The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has welcomed the long-awaited release of the Perth Transport Plan, Transport @ 3.5 Million, for public comment.
The plan aims to identify future metropolitan transport infrastructure projects for Perth with a population of 3.5 million or beyond.
CME Deputy Chief Executive Nicole Roocke said long term infrastructure planning by government was necessary for all industries relying on efficient freight transport for their operations.
“The Plan outlines several projects of interest to the resources sector, such as the Perth Freight Link, the link roads to the Western Trade Coast area, freight rail upgrades and the intermodal terminal developments,” Ms Roocke said.
“Unencumbered road and rail freight links are vital for transporting the state’s export commodities to port and onward to their global marketplaces.”
Combined with the Regional Freight Transport Network, the long term planning will assist the resources sector to move product and goods into, around and out of the state.
“Robust planning to support the investment in infrastructure is necessary and CME is pleased the Plan highlights the need to quantify the business cases and prioritise the projects,” Ms Roocke said.
The overall infrastructure requirements of the state will exceed government’s ability to provide financing. To meet the funding shortfall, there is a clear need to encourage greater private sector investment.
The Plan builds on the Perth & Peel @ 3.5 Million and the Green Growth Plan, which focus on strategic land use planning and are currently in draft format.
