Share This

Media Releases

Tuesday, 10th May 2011

Wa Continues To Benefit From Record Investment

The 2011-12 Budget continues the rollout of the Gillard Labor Government’s record capital works program which is renewing and expanding Western Australia’s road, rail and public transport infrastructure.


In this Budget, we will increase the investment over the six-year life of the existing Nation Building Program (2008-09 to 2013-14) by $179.4 million to a record $3.7 billion – almost twice what the former Howard Government invested over a similar period of time in Western Australia.


This coming financial year alone, we will be providing $920.5 million to start, progress or complete a long list of large and smaller scale projects.


The new funding will go to the State Government’s ‘WA Gateway’ project, an extensive upgrade of the road network around Perth Airport and the nearby industrial estates (Federal contribution: up to $480 million with funding to come from the Regional Infrastructure Fund).


In addition, work will start on the following major projects during the coming financial year (2011-12) (Commonwealth contribution shown):


• Widening the Great Eastern Highway from four to six lanes between Kooyong Road and the Tonkin Highway – Federal contribution: $280 million;


• Realigning the Great Northern Highway at Port Hedland around the Wedgefield industrial area – Federal contribution: $154 million;


• Sinking the railway line through Perth’s CBD, a central component of the visionary Perth City Link project which will reunite the City’s retail district with the Northbridge entertainment precinct – Federal contribution: $236 million;


• Further extending the recently completed Bunbury Port Access Road and constructing the first stage of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road – Federal contribution: $118.6 million;


• Planning for the Kewdale Intermodal Rail Supply Chain and commencement of the construction of the first phase, a rail passing loop outside of Fremantle Port, part of the Perth Urban Transport and Freight Corridor Upgrade Project – Federal contribution: $350 million;


• Upgrading road and rail access to Esperance Port – Federal contribution: $60 million.


At the other end of the construction cycle, work is expected to be completed on the following projects over the next 12 months:


• Installing a grade separation at the intersection between Great Eastern and Roe Highways – Federal contribution: $48 million;


• Constructing two bridges to carry the Reid Highway over Alexander Drive and the construction of on/off ramps from Alexander Drive to the Reid Highway – Federal contribution: $10 million;


• Constructing a single carriageway on Hepburn Avenue between Beechboro Road North and Marshall Road – Federal contribution: $5 million;


• Upgrading and widening the Kwinana Freeway between Leach and Roe Highways, part of the Perth Urban Transport and Freight Corridor Upgrade Project – Federal contribution: $350 million;


• Upgrading the grain line rail between Avon and Albany (Stage 1) – Federal contribution: $30 million.


We will also continue funding a range of initiatives designed to make our highways and local roads safer:


• $7.5 million to eliminate another 46 dangerous black spots on local roads;


• $2.5 million for rest stops and the other roadside facilities used by truck drivers.


The 2011-12 Budget provides $152.1 million to assist West Australian councils maintain and upgrade their local roads.


Since being elected a little over three years ago, this Labor Government’s infrastructure priorities in the West have been all about positioning the State to take full advantage of the next resources boom as well as tackling the worsening congestion in and around Perth.


From Port Hedland in the north to Bunbury in the south, the Gillard Labor Government is reversing the neglect we inherited and begun putting in place the modern, well-planned infrastructure critical to making Western Australia even more prosperous and its economy even more productive.


About Anthony
Media Centre
Grayndler NewsTranscriptsSpeechesOpinion Pieces

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

DisclaimerPrivacyTerms

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Authorised by Anthony Albanese. 334a Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

Sign up to hear directly from the Prime Minister

Loading...