Health fears over freight link fumes

source: the west australian

Health fears over freight link fumes

Parents with children, politicians, environmentalists and residents in dust masks joined yesterday to put faces to the campaign against the Perth Freight Link.

About 1000 protesters worried about everything from diesel fumes to poor planning gathered on Stirling Bridge in East Fremantle to show the growing opposition to the $1.6 billion State Government project.

Federal MP Alannah MacTiernan, who wants the heavy transport route scrapped, said the “crazy” project was hastily conceived, poorly thought out and would not “bring home the economic bacon”.

Labor would allocate $2 million to plan an outer harbour at Kwinana if it won the next Federal election.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the project was well-planned and environmentally responsible.

He said he was focused on the Roe 8 highway extension and the Government did what it could to minimise the environmental impacts of the “critical” project.

“We understand there are concerns whenever we do something that impacts on natural vegetation,” he said. “We need to make sure we’ve looked at it carefully.

“I’m comfortable that the process has been done properly and we’re doing the right thing.”

Public health physician Linda Selvey, an associate professor at Curtin University, said the link would ruin East Fremantle.

She said it would increase diesel particulates, traffic crashes and noise pollution while destroying green space and connectivity.

Those most affected would be children, the elderly and people with lung problems.

An application for a judicial review of the environmental approval of Roe 8 was filed in the Supreme Court last week.

Dean Nalder’s ANZ ties dog WA Government’s asset sales meetings

Dean Nalder’s ANZ ties dog
WA Government’s asset sales meetings

source: perthnow

Dean Nalder, centre, with ANZ executive Jonathan Bloch (red tie) and Chinese envoy Huang Qingguo.

DEAN Nalder and ANZ executives enjoyed freebies to AFL matches and fancy dinners while he was facilitating secret “high level” meetings for them with the WA Treasurer about commercially sensitive government asset sales. 

The revelations prompted the Opposition to claim there were now “very serious questions” about the Transport Minister.

The Sunday Times revealed Mr Nalder last year accepted two free “corporate suite” AFL tickets to a June 14 West Coast Eagles game from ANZ executive director Jonathan Bloch.

Mr Nalder and Mr Bloch also dined with the Chinese consul-general Huang Qingguo on August 11 last year.

The Sunday Times has learnt Mr Bloch was one of the four ANZ officials who were part of May 27 and July 2 meetings with Mr Nalder and Treasurer Mike Nahan to discuss a range of “deleveraging options” to restore the state’s AAA credit rating.

Mr Nahan was told the state’s drinking water could be privatised to raise billions of dollars for the cash-strapped Barnett Government. Buses and depots could also be sold to raise about $700 million.
ANZ was the finance partner of Transdev, which made a successful bid to own and operate nearly one-third of the Melbourne bus network in 2012.

Mr Nalder, who worked for ANZ for nearly two decades, refused to answer questions this week about the potential for conflicts from accepting hospitality while holding the asset sales talks.
He also refused to reveal the names of the other ANZ executives in the meetings.

An ANZ spokesman said the bank had “processes in place to manage any potential conflicts”.
Mr Nalder was stripped of his role as finance minister late last year after conflict of interest claims relating to his business interests emerged.

A Government spokesman has previously said there was “no conflict of interest in any meetings with regard to asset sales as no expressions of interest were in the market”.

The spokesman also said the Treasurer had met more than 45 banks, investment banks, stockbrokers and general financial institutions since becoming Treasurer.

This week he refused to comment on how many of those meetings Mr Nalder was present for.
A request by The Sunday Times for any documents from the ANZ meetings was denied.

Opposition spokesman for government accountability, Ben Wyatt, said ANZ had a potential interest in asset sales.

“These latest revelations raise very serious questions about the way Dean Nalder conducts himself as Minister,” Mr Wyatt said.

“This new information falls short of the public ‘sniff test’.

“It’s a very troubling look for a Minister to be enjoying the corporate largesse of his former employer while consulting with them on the sensitive details of a proposed sell-off of public assets.

“Every major bank has a potential commercial interest in financing privatisation sales.

