the funding.
In addition to the City Link project, Federal Labor is also providing more than $750 million towards upgrading the roads around the Airport and nearby industrial estates, and $280 million to widen the Great Eastern Highway from Kooyong Road to the Tonkin Highway.
All up, Federal Labor has nearly doubled annual infrastructure spending in the State from $154 to $261 per West Australian – see attached map.