Budget funding - Fremantle

BUDGET STATEMENT

30/4/98

FREMANTLE

$22.4M FOR START ON FREEWAY PROJECT

Fremantle and surrounding areas will benefit from major capital works announced in today's State Budget.

Premier Richard Court said that funds of $33.6 million had been provided in the forward estimates for the construction and sealing of the Roe Highway from South Street to Kwinana Freeway.

Mr Court said the Budget aimed to create jobs and secure the future of the State and its people into the new century.

"This year's Budget complements our announcement earlier this month of a $398 million package to upgrade the Kwinana Freeway and widen the Narrows Bridge," he said.

"The bridge will be widened from seven to 11 lanes, which will include two bus lanes, traffic lights on the freeway will be replaced by flyovers and by the year 2000 the expressway from Perth to Mandurah will be completed."

Mr Court said extension of the Kwinana Freeway to Safety Bay Road, widening the Narrows Bridge and providing a bus transitway, would cost $22.4 million this financial year as part of the $397.6 million project.

The Premier said that education, including funding for Technical and Further Education Colleges and Centres, also benefited from the Budget.

South Metropolitan College in Fremantle would get $500,000 to allow reroofing work to be carried out.

Applecross Senior High School had been allotted $1.47 million for additions and improvements, while just over $1 million had been earmarked for upgrades at Mt Pleasant and Palmyra Primary Schools.

Mr Court said the Budget also provided a significant amount of funding for infrastructure to support the Jervoise Bay project.

He said $18 million would be provided this year to develop infrastructure for the world-class, maritime industrial complex.

Fremantle Port Authority would be allocated $6.3 million for works in progress which had a total budget of $14.6 million. A further $8.3 million would be provided for new works which included an environmental upgrade of the unloader at outer harbour and additional facilities at the bulk cargo jetty.

The Premier said the Rottnest Island Authority would get $2.23 million in 1998-99. This figure included $1.7 million for upgrades of holiday accommodation units and services and public building and facilities.

Following the completion of a feasibility study, $15.49 million had been allocated for the building of the new Fremantle Justice Centre. A total of $3.7 million had been allocated for 1998-99.

"The existing court house in Henderson Street was built in the 1890s and is no longer suitable for a variety of reasons, including security, size and outmoded facilities,"Mr Court said.

In other major works:

·      the $6.8 million Coogee Road will be completed in 1998-99.

·      the Fremantle Prison Restoration is to receive another $300,000;

·      improvements at Woodman Point will continue with $65,000 being earmarked for the removal of asbestos; and -

·      $1.68 million over a two-year period has been set aside for the Fremantle Cemetery Board to continue with its upgrades.

Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9274