“Dean Nalder should know better. He is yet to learn the propriety necessary to conduct himself as Minister.”

the original story is found HERE from Perth Now

IRRESPONSIBLE FREIGHT LINK THREATENS WA’S GROWTH

THE HON ALANNAH MACTIERNAN MP
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
MEMBER FOR PERTH

IRRESPONSIBLE FREIGHT LINK T
HREATENS WA’S GROWTH

The $1.76 billion Perth Freight Link lobbed like a UFO onto the Abbott Government’s first Budget in May 2014.

The sorry genesis of this project tells us a lot about the absurdly partisan way the Abbott Government does business. 

At the beginning of 2014 the Federal Government had a problem. It was about to take $500 million out of the Budget promised to Perth rail project, because Tony Abbott had declared he would never fund urban rail. 

The Abbott Government knew it had to fill that hole to stop an uprising in WA, a state already suffering from a plummeting GST share.

So Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann flew across the Nullarbor in February to sit down with our Transport Minister Dean Nalder.

Mr Nalder went in to pitch for funds for an outer harbour at Kwinana – a plan developed over 20 years by successive governments, both Liberal and Labor, to keep WA’s economy growing once Fremantle port reached its capacity around 2022.

Even the Barnett Government had continued this planning – its 2008 ‘Vision for the Port of Fremantle’ committed the Liberal Party to progressing the outer harbour, and right up until mid-2014, WA Government agencies were still assessing the project.

But 45 minutes into the meeting, Mr Nalder walked out with a cobbled together mix of the Roe Highway Stage 8 extension and upgrades to Fremantle roads in his hand – rebranded as the Perth Freight Link. 

In fact, Freedom of Information searches have shown us that the first contact between Commonwealth and State agencies to provide advice on the cost-benefit and design of the project occurred in mid-March 2014, just two months before it was announced. There was no careful planning and no Infrastructure Australia assessment prior to the announcement.

The problems with this project have been well documented; the destruction of wetlands, the threat to homes and businesses, the ludicrous fact that it stops 1.5km short of the port, forcing a bottleneck at Stirling Bridge. Dealing with the latter two problems will add at least $700 million to the project. 

But the real threat to WA’s future is throwing billions of dollars at a short-term solution that does not address the need for a new port in less than 10 years. 

That’s why infrastructure projects need extensive and transparent planning: to ensure the dollars are being spent in the most effective places.

In 2002 the WA Labor Government undertook an exhaustive freight network review to work out how best to deal with WA’s growing freight needs. 

We knew back then that smashing a highway through suburban Fremantle to reach a port that was nearing capacity wasn’t the answer – that’s why we removed the Fremantle Eastern Bypass from Perth’s planning schemes. 

So we developed a six-point plan for freight. Part of that did involve road upgrades through Fremantle – but critically, it involved planning on the outer harbour as a matter of urgency. 

So much so that Labor committed to building the outer harbour in 2005.

The Perth Freight Link is an irresponsible, ill-planned project that will worsen the congestion problems around Fremantle and threaten WA’s future freight trade growth by leaving us short of critical port capacity. 

If the Barnett and Abbott Governments are serious about future proofing WA’s industries they should get on with planning and developing the outer harbour, and avoid wasting scarce taxpayer money on outdated roads to a constrained port. 

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Sunday, 30 August 2015.

Check out Colin Barnett's comments at the bottom of the page. It's comments like that which highlight just how much this guy doesn't fit the role he's filling. West Australians in general aren't properly represented by how this man speaks, and his outlook. It's time for a change.

Timing of 'complex, expensive' Perth freight link still unclear, WA Premier says

Continuing uncertainty over the timing of the Perth Freight Link to Fremantle will not be resolved until construction contracts are signed, WA Premier Colin Barnett has told Parliament.

The State Government has been under pressure over conflicting estimates from Transport Minister Dean Nalder, and repeated statements by the Premier suggesting construction of stage two to the Fremantle Port may be delayed.

Flanked by Federal Finance Minister Matthias Cormann, Mr Nalder told reporters at the weekend that the project would begin construction next year.

