The Nationals WA have renewed calls for an independent assessment of the Perth Freight Link project that was recklessly abandoned by the McGowan Government in 2017.
Transport spokesperson Vince Catania said once established, independent advisory body Infrastructure WA should investigate how Labor’s scuttling of Roe 8 will impact freight and the future of Fremantle Port.
“Infrastructure WA panellists need to sit down and review Perth’s freight network as a matter of priority, including how the transport sector and existing infrastructure is impacted by the loss of PFL,” he said.
“Since tearing up the contracts for the Roe 8 component of the PFL, a move which cost WA taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, the McGowan Government has introduced legislation to excise Beeliar Wetlands from the planning scheme.
“This Bill could have grave implications for the development of future transport links into the Perth freight network and Fremantle Port.”
In Parliament last November, The Nationals WA called on the State Government to defer the Beeliar Wetlands Bill 2018 for an independent assessment of transport infrastructure necessary to service Fremantle Port into the future.
Mr Catania said now the McGowan Government had introduced legislation to set up Infrastructure WA they must show they are serious about the State’s future freight requirements.
“The Premier and Transport Minister have waited as long as possible to establish a non-partisan, evidentiary based advisory panel,” he said.
“It demonstrates the McGowan Government has no strategic vision for WA’s freight network, particularly an east-west corridor to ease congestion from local roads, and are running scared of what an independent assessment might reveal.
“Building an effective freight network isn’t cheap, and the people of Western Australia, who will be footing the bill for this project, deserve to know that their money is being well spent.”
Mr Catania said an independent review would give all affected local government and industry groups an opportunity to have their say on the Perth freight network route and Labor’s abandonment of the PFL.
