Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The upcoming state and federal elections are an opportunity to deliver major infrastructure for the residents of Perth's northern suburbs. I acknowledge the bipartisan efforts of my state counterparts the member for Kingsley, Jessica Stojkovski MLA; the member for Hillarys, Caitlin Collins MLA; and the member for Joondalup, Emily Hamilton MLA in working cooperatively with all three levels of government to successfully secure unprecedented record levels of funding to develop our northern suburbs community.

I welcome the commitment of $225 million by the WA state government for the grade separation of the Reid Highway, with traffic bridges at the busy intersections of Erindale Road and Balcatta Road. It is an important infrastructure project which will connect the residential suburbs of Moore with the economic development areas of Balcatta, Malaga and beyond, including Perth Airport, which will make the commute much easier for the thousands of FIFO workers living in my electorate. It is a major road upgrade for which I have been campaigning for many years. I'm pleased that the state government has expanded the scope of the project design to include multiple intersections at Erindale Road and Balcatta Road in the upgrade. However, this congestion-busting project is dependent on the Commonwealth government matching the state contribution on a fifty-fifty basis by providing $225 million in federal funding. I call upon the federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to make a funding commitment in the lead-up to the upcoming election, as this project will benefit many communities in the three adjoining federal electorates, namely Cowan, Moore and Pearce.

I also welcome the commitment of $16 million by the WA state government towards the $26 million redevelopment of Warwick Stadium to expand the basketball facilities and bring the Perth Wildcats to our northern suburbs. The proposed redevelopment includes three new basketball courts, new physiotherapy facilities, a new gym, a wellness centre, upgraded change rooms, amenities and community spaces. This project is dependent on securing a further $10 million in funding from the federal government, local government and private sources.

I look forward to working cooperatively with the stakeholders to source the remainder of the funding necessary to make these projects a reality. The Prime Minister has declared Moore to be a key seat in the upcoming election, so federal funding for these projects is a high priority.