Senator Cormann reiterated that view, but within 24 hours Mr Barnett had again suggested the timeline was ambitious and may not be met.

In Question Time today, Opposition Transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti pushed the Premier for an answer.

"We will know, when we get to the point of determining a route, of having all the necessary approvals in place, having the contracts signed, and construction commissioned," Mr Barnett said.

"And no-one can put an exact timing on that. No-one can."

The Perth Freight Link is being planned in two stages.

The first stage, known as Roe 8, extends the Roe Highway from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road.

The second stage, known as Roe 9, would link Roe Highway to the Fremantle Port by an as-yet undetermined route.

The initial plan, to create the freight link along Stock Road to Leach Highway and High Street, has been put on hold while the three proponents for the project explore alternative routes.

Those proposals are expected to be submitted to Government by the end of the year, but Mr Nalder has already expressed his preference for a route involving a tunnel under White Gum Valley.

Contracts for Roe 8 are due to be awarded in October, and contracts for Roe 9 in December, the same month the proponents are due to hand over their route options.

Mr Barnett told Parliament the complexity of the project meant the timeline had not been finalised.

"It is complex, it is expensive, it will take some time," he said.

Mr Barnett said he was concentrating on getting Roe 8 started.

"You'll complain about that, won't you? You'll be out there with posters complaining about Roe 8. Well just watch it get built," he said.

"And when we get that underway, we'll move our attention increasingly to the link to the Fremantle Port."

see the original article here

Freo port deal pivotal for freight planning

source: business news

  Freo port deal pivotal for freight planning

SPECIAL REPORT: The privatisation of Fremantle Ports will have a major bearing on the future shape of freight movements across Perth.
In 2007, when in opposition in Western Australia, the Liberal Party came up with a radical policy to phase out commercial shipping activity at Fremantle in favour of a new outer harbour at Cockburn Sound.

The policy was the brainchild of Simon O’Brien, who had a relatively short stint in the ministry after the change of government, before losing favour with Premier Coin Barnett.
As the Liberals settled in to the government parliamentary benches, they reverted to the orthodox policy that favoured development of an outer harbour as an overflow port after Fremantle reached its capacity – at some indeterminate time in the future.

That is still the accepted policy; yet last week Transport Minster Dean Nalder was musing on the possibility of Fremantle being closed to commercial shipping.

His comments were made in the midst of a Committee for Economic Development of Australia transport forum, where Mr Nalder was defending the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link project.
Critics believe the freight link heads in the wrong direction, because it services the inner harbour at Fremantle rather than looking to the future at Cockburn Sound.

Mr Nalder believes it makes sense, irrespective of future port developments.

“If we started yesterday, it would take a minimum of 10 years to develop the outer harbour,” Mr Nalder told the CEDA forum.

“On top of that, if a future government decided to transfer completely to the outer harbour, and decided there was another use, and a better use for the community, for the inner harbour, that would take a number of years as well.

“So we’re talking 15, 20 years before you could transition fully to an outer harbour project.
“In the meantime, we’re going to see the number of trucks coming out of Fremantle port in the next 10 to 15 years more than double, we’ll start seeing 6,000 trucks a day.”
He then expanded on this theme.

“If you were to remove the inner harbour out of Fremantle, you will not be replacing it with lawn.
“It will be high-density residential and commercial, and the number I’ve heard is that there will be up to 20,000 additional people, and I think that will be quite dynamic for Fremantle.”
Either way, the minister believes improved road links to Fremantle will be needed.
Mr Nalder said he was seeking more advice on how long it would take to fully transition to an outer harbour.

Privatisation
And clearly he won’t be the only one.

Banking group Rothschild and accounting firm Deloitte have been engaged by the state government to advise on the privatisation of Fremantle Ports – for likely proceeds of $2 billion.

The government is looking to link the sale of the existing port facilities with development of the outer harbour, at a cost of several billion dollars.

Treasurer Mike Nahan told a budget briefing in May the government would look to package-up land at Cockburn Sound, including some held by LandCorp and Synergy, to facilitate the outer harbour development.

