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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 666 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 15 September 2020 by Mr C.J. Tallentire

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — STATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN — CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE

666. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Transport:

I refer to the McGowan Labor government's $5.5 billion COVID-19 recovery plan that includes a major investment in cycling infrastructure, such as a new, iconic cycling and pedestrian bridge over the Swan River.

(1) Can the minister outline to the house what this significant investment will mean for not only cyclists, but also local job and local businesses?

(2) Can the minister outline to the house how this government's commitment to locally manufactured transport infrastructure compares with the record of the previous Liberal–National government?

Ms R. SAFFIOTI replied:

I thank the member for Thornlie for his question and, of course, his significant commitment to cycling in Western Australia and working very well with the cycling bodies to make sure we continuously improve cycling infrastructure around the state.

Mr S.A. Millman: He's a demon on the bike!

A member: Good on ya, Lance!

Ms R. SAFFIOTI: He is a demon! Well, hopefully not, Lance, but anyway!

(1)–(2) Recently, I was out with the Premier and the member for Perth to announce that the government has injected an additional $60 million towards cycling infrastructure in Western Australia. One of the key features of that program is a new bridge that will provide a safer connection from the Perth CBD to Victoria Park. Initial consultation with the Whadjuk working group has led to the bridge design. The design of the structural elements will continue to be worked on to make sure that we get an iconic bridge over the water. The final design and planning will continue and tenders will be released next year. Currently, more than 1 400 cyclists and 1 900 pedestrians funnel through the two-metre wide causeway path each day.

Mr S.A. Millman: It's a nightmare!

Ms R. SAFFIOTI: It is a nightmare. It is dangerous and it is actually not encouraging people to be out there, crossing the river into the city and vice versa. The new path will be six-metres wide. It will have two crossings: 250 metres on the Victoria Park side and 140 metres on the City of Perth side. This is part of our overall package. As part of the Premier's $5.5 billion economic recovery plan, we are delivering a lot of other initiatives—for example, a new project along Bennett Street in East Perth; another $2 million around Moore, Wittenoom and Nile Streets in Perth; lighting upgrades around Waterbank, and another key issue is improving safety and connectivity around RAC Arena. We also committed $3 million to deliver the Soldiers Road shared path, connecting Mundijong to the rapidly developing Byford Town Centre, which is something that has been advocated by Councillor Hugh Jones in that area, who is a very keen councillor for the City of Armadale and who is already kicking goals for that area. As a councillor for the City of Armadale, he raised this issue, and look at that—we are delivering this new path through that area. He is a very effective local councillor and I am sure that he would make a very good local member, too, members! Most people who I have already spoken to in that electorate already agree with members on this side.

As I said, there will be a record amount of spending on cycling infrastructure. One of the key aspects is that the new bridge will be made in Western Australia. Like the Matagarup Bridge, it will be constructed using local fabricating firms. Remember what members on the other side did. Somewhere, in some back lane in Malaysia, in some yard, rest fragments of the former government's Matagarup Bridge. Bits and pieces are lying around. One day I will write a book about that bridge.

Mr F.M. Logan: The member denied it was there!

Ms R. SAFFIOTI: The member for Bateman denied it was there. We will be entering an alliance with local firms to deliver this bridge to create an iconic and beautiful result, just like the Matagarup Bridge. When the Leader of the Opposition talked about the Matagarup Bridge, she said that Western Australians had been delivered a compromised piece of infrastructure. The Leader of the Opposition criticised Western Australian businesses and Western Australian firms. The opposition criticised railcar manufacturing saying, ''Why would you bring back an industry from a bygone era?'' That is what Leader of the Opposition said. She criticised the manufacturing of the Matagarup Bridge because it was being done by Western Australians. That is what the Leader of the Opposition said. But we are committed to Western Australian jobs, to Western Australian manufacturing and to a new beautiful bridge for cyclists and pedestrians throughout our suburbs.

The SPEAKER: Before we go to the next question, we have had only six questions and it has been 35 minutes, so could the answers be a little bit quicker, Treasurer?

Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.

The SPEAKER: I wonder!