2016-03-23
The Barnett Government's wasted fascination on the Perth Freight Link is causing a 'hiatus of confusion' costing the Kwinana region up to $42 billion in investment and the potential for 37,000 jobs, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam heard in a Senate inquiry today.
In new documents provided to the senate inquiry in a submission by over 23 experts, the City of Kwinana outlined a 50 year, multi-billion dollar revenue and jobs plan, with rail and road infrastructure already in place, for an outer harbour to replace the Fremantle Port, which is expected to reach capacity by the early 2020s.
Absent from the inquiry were any government departments including the WA Planning Commission or Liberal Senators to hear from The City of Kwinana, The Kwinana Industries Council, engineering, sustainability and agricultural stakeholders advocating for an outer harbour.
"The case for the Perth Freight Link has collapsed, with strong evidence that serious planning for the Outer Harbour should get under way, on the same day as the proposed privatisation of the Port of Fremantle hit the wall," Senator Ludlam said.
"The Mayor Carol Adams and CEO of Kwinana Joanne Abbiss have to be congratulated for doing the work of an entire government and investigating the alternative, long term freight strategy that doesn't destroy wetlands and offers the solution all councils and communities and experts have been advocating for decades."