WA Labor agrees that this is a ‘once in a life time opportunity’ for Bayswater and will look for alternative funding sources which allow the very best solution to take rail through Bayswater. Sinking the line is one option.

A McGowan WA Labor Government will provide $40 million in addition to the $7miillion already allocated to upgrade Bayswater station. If elected, the METRONET team will work with engineers and the City of Bayswater to determine the best method to upgrade the station as part of an overall redevelopment of the Bayswater precinct informed by the structure plan currently being developed.

The Federal Government’s Smart Cities program is suited to WA Labor’s plan to create 21 Century jobs and industry for West Australians along the Forrestfield Airport Bayswater Link.

Additional commitments relating to the Forrestfield-Airport Line can be found at  https://www.markmcgowan.com.au/METRONET

The Forrestfield Airport Link is a fantastic piece of infrastructure that will provide key economic gains for local business within WA. It is also a key piece of infrastructure that will provide an avenue for a number of key suburbs the ability to grow, develop and revitalise.

The sinking of a rail line is a process that requires collaboration with all levels of Government. A re-elected Liberal Government will continue to work closely with the City of Bayswater, the Federal Government and the relevant community stakeholders to ensure that this can be actioned. As a passionate local and the Liberal Candidate for Maylands, I believe very strongly in the importance of connecting local residents to the decision-makers in Government.

That’s why I recently arranged meetings with Future Bayswater and key Government Ministers – namely, Deputy Premier Hon Liza Harvey MLA and Minister for Planning; Disability Services Donna Faragher MLC.

Those meetings were positive, constructive and received good feedback from both sides. I will continue to work tirelessly for the people in the Maylands electorate and with Future Bayswater to find the best possible solution to the rail line issue. The first part of this process was that ensuring relevant Federal and State Ministers were fully updated about the proposal. Another significant step is with the Smart Cities Grant that we have been pushing the City of Bayswater to submit to the Federal Government as part of this overall proposal. This is something that the City of Bayswater has proposed to complete.

The Greens believe that the community should have a voice in the decisions made locally, and this is an important local issue which needs to be considered. If key community groups and local stakeholders continue to support the station being put underground, then this is something which I would also support, advocate and commit to fighting for in Parliament.

In the previous Federal election, Tim Clifford, then Candidate for Perth and now our lead Upper House candidate for the East Metropolitan Region, committed to provide funding for a feasibility study, and for a genuine community engagement process in regards to sinking the Bayswater train station. I support Tim in this, and together we are deeply committed to comprehensive and ongoing community consultation and to investigating opportunities for revitalising the area.