WORK to replace the Fremantle Traffic Bridge will gear up this year with the project scoring $88 million in WA treasurer Rita Saffioti’s first budget, which was delivered on Thursday.
There was also $35m to get the stalled Burt Street apartment redevelopment up and running, while $16m will get the police complex on South Terrace under way, with a further $32m the following year.
The Westport project to send Fremantle’s container traffic to the Outer Harbour continues, and while the Future of Fremantle project will be winding up, there’s $116m secured for various parts of the project, including $1m set aside to prepare an environment policy for Cockburn Sound.
Sound
“This update will leverage the government’s investment into a comprehensive program of scientific studies undertaken through the Western Australian Marine Science Institution’s Westport Marine Science Program, which provides a contemporary understanding of the Cockburn Sound environment,” the Budget papers note.
An additional $33m was announced for the project by prime minister Anthony Albanese, who was in WA this week.
“Western Australia is the economic engine room of Australia, and this port will be a critical hub,” Mr Albanese said.
On the Fremantle port itself, there’s $5m to upgrade B Shed to go with $7.5m million left over for Victoria Quay’s redevelopment.
The first cash towards the revamp of Fishing Boat Harbour has made it into the Budget, with $6m to replace electrical infrastructure, and the transport department including a public amenities building in its infrastructure program, though it didn’t specify the amount.
Fremantle Prison will get $1.75m for conservation, a significant drop from last year’s $3.8m, while there’ll be a new reception area built for Fremantle Cemetery.
Down in Cockburn, Woodman Point Jetty is set to be replaced in 2025/26, while there’s $2.5m for the “Fremantle Football Changerooms Project” at Cockburn Arc and $690,000 for an artificial reef to be constructed at Cockburn Sound. the Thornlie-Cockburn rail link is due to be completed this financial year.
Melville Senior High School’s sports hall and STEM laboratory will be finished off this year.
Fremantle Labor MLA Simone McGurk was keen to talk up the Budget’s appeal to families, with power bill rebates and a boost in housing to target critical shortages.
“Fremantle families are better off under a WA Labor government, and this state Budget shows that, with massive investments in education and cost of living support,” Ms McGurk said.
“I know that families will welcome the latest $400 electricity credit, which will make a real difference in paying the power bills.
“A $400 electricity credit is also available for eligible Fremantle small businesses.
“The Cook Labor government’s additional $1.1 billion in funding to boost housing supply, improve housing affordability and bolster support services will go a long way to addressing housing shortages, an issue I know many Fremantle constituents feel passionately about.”
by STEVE GRANT