Thornlie-Cockburn link opens as part of 'unprecedented' investment in Metronet project
More than 18 months of disruption is coming to an end for some commuters as Perth's first east-west rail connection opens this week to service communities from Mandurah to Armadale.
The Thornlie-Cockburn link and adjacent rail elevation are part of WA Labor's flagship infrastructure project Metronet.
The developments, in Perth's south east, feature a $1.3 billion rail extension with two new stations connecting Thornlie to Cockburn Central, and a $1.6 billion elevation of five stations and rail from Carlisle to Beckenham.
The elevation is hoped to address road congestion — with the state government previously saying boom gates were down for up to six hours a day at some level crossings — and open up public spaces around and under the rail line.
Transport minister Rita Saffioti said despite cost and time blowouts, the level of infrastructure delivered through the Metronet project was "unprecedented".
"Generational infrastructure is hard," Ms Saffioti said.
"These projects are really for the public. They're about the future and they're about making transport even more affordable and accessible."
The projects were jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
Construction of the latest Metronet development did not come without disruption.
The Armadale line was shut down for 18 months for construction, and that disruption was set to continue for thousands of commuters due to a delay on the opening of the elevated Armadale and Byford stations.
Commuters relying on the Armadale line have been taking longer journeys on replacement bus services, while road closures have left some businesses isolated from their communities.
Butcher Matt Budny said at one point, roads on either side of his shop in Carlisle were closed to facilitate the Metronet construction and another roadworks project.
"We were close to closing up ... after they closed both sides," Mr Budny said.
Mr Budny said the lack of access caused him to lose more than half of his usual business.
"Especially if you've got family, who wants to do a 15 minute detour?" he said.
"It was devastating [but] I know that things need to be done, the train line is a good thing."
A deli on the other side of the Carlisle station also told the ABC it lost about 50 per cent of its usual business when road closures cut off access to their shop.
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A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. 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The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project. 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A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. 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A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project.
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A Carnegie house that has been in the one family for more than 50 years has welcomed a new owner following a Saturday auction. Owner Johann De-Alwis said his mother bought the three-bedroom house at 270 Neerim Rd in 1972, following their immigration to Australia from Sri Lanka, via Ceylon, in the sixties. Sadly, Mr De-Alwis was aged just six when father died from a heart attack in 1965. 'My mum saved all her money and managed to buy this house for us,' Mr De-Alwis said. 'She was a single mum with two little kids and the banks wouldn't loan her any money, so she saved and did it all on her own steam for the equivalent of $14,000.' He described his late mother as 'a resolute and strong woman' who went on to work as an executive assistant in an engineering research and development team. Ray White Carnegie director Josh Hommelhoff, who had the listing, first met Mr De-Alwis two decades ago – when he first began thinking about selling the home. Mr De-Alwis said it was bittersweet to finally sell his long-time family home but that he was planning to buy a smaller house near Daylesford, in addition to finding an apartment in Carnegie so he could stay connected to his classic car club. He's also planning on taking his classic sky-blue 1964 Studebaker hawk car in the move. Out of three bidders, a developer bought the home for $1.355m. And a creative house in Melbourne's southeast fitted with upcycled materials and appliances also sold at a Saturday auction. The four-bedroom home at 17 Albert Rd, Hallam, attracted two bidders. Owner Jennie, who has spent decades at the address, said she had renovated after moving in. With a fondness for decorating and vintage style, she shopped around at places selling recycled fittings and materials for the project. 'The stove is from about the 1940s, I purchased it from someone else's home,' Jennie said. A sailor friend inspired her to adopt a nautical theme in some parts of the house such as the curved ceiling in one of the living areas. Jennie, who is selling up with plans for a sea-change, said the garden she had planted had grown in and provided plenty of privacy. 'It has been nice family home – it's really nice and a little bit quirky,' she said. Harcourts Asap Group Dandenong director Daniel Farrugia said that during the auction, the house was announced on the market at about the $712,000 mark. The abode sold for $730,500 to an investor who is planning to rent it out. Mr Farrugia said he had noticed increased investor activity across the past two months. 'You have interstate investors buying through buyers' advocates who are looking for smaller properties, while locals want something a bit bigger that they can subdivide,' he said.
