Budget funding - southern suburbs

BUDGET STATEMENT

30/4/98

SOUTHERN SUBURBS

TRANSPORT BOOST FOR SOUTHERN SUBURBS

Southern suburb residents will benefit from transport initiatives totaling more than $75.3 million announced in this year's State Budget by Premier Richard Court.

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

Plans for extension of the Roe Highway from Nicholson Road to South Street will cost almost $58.5 million. Planning has already begun and construction is expected to begin in 2001-02.

Mr Court said the Oats Street bus and train interchange would cost $500,000 to complete, making transfers easier for the public.

Spending on works for the Kenwick-Jandakot railway link would amount to $6.6 million this financial year and the $19.5 million project was due to be finished in 2001-02.

Southern suburb residents will also benefit from other Budget announcements, including completion of the new Cannington police district complex. Work already started on the complex will be finished with a $1.4 million allocation this financial year.

"Ensuring police have the resources they need and the facilities that will help them deliver a better service to the public is underlined by the development by this State Government of the new Cannington Police Complex," Premier Court said.

More than $2.2 million has been allocated to improvements at the South Perth Zoo.

Works include up-grading facilities for patrons, improving the elephant enclosure and building a new rain forest exhibit as well as funding for a previously endangered species breeding program.

Mr Court said there would be a continuing upgrade to security at the Canning Vale prison complex.

Another $1.1 million would be spent this financial year as part of a $3.1 million security improvement program and $3 million would provide an assessment centre for new prisoners at the Canning Vale prison complex.

Mr Court said $1.1 million would be spent continuing development of Bentley Technology Park. Four hectares of the park site would be used as the home for the CSIRO's National Centre for Petroleum and Mineral Resources Research.

"There will be $12 million spent this financial year on the relocation of the research centre and a further $20 million over the following two financial years," the Premier said.

Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9475