This would draw upon extensive planning undertaken a decade ago, when then planning and infrastructure minister, Alannah MacTiernan, saw the outer harbour project as a priority.
Ms MacTiernan actually announced a preferred development option in 2006, with the outer harbour to be built north of the BP oil refinery at James Point.

Dr Nahan believes the outer harbour development opportunity will enhance the privatisation deal.
“The right to build, own and operate an overflow port is an extremely valuable asset, it will enhance the value, not detract from it,” Dr Nahan told the budget briefing.

Labor ports spokesperson Bill Johnston believes the sale process must specify the development obligations on the purchaser, to ensure the outer harbour proceeds.

“It would be in the interests of the purchaser to keep the inner harbour as a monopoly,” Mr Johnston said.

How long?
Mr Nalder’s view is that it will be 15 years before the inner harbour reaches capacity.
The port handled 703,000 twenty-foot equivalent units last year, with TEUs the industry measure for container freight.

The port’s capacity is generally seen to be about 1.3 million TEUs, a year though Mr Nalder said the stevedores – DP World and Patrick – had been telling him they could handle up to 1.8 million TEUs.
The state government is aiming to get more of this freight on to rail, with the aspirational target of 30 per cent about double the current level.

That still leaves most containers leaving the port on trucks, which is where the Perth Freight Link is meant to help.

Perth Freight Link is one of three major road projects, along with Gateway and Northlink, designed to create a freight corridor from Fremantle to north of Perth (see map).

Mr Nalder believes trucking companies using these roads will be willing to pay a freight levy, or toll, because the improved road network will deliver substantial efficiency gains.

However, the freight link has upset environmental groups, which are concerned the Roe 8 extension will damage the Beeliar wetlands.

It has also upset residents near Leach Highway, whose houses might be resumed.

That is why the government has asked the private consortia bidding to build the project to evaluate alternative routes for stage 2, including a tunnel.

Even if the government addresses all of these challenges, it still faces a major hurdle – how to manage the extra truck movements across Stirling Bridge and through North Fremantle.

Mr Nalder said last week the government had evaluated extending a tunnel under the Swan River, but concluded that was not viable.

That has led to speculation the government will need to build a new bridge across the Swan River, lifting the project’s total cost closer to $2 billion.

Labor’s transport spokesperson, Rita Saffioti, believes the problems facing Perth Freight Link reflect the genesis of the project.

“It wasn’t on the agenda at the 2013 state election,” Ms Saffioti said.

“It wasn’t a priority, it wasn’t funded.”

She said it was pulled together with the Abbott government, which was opposed to funding metro rail projects but wanted to find an alternative infrastructure development for Perth.

“Now it’s a massive priority,” Ms Saffioti said.

“It’s another example of chaotic and dysfunctional planning.”

Ms MacTiernan, who has been endeavouring to obtain documents used in the planning and evaluation of the Freight Link, suspects planning did not get underway until March 2014, just two months before the project was announced.

That is based on one of the few pieces of information thast has been released. A schedule of correspondence shows the first correspondence on Freight Link was in March 2014.

The original story can be viewed at Business News HERE

TIMING OF 'COMPLEX, EXPENSIVE' PERTH FREIGHT LINK STILL UNCLEAR: PREMIER

source: abc news

TIMING OF 'COMPLEX, EXPENSIVE' PERTH FREIGHT LINK STILL UNCLEAR: PREMIER

Photo: The Roe Highway in Perth will be extended under State Government plans to build a freight link.
(ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

Continuing uncertainty over the timing of the Perth Freight Link to Fremantle will not be resolved until construction contracts are signed, WA Premier Colin Barnett has told Parliament.

The State Government has been under pressure over conflicting estimates from Transport Minister Dean Nalder, and repeated statements by the Premier suggesting construction of stage two to the Fremantle Port may be delayed.

Flanked by Federal Finance Minister Matthias Cormann, Mr Nalder told reporters at the weekend that the project would begin construction next year.

Senator Cormann reiterated that view, but within 24 hours Mr Barnett had again suggested the timeline was ambitious and may not be met.

In Question Time today, Opposition Transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti pushed the Premier for an answer.

