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Government 'all over the place' on Ellenbrook, Labor says

Friday, 26 Feb 2016 06:12:32 | Jacob Kagi

WA Labor's transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said the government's transport solutions for Perth's north-east were "all over the place".

Calls from within their own party for dumped plans for a rapid bus network to Ellenbrook to be brought back to life show the Government has no sensible transport solutions for Perth's north-eastern corridor, the WA Opposition says.

Ahead of the 2017 election where transport issues are likely to be a key focus, Liberal MP Frank Alban urged Transport Minister Dean Nalder to revisit plans for a bus rapid transit network to Ellenbrook.

Mr Alban, the member for the marginal electorate of Swan Hills, said there were deficiencies with existing public transport options in the area, which a rapid bus system from Ellenbrook to Bassendean train station would help to address.

The Government famously reneged on a promise made before the 2008 election to build the Ellenbrook rail line, and now believes there would be insufficient demand to justify that for at least another decade.

But in the 2013 election campaign the Liberals promised a rapid bus route, only to scrap that due to a cost blowout shortly after revealing the plans.

At the time, Premier Colin Barnett said a bus rapid transit system would not provide a "quality service".

An Ellenbrook rail line remained a part of Labor's Metronet policy and the party's transport spokesman Rita Saffioti said it was the only sensible option.

"Ellenbrook deserves better public transport, it deserves a rail line and Frank has been missing in action," Ms Saffioti said.

"They are all over the place when it comes to public transport in Ellenbrook."

In his response to Mr Alban's grievance in Parliament, Mr Nalder said the Government had invested heavily in Ellenbrook projects — particularly on-road — and was considering a range of public transport options.

The political futures of both Mr Alban and Ms Saffioti hang in the balance leading up to the next election, with both facing fights to hold on to their seats.

After a redistribution, Ms Saffioti's West Swan seat is notionally Liberal with a 0.9 per cent margin.

Mr Alban's Swan Hills electorate, which like West Swan had been heavily changed following a redistribution, is held on a 3.7 per cent margin.

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