Today national advisory body, Infrastructure Australia, released its 2018 Infrastructure Priority List, identifying a $55 billion pipeline of nation-shaping investments across the country. 

Alongside the Forrestfield-Airport Link, it is encouraging to see METRONET projects listed among the 24 High Priority and 60 Priority Initiatives.

The High Priority ‘Perth CBD – north corridor capacity’ Initiative includes the Yanchep Rail Extension, which will extend the Joondalup Line 13.8 km from Butler with stations at Alkimos, Eglinton and Yanchep, to meet the area’s growth, address road congestion through enhanced connections and influence land use planning.

The Priority ‘Perth rail network capacity’ Initiative captures the rest if the METRONET projects, including the Thornlie-Cockburn Link  and Morley-Ellenbrook Line.

In accordance with the Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework, Stage 2 Business Cases for the Yanchep Rail Extension and Thornlie-Cockburn Link projects  were submitted in August 2017. 

The final Stage 4 Business Case for these projects will be submitted to Infrastructure Australia in mid-2018. Following this detailed design and procurement will begin before construction can start in 2019.

The engineering contract for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line will be awarded in the coming weeks, which will help develop the Stage 2 Infrastructure Australia submission, expected towards the end of 2018. The final Stage 4 submission for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line is expected to be completed in 2019.

The METRONET Office looks forward to continuing to work with Infrastructure Australia to ensure thorough planning and consideration is given to these city building projects for Perth.