Funding for the projects is the result of a new Commonwealth-State $2.3 billion agreement that includes the full relocation of funding from the cancelled Perth Freight Link project. The new agreement safeguards Roe 8 jobs and will relieve congestion in the northern, eastern and southern suburbs of Perth. The alternative projects negotiated from the Roe 8 contract will also create hundreds of other indirect job opportunities for local contractors and suppliers. The Roe 8 renegotiation includes the following road projects:
Meanwhile, the Wanneroo Road and Armadale Road dual carriageway upgrades will start construction during the 2017-18 financial year. The Roe 8 Alliance contractors will be paid about $40 million for the work they have done so far while a further amount - less than $10 million - will be paid in lieu of their lost opportunity to fully recover overheads. Total State Government expenditure on the Roe 8 project will be $85 million, however, after allowing for retained assets such as land, the written off costs total $46.9 million. The alliance team will also collaboratively manage the rehabilitation of the cleared Roe 8 site in Coolbellup. The program will be informed by a working group comprising representatives from the State and local governments, the local community and the alliance. Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti: "Had the previous government taken the conservative option of only clearing to Bibra Drive in the lead up to the State election then total expenditure on Roe 8 would have been $61 million and the written off costs would only have been $22.9 million." "The alternative would have been contract termination, loss of jobs and a potential long and protracted legal dispute. "We have worked closely with Main Roads, the Roe 8 Alliance and the Commonwealth Government to bring forward important projects that will relieve congestion, reduce journey times and improve safety in key locations on our road network. "The WA public gave the McGowan Government a mandate to scrap the Roe 8 project and we have acted quickly to reassign the workforce to new congestion-busting projects." The McGowan Government has secured more than $600 million in funding for six congestion-busting road projects for Perth's eastern suburbs.
The six projects will fix congestion hotspots on major roads through the eastern suburbs and will create 3,600 jobs during construction. Many of the projects were integral election commitments and the McGowan Government is eager to deliver them to the eastern suburbs as efficiently as possible. Funding for the projects is the result of a new Commonwealth-State $2.3 billion agreement that includes the full relocation of funding from the cancelled Perth Freight Link project. An initial program of 17 new projects will provide employment to more than 6,000 people Federal funding for METRONET has also been secured with a combined $1.2 billion allocated to its delivery, including the rail extension between Thornlie and Cockburn. The upgrade of Armadale Road to a dual carriageway between Tapper Road and Anstey Road is one of three projects resulting in the renegotiation of the Roe 8 contract, with works brought forward to begin this year. In recent weeks, the McGowan Government has worked with Main Roads Western Australia, the Roe 8 Alliance and the Commonwealth Government to bring forward alternative road projects to safeguard jobs for the local contractors and suppliers. The newly announced program of works is being delivered on top of existing eastern suburban road projects such as NorthLink WA and New Lord Street, which will further improve traffic flow. The NorthLink WA project involves the duplication of Reid Highway to Altone Road, while the further upgrades included in the latest roads package will upgrade the remaining single lane section between Altone Road and West Swan Road. Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan: "We are dedicated to getting on with our election commitment to create jobs and cut congestion in the eastern suburbs - this program of works is testament to that commitment. "The eastern suburbs network will be further enhanced by the future extension of METRONET from Thornlie to Cockburn, the start of the new Circle Line." Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti: "This investment will improve safety and travel times for major road connections servicing Perth's eastern suburbs while creating upwards of 3,000 jobs. "These upgrades will deliver our key election commitments and are additional to current congestion-busting projects like NorthLink WA and New Lord Street. "The duplication of Armadale Road between Anstey Road and Tapper Road, a distance of nearly 10 kilometres, will cost $145 million and create up to 850 jobs. "Aside from safety improvements, the project will increase network capacity and support further urban developments in Byford and Mundijong as well as industrial developments in Forrestdale." Eastern suburbs projects: Armadale Road Dual Carriageway - Anstey Road to Tapper Road Cost estimate: $145 million Jobs created: 850 Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge Cost estimate: $237 million Jobs created: 1,400 METRONET - Denny Avenue: Level Crossing Removal Cost estimate: $62 million Jobs created: 350 Roe Highway/Kalamunda Road Intersection Cost estimate: $86 million Jobs created: 600 Reid Highway Dual Carriageway - Altone Road to West Swan Road Cost estimate: $70 million Jobs created: 400 Hale Road/Woolworths Drive Intersection upgrade Cost estimate: $900,000 Premier's office - 6552 5000 Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500 More than $89 million to be spent on regional roads under Commonwealth and State funding agreement8/5/2017 The McGowan Government will invest $89 million towards regional roads, including progressing planning for a Bunbury Outer Ring Road and improving safety.