"We will know, when we get to the point of determining a route, of having all the necessary approvals in place, having the contracts signed, and construction commissioned," Mr Barnett said.

"And no-one can put an exact timing on that. No-one can."

ABC has more to report on this story HERE

Transport Minister cannot back up Freight Link pollution claims

an update from lynn macLaren

Transport Minister cannot back up Freight Link
pollution claims 

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has blasted the Transport Minister for failing to answer simple questions based on his Department’s own publicity on Perth Freight Link for a second week in the row. 

 

“Today in Parliament I asked the Minister to direct me to any studies the Government has done to support Main Roads’ much-vaunted claim that the Perth Freight Link will reduce vehicle exhaust fumes and greenhouse gas emissions and to my surprise, the Minister said he could not answer,” Ms MacLaren said. 

“This defies belief; I based my question on a May 2015  Main Roads factsheet which states the Link will reduce fuel exhaust and carbon dioxide emissions. 

“How can anyone have faith in Main Roads’ publicity such claims if the Government cannot provide any evidence to back it? 

“I also asked if the Government had done any modelling to compare diesel particulate emissions if Perth Freight Link is built compared to from vehicle use of the existing road network. 

“Again, the Minister could not answer with either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, let alone providing me with any data.

READ more HERE

Government defends freight link

souce: community news

Government defends freight link 

Mike Nahan (second from left) and Dean Nalder (third from left) at a
Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce meeting last week.

THE State Government says environmental concerns, cost and the time needed to build a new port means the Perth Freight Link should not be shelved in favour of a new outer harbour at Cockburn Sound.

But it does believe both are important pieces of infrastructure for Perth’s future.

WA Treasurer Mike Nahan said that after more than $20 million worth of planning since 2008, Roe 8 – the first stage of the |$1.6 billion effort to link Roe Highway to Fremantle Port – was good to go.
“We have a design, we have a route, we have EPA approval and now we have Commonwealth contribution to it and we’re getting on with the business,” he said.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk, among others, has called for the freight link to be scrapped and work to begin on the outer harbour.

“I think the better solution is to get on and start planning the outer harbour and to take freight away from communities and into an industrial area. That’s a solution for the 21st century. That’s where we should be putting our infrastructure dollars,” she said.

Mr Nahan said a new harbour could cost between $3-$5 billion.

Transport minister Dean Nalder said there were serious environmental concerns associated with a potential harbour in Cockburn Sound.

“People are thinking the environmental work has been done. I had it confirmed (Tuesday) … with the EPA that it would be a minimum of three years of environmental work that needs to be undertaken,” he said.

“The estimated time I’ve had on construction from my department is it would take six to seven years to construct the outer harbour.

“So we’re talking a minimum of 10 years.”

Mr Nalder said Fremantle Port could accommodate doubling freight movements but the outer “overflow” harbour would be needed.

Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said a container park at Latitude 32 in Wattleup was a better option than the freight link.

He said he had support from Fremantle and East Fremantle councils.

“The intermodal facility at Latitude 32 is essential and the outer harbour can flow from that,” he said.

The original story can be read HERE

Minister to explore railway tunnel option

source: community news

Minister to explore railway tunnel option 

MELVILLE BACKS UNDERGROUND SOLUTION

A TUNNEL from Hamilton Hill through to Fremantle as part of the Roe 9 stage of the Perth Freight Link is looking increasingly likely, although it could be delayed after Transport Minister Dean Nalder said exact timing for the build was not locked in.

 Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk (centre) with Rethink Perth Freight Link protestors outside the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce breakfast where Mr Nalder was speaking last Wednesday.

Mr Nalder told a business breakfast last week that being able to deliver a twin-bored tunnel railway line out to Forrestfield as part of the $2 billion airport link at a price in line with doing it above ground meant he “felt a lot more comfortable to explore this as a potential solution for getting us to the port”.

The other option is to continue the freight link down Stock Road and Leach Highway/High Street.
Mr Nalder said part two was yet to be finalised, but he did apologise to Palmyra residents for the uncertainty created while he explored alternative routes.

