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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 264 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 22 June 2021 by Mr R.S. Love

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

ROBINSON ROAD CLOSURE — BELLEVUE

264. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Transport:

I refer to the proposal to close Robinson Road due to the Bellevue railcar facility.

(1) Does the minister support the closure of Robinson Road, a strategic route in Bellevue?

(2) Have alternatives been considered, as called for by the local member?

(3) When will traffic modelling be made available to the Bellevue Residents and Ratepayers Association that demonstrates how the Robinson Road closure will impact Lloyd Street, Clayton Street and the surrounding roads?

Ms R. SAFFIOTI replied:

(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. He is correct that traffic modelling is being finalised for the closure of Robinson Road. This issue has been raised with me by the member for Midland—the Speaker—and others in the community who are concerned. However, with all projects comes change and disruption. As I said, it is easy to do nothing and not to make any changes, like the former government. It did not have any disruption when it built the Metro Area Express light rail because the government did not build it. It did not cause any disruption when it built the Thornlie–Cockburn Link because it did not build anything. Of course, it did not cause any disruption when it built the Ellenbrook rail line because the former government never built it.

With all projects come challenges and issues. This is a massive new manufacturing facility and the new home of rail manufacturing in Western Australia. It is a significant project and there will be a number of train movements. Not only have we opened the new railcar manufacturing facility, but also the high-voltage testing facility is now being constructed together with a new diesel maintenance facility in that area. Yes, we are taking land in that entire area and we have tried to see how we can facilitate the continued movement of traffic on Robinson Road with all these projects and we will continue to see what we can do. But the current advice to me is that that road will need to be closed and modelling undertaken to look at the associated impacts. That is the challenge with building projects. When we build projects and bring back the home of rail manufacturing to Western Australia, there will be disruption and change. As the Minister for Planning and Minister for Transport in particular, I know that people do not like change, but as a government we want to bring rail manufacturing back to the Bellevue–Midland area. We are proud of our policy. It is a policy that the Liberal and National Parties never supported. They never supported bringing rail manufacturing to this state.

We will release that modelling once it is finalised. As I said, projects cause disruption and change, but this will be the home of hundreds of workers. This will support jobs and opportunities throughout Western Australia. It is one of the proudest projects to bring back rail manufacturing when no-one thought that we could do it and members opposite—in that corner—are opposed to it.