For the third budget in a row the Barnett government hasn’t coughed up a brass razoo for the $700 million eighth stage of Roe highway
The LibNats have been promising for five years to build the four-lane highway through the Beeliar wetlands. While it’s spent $20 million on consultations and initial designs it hasn’t laid a centimetre of tarmac for the 5.5km stretch and there is no indication in the forward estimates it plans to build it anytime soon.
Melville city council is gagging for Roe 8, convinced it’ll ease traffic pressures on roads like Leach Highway but Freo council is trenchantly opposed. Cockburn has a bob each way. Liberal MPs say it’s needed while Labor and Greens strongly oppose it.
Fremantle state Labor MP Simone McGurk notes federal Labor refuses to fund the road but reckons it could be a different story if Tony Abbott becomes PM: “There is a good chance they will fund it in the future,” she says.
Meanwhile, she’s rapt the High Street upgrade was funded $118 million in Thursday’s state budget but says the $1.6m towards a new traffic bridge is “stuff all”. “It’s a token amount of money that may get you a few designs,” she says.
“It’s a real slap in the face for the Fremantle community.”
Fremantle Ports is again the big local winner with $336.7m to spend over the next three years on various things, including the Victoria Quay redevelopment. There are also plans for a second marina at Rous Head for boaties.
The North Quay rail terminal will extend from Port Beach Road to meet Rous Head Road at a cost of $34m.
In other local funding:
• $16m towards the Aubin Grove train station
• $108.5m towards the completion of Fiona Stanley Hospital
• $10.5m for the Hammond Park primary school
• $19m for Applecross primary school
South metropolitan Greens MP Lynn MacLaren says the environment is again the big loser in Troy Buswell’s budget.
“The Environmental Community Grants program has been axed, leaving conservation volunteers in the lurch. Last year, almost one-and-a-half million was provided to environmental programs, and now nothing.”
by BRENDAN FOSTER