A Palmyra resident said her family was working around the clock to finish renovations so they could be compensated appropriately if the State Government resumed her home.

“We’ve just been spending money to try to get it finished potentially so they can knock it over,” she said.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk argued the uncertainty was widespread and the project should be scrapped.

There is more to read HERE

 

Officials seek Federal funds

source: community news

Officials seek Federal funds

FREMANTLE WA officials are in Canberra working with the Federal Government about funding for the last piece of the Perth Freight Link.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said a tunnel across the Swan River was scrapped when it was realised this would mean digging up to 26m underground, making it too difficult for trucks stacked with heavy containers to make the journey back to the surface.

“There’s a certain gradient you need to comply with to get the vehicles up and that meant we’d be swinging a tunnel up and around Leighton Beach / Port Beach to come back in,” he said.

“The cost of that has removed that from our consideration.”

Read the rest of the story HERE

Mayor welcomes inquiry into road decision

source: community news

 Mayor welcomes inquiry into road decision
Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk (centre) with Rethink Perth Freight Link protestors outside the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce breakfast, where Mr Nalder was speaking last Wednesday.

COCKBURN Mayor Logan Howlett has welcomed news the Senate will investigate the financing and |decision-making behind the controversial Perth Freight Link (PFL) in September or October.

Mr Howlett was hopeful information that group opposed to the $1.6 billion project have been looking to scrutinise for months would be made public.

“Transparency is of the highest priority, particularly when you’re spending billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money on a project which the community are generally saying they don’t want and there’s better options available,” he said.

Meanwhile, a tunnel from Hamilton Hill through to Fremantle as part of the Roe 9 stage of the Perth Freight Link is looking increasingly likely, though it could be delayed after Transport Minister Dean Nalder said exact timing for the build was not locked in.

Mr Nalder told a business breakfast last week that being able to deliver a twin-bored tunnel railway line out to Forrestfield as part of the $2 billion airport link at a price in line with doing it above ground meant he “felt a lot more comfortable to explore this as a potential solution for getting us to the port”. 

read more from this COMMUNITY NEWS story HERE

Timeline for Perth Freight Link second stage depends on route, Transport Minister Dean Nalder says

source: abc news

Timeline for Perth Freight Link second stage depends on route, Transport Minister Dean Nalder says

 

Dean Nalder says he will report back to Parliament if the project's timeline is pushed out.

The final timing of the second stage of the Perth Freight Link will be contingent on which route it takes to Fremantle, Transport Minister Dean Nalder has told State Parliament.

The Government has been questioned over the timeline for the project after comments from Premier Colin Barnett appeared to suggest the second stage could be delayed.

The Opposition pursued the Transport Minister in Question Time, seeking a firm answer on if and when the second stage linking the Roe Highway to Fremantle would proceed. Mr Nalder said the Government remained committed to both stages of the $1.6 billion heavy transport route, linking Perth's industrial eastern suburbs to the Fremantle Port.

"The Fremantle link is a very important project for the state of Western Australia and we stand by that," he said.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the contrasting statements by the Premier and Transport Minister were symptomatic of a confused decision-making process.

"The Transport Minister and the Premier are in total contradiction over the Perth Freight Link. Clearly the relationship between the two of them is dysfunctional and chaotic," he said.

Let me be clear, the Premier's right, we're on the same page with this.

"The Premier says they might build it. The Minister yesterday said they will build it. What is going on?"

Mr McGowan said the apparent confusion over the controversial second stage of the project was adding to the stress of those residents in Palmyra who face losing their homes.
"It's very distressing for people in that area. There they are, their houses could be bulldozed. They've got a Minister saying one thing, the Premier saying another and they're the meat in the sandwich," he said.

But responding in Parliament, Mr Nalder refuted the Opposition's criticisms.

"Let me be clear, the Premier's right, we're on the same page with this," he said. Mr Nalder said the "base case" for the project was to take stage two down Stock Road to Leach Highway and onto High Street.

He said that remained the current option and the Government had also asked three proponents to explore alternative routes.

