The state opposition says the Mandurah economy suffered a $335,000 blow over the weekend after the train line between Rockingham and Mandurah was shut down to cater for road construction works.
Opposition spokesperson Alannah MacTiernan today said the number of public transport passengers arriving each day at the Mandurah foreshore dropped from 2500 to just 191.
"The train line between Rockingham and Mandurah was closed for the first time on the weekend and the number of visitors to Mandurah dropped by a staggering 92 per cent," Ms MacTiernan said.
The rail line was closed to cater for the construction of a new entrance road to linking the Forrest Highway to Mandurah.
"The closure has had a devastating effect on local tourism and hospitality businesses and many operators reported that weekend trade was down by 40 per cent," Ms MacTiernan said.
"On average each visitor spends $73 during their stay and this means there has been a direct loss of more than $335,000 from the local Mandurah economy."
Weekend train services between Mandurah and Rockingham will be cancelled for the next three weekends during the height of the tourism season resulting in a loss of more than $1.3 million to local businesses.
"The summer months are absolutely crucial for the small businesses in Mandurah," Ms MacTiernan said.
"No one disputes the line closures are necessary to build the Mandurah Entrance Road but scheduling this work at a peak tourism period amounts to reckless disregard for the businesses of this community.
"The Barnett Government has failed to appreciate the degree to which the train has been woven into the fabric of Mandurah tourism and hospitality.
"At the very least these businesses should have been given three months notice of these closures rather than finding out by accident just three weeks ago after they had already committed their promotional budgets."
Ms MacTiernan said the Barnett Government must now work to provide an adequate set of measures to help these businesses rebuild their economic base once the Mandurah line is reopened.
"Local businesses would benefit from an advertising campaign to help stimulate visitor numbers and recoup losses incurred as a result of the Government's mismanagement of this work."
