PortLink transport proposal on the right track, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 29-June-2011

Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook has said a recent visit from Minister for Infrastructure Anthony Albanese has highlighted the importance of the PortLink project as a nation-building project.

Mr Crook said the visit last week from Minister Albanese was a major stepping stone for the PortLink project.

“It has given us a clear indication that the Federal Government are keen to see this project progress, and that they will be interested in supporting the project if we can prove its worth.”

Mr Crook said a meeting organised between Minister Albanese and local stakeholders proved beneficial to all parties.

“It was very positive to see representatives from all levels and all facets of Government, as well as local stakeholders, proactively discussing the merit of this project,” Mr Crook said.

“There is no doubt about what we need to do to get this project up.”

Mr Crook said the onus now fell on local stakeholders to prove the viability of the PortLink project.

“We need to build a very solid business case around the PortLink project, and highlight how this project really will benefit all of Australia.”

Mr Crook said a Royalties for Regions contribution of $5 million would allow a solid business case to be developed for the PortLink project.

“I welcome this contribution and I thank the State Government for committing this initial investment into the PortLink project.”

Regional Development Council Chairman Graham Thomson said the next step will be prioritising the stages of the PortLink project.

“PortLink is not just a single project but several projects that are very much linked to one another,” Mr Thomson said.

“Road upgrades such as the Wiluna-Newman Road and the development of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder intermodal transport hub are very high up on the list, and the full business case will reveal how the other elements of PortLink can best be connected.”

The PortLink project is a multi-staged project designed to link the five major ports in WA to the Eastern States.

The completed project will include road and rail upgrades between the Goldfields and the major ports, the development of a transport hub located in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and the expansion of the Esperance port.

See this article on the member's website