"We have a critical time period coming up where, a critical junction when the proponents come back to us with possible solutions. Now at that point we may move away from the base case," he said.
"So that is the time when we will review timelines, that is the critical junction.

"If I can find a better solution and it requires us to do more additional work that pushes out the timeline, then that'll be the time that we report it back through Parliament."

Theres more to this story that you can read HERE

Perth Freight Link: The inquiry we had to have

source: news.com.au

Perth Freight Link: The inquiry we had to have

Transport Minister Dean Nalder, fast becoming a lone voice on the Freight Link. Source: News Corp Australia

TO paraphrase former Prime Minister Paul Keating: This is the inquiry we had to have. 
 
So far, the Barnett Government has not been able to articulate to the WA public the need to sink $650 million into a new $1.6 billion freight road for Fremantle Port — when a new container port will be needed within 10 to 15 years.

In May this year, Premier Colin Barnett old the media: “For the moment we will maximise the use of Fremantle (Port). “But yes, in 15 years or so’s time there will need to be a new port.”

So why spend $1.6 billion — nearly the same amount of money needed to build the shelved light rail project — on a road which may not be needed in a decade’s time?

As I reported last week, Transport Minister Dean Nalder is fast becoming a lone voice on this project.
Despite insisting that the PFL contracts will be signed in December, Barnett is not singing from the same hymn book.

The proposed Perth Freight Link.

Barnett told The Sunday Times last week: “Roe 8 is essentially project ready with designs and relevant environmental approvals secured, and will be the government’s immediate focus. “We have a way to go on the next section and a final decision on the route for that section is yet to be made.
“Big projects take time to deliver.”

And just as worrying for Barnett is the fact that members of the government’s own Cabinet are now questioning the need for this project.

Read more of this amazing story HERE

Senate will hold inquiry into Perth Freight Link debacle - Scott Ludlam Greens MP

source: scott ludlam greens mp

Senate will hold inquiry into
Perth Freight Link debacle

The Greens, ALP and all eight Senate crossbenchers have successfully moved to establish a Senate Inquiry into the Perth Freight Link, increasing the pressure on the besieged Barnett Government.
"The inquiry has been made necessary by the continued refusal of the Barnett and Abbott governments to publish basic information about the toll highway," Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

"Whatever your views on whether this project is a good idea or not, the public is owed an explanation as to how an open-ended funding commitment of up to $2.5 billion was made in the absence of basic information.

"I will propose to the committee that hearings are held in Perth, and that, among others, Minister Dean Nalder and Main Roads are asked to attend. It's time they provided factual evidence to back up their claims that the project is worth torching billions of dollars of taxpayers money."

Read more of this story HERE

Perth Freight Link battle continues - Comminity News

source: community news

Perth Freight Link battle continues 

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk with anti-Perth Freight Link protestors 

THE State Government looks like it is leaning towards a tunnel through Hamilton Hill, rather than taking part two of the Perth Freight Link down Stock Road and High Street.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said part two was yet to be finalised, but he did apologise to Palmyra residents for the “uncertainty” created while he explored alternative routes.

“We’re going through the processes and working through all the options of not only phase two of looking at a tunnel, but also the last mile which means getting it across the river and into the port,” he said.

Mr Nalder continued to defend the State Government’s refusal to release key planning documents, including the full business case for the project.

“We are going through a process and working with proponents as to the appropriate contract and the pricing that goes with that,” he said.

“We’re not going to put at risk the contract negotiations and put a potentially higher price on anything by putting out information that would put the state in a worse position.”

“The Department is working through a paper which I wish to present once we finalise the routes through to the port that we can share with the broader community [showing] exactly what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said there had not been due consideration to the communities that would be “harshly affected” by the $1.6 billion project.

“The Government throws these figures around – 2000 trucks off Leach Highway as a result of the Perth Freight Link – but they are giving us no figures, they are giving us no data,” she said.
“We need full disclosure about the business case and traffic modelling underpinning this investment.
Ms McGurk said with Roe 8 to be signed off in the coming months, she was unwilling to wait for the government’s paper.

“It is reasonable for the community to know the business case and traffic modelling underpinning this project well before any contracts are signed,” she said.

