Perth: METRONET has begun the early works for the extension of the Joondalup Railway Line to northern suburbs, terminating in Yanchep.
The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, the Attorney General and Federal Member for Pearce, Christian Porter, and the Western Australia Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, came to turn the first sod, marking the beginning of works on the project.
The Yanchep extension was a key election promise for the premier. It will add 14.5km of rail north of the Butler terminal, as well as new stations at Alkimos, Eglinton and Yanchep. The early works that will now start include site clearance works and ground preparation.
Works such as geotechnical investigations and site surveys have already been ongoing. Furthermore, around 8 million AUD worth of major works contracts are to be awarded or already out for tender.
“We promised to bring METRONET to Yanchep, and today we're taking a major step forward to deliver on that promise with works starting on the job-creating project.
“Travelling up from Rockingham today, and seeing the amount of residential development in Alkimos and surrounds demonstrates just how popular the northern coastal lifestyle is.”
The main construction works will begin in early 2020. NEWest Alliance (including CPB Contractors and Downer) was today named the preferred bidder to deliver the extension and the Thornlie-Cockburn Link in Perth’s southern suburbs. The two projects together will generate more than 3,000 jobs.
The Alliance will prepare a construction schedule and ready their local workforce prior to the contract signing, which will take place in December.
“There has been incredible growth in the northern corridor and the Yanchep Rail Extension will cater for further growth in this region.
“In addition, the Thornlie-Cockburn link will help close a public transport gap for residents in Perth's eastern suburbs.
“Passengers will no longer have to travel into the city to get to the east, cutting journey times, busting congestion and creating a more convenient public transport system.”
The Yanchep Rail Extension is estimated to cost 531.7 million AUD. Of this sum, the Australian government is contributing 350 million AUD. Major construction works should be completed in 2021, with passenger services commencing in 2022.
The start of this latest METRONET project means there will be six METRONET projects under construction next year.
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