Meeting with Premier a “Success” Says Mayor

The Premier Colin Barnett and Minister for Planning John Day, Minister for Transport Troy Buswell and Treasurer and Member for Murdoch Christian Porter visited the City of Melville to learn more about the infrastructure requirements for the area surrounding FSH, known as the Murdoch Activity Centre (MAC).

During the meeting, City officers made a detailed presentation about the urgent need for the upgrades and the Premier was taken on a site visit to see first hand the City’s proposal.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said, “I am very pleased with the way our meeting with the Premier unfolded and I am looking forward to hearing his feedback from the City’s presentation.

“As the City has recently stated there are a number of important infrastructure upgrades required in the MAC to ensure social, economic, employment, health and knowledge benefits are optimised.”

These upgrades include:

·         A two-way tunnel to be constructed by 2014;

·         Extension of Roe Highway between Kwinana Freeway and Murdoch Drive;

·         Grade separation of South Street and Murdoch Drive;

·         Addition of a third lane to the section of Kwinana Freeway from Leach to Roe Highway to Cockburn Central in both directions as well as improved entry and exit arrangements for heavy vehicles between Leach Highway to Roe Highway;

·         A Southern link from Murdoch Drive to the Kwinana Freeway, including full movement intersection for Roe Highway extension and southern extension of Murdoch Drive.

“Without these upgrades, the economic development of the City and the productivity of the State will be limited. Instead of offering first-class benefits to West Australians, the area will become a black spot that causes inconvenience for tens of thousands of people every day,” he said.

“Such a black spot would even threaten lives as it is anticipated that more than 85,000 emergency movements will attempt to get into FSH and St John of God Hospital each year.

“Most specifically, a two-way tunnel needs urgent consideration if it is to be constructed  before 2014, by which time thousands of people will be using the South Street and Kwinana Freeway intersection each day to reach FSH – the tunnel is vital for avoiding congestion in Murdoch and nearby areas.

“The City of Melville is 100 per cent committed to seeing this area developed to help prepare and cater for immediate and long-term growth.

“The recommended upgrades represent environmentally sound, financially viable and politically astute decisions for the State Government and will unlock the potential of the FSH and the MAC and preserve the amenity of local residents.”