Premier Mark McGowan has staunchly defended the state government’s blowout-marred Metronet program, as Perth’s new $1.9 billion airport rail line opens two years behind schedule.
Premier Mark McGowan has staunchly defended the state government’s blowout-marred Metronet program, as Perth’s new $1.9 billion airport rail line opens after two years worth of delays.
The Forrestfield-Airport Link will be operational in as little as seven weeks, an 8.5-kilometre line linking Bayswater Station, Perth Airport, and Forrestfield.
The rail line is among the largest of the state government’s Metronet projects, which now have a combined cost of $9.1 billion; more than three times the figure attached before the 2017 election.
But that figure had excluded the Airport Link, which the state government inherited from the Barnett government.
The project has been beset by delays since construction began six years ago, with a sinkhole, flooding and a tunnel explosion that resulted in its contractor Salini being hit with a $200,000 fine.
Those issues were exacerbated by labour and materials shortages, as well as the discovery of telecommunication black spots.
The ever-expanding cost and scope of the infrastructure program has drawn the ire of the opposition, with Metronet spokesperson Tjorn Sibma casting doubt over the government’s ability to deliver it.
But during a press conference this afternoon, Mr McGowan defended the government’s flagship rail program, hailing it a job creating project that would serve Perth well into the future.
However, he could not promise other Metronet projects wouldn’t be subject to further delays; given the state of the overheated construction sector.
“We’ve got 18 projects underway and we're now building rail cars in the state for the first time in 35 years,” he said.
“The Liberals and Nationals also look at the negative, but it’s a pretty strong story when you consider the jobs created, setting the city up for the future with the reintroduction of local manufacturing; we’re getting good value for money.
“We’re in a world where we have a booming economy, supply chain difficulties, there is a war in Ukraine and a COVID hangover.
“We’ll do our best to get them done as soon as possible.”
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the "challenging" airport link would service up to 85 per cent of flights, operating between the hours of 5am and midnight on a fare capped at $5 one way.
The line is expected to operate at a cost of $42 million a year, a cost the state government claims should be offset, at least in part, by the 20,000 passengers utilising the line.
That figure is expected to balloon to 29,000 within the next decade.
Mr Sibma said there was “little to celebrate”, given the opening was two years behind schedule and the lack of transparency around the cause of the delays.
“The Minister’s failure to be transparent on the reasons for the delay, paints a grim forecast for the rest of the $10billion METRONET project,” he said.
“The Minister expects West Australians to be celebrating the announcement of the commencement of services from October, yet all it does is highlight the poor project management on works that make up 45 per cent of the government’s total asset investment program.”