Planning for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road will receive $12.5 million to progress the design of the future project. The Outer Ring Road is intended to improve safety for road users and reduce freight and passenger vehicle congestion in Bunbury. It will also offer an efficient freight route, improving access to the Bunbury Port where truck access is impeded. Another $44 million will be spent on road safety projects in Western Australia's regional areas. This funding will address road safety issues throughout WA and will be spent over the next three years, generating 280 jobs. A detailed works program will be developed over the coming 12 months with delivery of projects in 2018-19. Meanwhile, $33 million has been allocated for further work on the Outback Highway, pending the outcome of a strategic review of the route. The projects are part of a $2.3 billion Commonwealth-State package made up of reallocated Perth Freight Link funds and a Commonwealth GST top-up payment to be spent on priority road projects. Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan: "This announcement includes a significant contribution to improving safety on regional roads where there are high instances of fatalities. "We will be working closely with regional communities to see where this money is most needed." Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti: "This is a win for the whole of Western Australia, where freight, safety and congestion will be improved under this massive program of works. "The Bunbury Outer Ring Road will improve safety around the port and have flow-on benefits for traffic congestion along Robertson Drive and parts of the Forrest and Bussell highways." A beautiful article in the Manjimup-Bridgetown times about the dedicated team of South West volunteers making a difference in the lives of women in developing countries through sewing sustainable feminine hygiene kits. The Manjimup CRC is delighted to be able to facilitate these hard working ladies!
To find out more or to get involved please contact the Manjimup Community Resource Centre on 9777 2774 or visit www.daysforgirls.org This is a great short film on chhaupadi -- a cultural practice related to menstruation, where women are often banished during their periods. Chhaupadi is one of the main cultural practices that DfG Nepal is focusing on this year through our newly launched Kalikot Project.
#MenstruationMatters #BreakTheStigma Please click the button below to be re-directed to the video on the BBC news and Days for Girls website! Dangerous storms are the most common natural hazard in Australia and on average, cause more damage and destruction than cyclones, earthquakes, floods and bush fires.
Each year from May to October, storms including; tornado, thunder, lightning, hail, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major destruction. Be prepared, stay safe and reduce the risk of damage to your home by taking these simple steps:
And don’t forget to include your pets in your preparation and planning! Stay informed and keep up to date with latest storm warnings and advice:
For more information:
In one of the first steps towards building the Morley-Ellenbrook Line as part of METRONET, the new road corridor will complement the future train line to Ellenbrook. The McGowan Labor Government has renegotiated an existing contract for the construction of a bus transit way to Ellenbrook, removing it from the New Lord Street project to instead facilitate the rail line to be completed in 2022. New Lord Street will generally run parallel to the existing Lord Street, which will be retained as a local road to service Ellenbrook and the rapidly growing suburbs of Dayton, Whiteman and Brabham. The redistribution of traffic to New Lord Street is expected to significantly reduce congestion on the existing Lord Street - currently used by about 14,000 vehicles a day. Meanwhile, new bus stops, bus priority measures and a new park and ride facility in Henley Brook means public transport users can expect a faster, more reliable service between Ellenbrook and Bassendean. A shared path will also run adjacent to the road, providing improved access to Whiteman Park for cyclists and pedestrians. Work on the project will begin shortly and will include the relocation of a communications mast to make way for a METRONET station in the heart of Ellenbrook. The project is expected to cost $57 million and is due to be completed by mid-2018. Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan: "A bus lane for Ellenbrook was never going to cut it; that's why we've moved swiftly to build a new dual-carriageway to ease traffic congestion and start work on the rail line to Ellenbrook. "Our commitment to the north-eastern suburbs was to deliver road improvements and METRONET - and that's exactly what we're going to do." Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti: "A bus lane for Ellenbrook is just not a proper solution, so we've successfully renegotiated the contract, at no extra cost, to build the New Lord Street and start working on the rail line to Ellenbrook instead. "New Lord Street will address one of the major bottlenecks on our road network - the southbound approach to the Marshall Road roundabout, where queues during the morning peak can extend to 2.5 kilometres. "This project forms part of a series of transport improvements for Perth's north-eastern suburbs. "Together with NorthLink WA, road capacity will be increased significantly, while the future Morley-Ellenbrook Line will connect some of our fastest-growing suburbs with Perth and the METRONET." |
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