Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government is committed to infrastructure projects that will unlock growth in regional and rural Australia.

The community of Austin Lakes in my electorate of Canning is a prime example of a regional area constrained by lack of infrastructure. Since it opened, Austin Lakes has grown to include Austin Cove Baptist College, the only K to 12 school in the Shire of Murray; a shopping centre, the first to be established in South Yunderup, comprised of an IGA, owned by Karen James; a cafe; a liquor store; a pharmacy and a medical centre; and a $6 million family recreation park.

Despite being situated alongside the Forrest Highway, the main arterial road between Perth CBD and the south-west, residents in Austin Lakes have no immediate freeway access. The nearest freeway interchange is at Pinjarra Road, a seven-minute drive north. For residents wanting to head south it is quicker to take this journey than to drive 15 minutes past Pinjarra to Greenlands Road. A freeway interchange at Beacham Road would reduce travel time drastically. For Waroona students attending Austin Cove, it would shave 30 minutes of their morning journey.

A freeway access road into Austin Lakes has the potential to generate $1.8 billion in private investment over the next 20 years, providing a boost to the local construction industry. This proposal is supported by the school community, the residents, the developers and the shire. I will be calling on the government for its support.