“If the government had confidence in this project they would release the figures and they would ensure public scrutiny.”

Community News has the original story HERE

Nalder blames Ludlam for Freight delay - The West Australian

source: the west australian

Nalder blames Ludlam for Freight delay

 Nalder becomes confused, again

West Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder has admitted he incorrectly claimed the contentious Perth Freight Link project had received all environmental approvals, including federal.

And he's laid the blame at the feet of the Greens, telling state parliament on Wednesday that the Commonwealth "has had to delay because of a political stunt by Scott Ludlam".

Mr Nalder made the comment about approvals at an earlier press conference but later told parliament he'd received advice that it was incorrect.

He's now angry at Senator Ludlam, who hopes to initiate an inquiry into the $1.6 billion project, given the Abbott government refused a Senate motion ordering it to table further documents about the road's costs and benefits.

Mr Nalder told reporters he was not concerned about an inquiry.

He also said he had good commercial reasons not to reveal those project details, which could prompt proponents to bid using inflated prices.

"We are going through a process and working with proponents as to the appropriate contract and the pricing that goes with that," Mr Nalder said.

"We're not going to put at risk the contract negotiations and put a potentially higher price on anything by putting out information that would put the state in a worse position.

"I have no qualms about the information and the business case behind this - it is a great project."
Mr Nalder said he would share details about the project once the route was finalised, but angry members of the community - including residents who may have their homes resumed to make way for the road - are demanding answers now.

He apologised to Palmyra residents for the uncertainty they're enduring while a tunnel option is considered.

The WA government was "not rushing it" and was mulling over all of the alternatives routes, he added, and the priority was ensuring safe roads and tackling congestion.

Mr Nalder also emphasised the road would only impose tolls on trucks, and said the state government was committed to not extending that to private vehicles.

read the original article from the West Australian HERE

Scott Ludlam gets another on Nalder

source: abc news

Senate inquiry into Perth freight link project would be of no concern, Transport Minister Dean Nalder says

 

Photo: Dean Nalder says he will not compromise the freight link tender process by releasing sensitive information. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

A Senate inquiry into the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link project would be "of no concern", West Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder says.

The Senate sought to table documents detailing the cost-benefit analysis and business case for the project but was blocked by the State Government.

WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlum now hopes to initiate a Senate inquiry into the project to probe the data and assumptions behind the road network.

Mr Nalder said he was not concerned by the prospect of a federal inquiry and would not compromise the current tender process by releasing sensitive information.

"We're not going to put at risk the contract negotiations and put a potentially higher price on anything by putting out information that would put the state in a worse (negotiating) position," he said.

The ABC has more on this story HERE

souce: perth now

Freight fight: ‘Two-storey
Stirling Bridge planned’ — opponents 

A DOUBLE-storey bridge is being considered as part of the Perth Freight Link, a group of local residents claims.

Rethink Perth Freight Link claims Transport Minister Dean Nalder on Wednesday told a business function that making the Stirling Bridge in Fremantle double storey was an option to separate trucks and cars.

“Once it hits North Fremantle, it could fold over with an upper level and lower level, with trucks on the lower level,” group spokeswoman Grainne O’Donovan said.

read the whole story HERE

Nalder blames Ludlam for Freight delay - news.com.au

source: news.com.au

WEST Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder has admitted he incorrectly claimed the contentious Perth Freight Link project had received all environmental
approvals, including federal. 

 
AND he's laid the blame at the feet of the Greens, telling state parliament on Wednesday that the Commonwealth "has had to delay because of a political stunt by Scott Ludlam".

Mr Nalder made the comment about approvals at an earlier press conference but later told parliament he'd received advice that it was incorrect. He's now angry at Senator Ludlam, who hopes to initiate an inquiry into the $1.6 billion project, given the Abbott government refused a Senate motion ordering it to table further documents about the road's costs and benefits.

Mr Nalder told reporters he was not concerned about an inquiry. He also said he had good commercial reasons not to reveal those project details, which could prompt proponents to bid using inflated prices.

read the rest from new.com.au HERE