Community consultation sessions for two of Perth’s Metronet projects over July and August saw over 500 members of the public make their voices heard on a variety of issues and concerns.
Three events were held for the Thornlie-Cockburn Link, while two were held for the Yanchep Rail Extension.
The Yanchep Rail Extension will extend the Joondalup Line with a new 14.5km section from Butler to Yanchep, and three new stations three stations.
The Thornlie-Cockburn Link will see 14.5km of new passenger railway constructed to connect Thornlie and Cockburn Central stations, with two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road.
The total cost of both projects is $1.056 billion, with the federal government providing $700 million and the state government $356 million.
Business plans for the projects were submitted to Infrastructure Australia (IA) at the beginning of August.
The community that lives around the planned Thornlie-Cockburn development reportedly registered concerns noise and vibration issues and how they were going to be managed. The government has claimed that noise and vibration will not increase as a result of the project.
At beginning of July state transport minister Rita Saffioti said that consultation had led to planning changes so that there will be more ballast matting under both new passenger lines and under the existing freight line between Thornlie and Cockburn to reduce noise and vibration.
“As a result, noise and vibration between Thornlie and Cockburn will be kept to the same or lesser levels to that currently generated by the existing freight line,” she said at the time.
Residents living in the northern corridor attending consultation events were reportedly interested the location of the stations around the rail extension to Yanchep, as there is currently little infrastructure development in the area.
Participants were also asked to submit feedback forms with their queries about the project.
Construction of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Yanchep Rail Extension is expected to begin next year. The opening of both lines is planned to take place in 2021. Further consultation sessions will reportedly be held as the projects progress.