City of Armadale officers have criticised the State Government’s Perth Transport Plan for underestimating population growth in the region and being too ‘vague’ in parts.
The criticisms came from the city’s response to the Perth Transport Plan for 3.5 Million and Beyond released in August.
The plan sets the agenda for all modes of transport from cycling to freight rail for when Perth hits 3.5 million people – in about 2050.
Comments on the plan were due last week and Armadale raised several issues with it.
Officers said population figures being used in this plan and other planning frameworks constantly underestimated the growth within the city, which led to a lack of infrastructure.
“The city’s population has been exceeding expectations for some years now,” they said.
“The impact of this continued underestimation has meant deprioritising of State Government planning and urgently needed infrastructure in the region.”
The city recommended the WA Planning Commission review and revise its population estimates before publishing its final documents.
Officers also questioned the timing and lack of mention of some major projects.
They said the Byford train line extension from Armadale should occur by 2025 but the transport plan states its preferred completion by the time the population hits 3.5 million.
“The Perth Transport Plan only states a timing of ‘by 3.5 million’, eg 2050, for the extension of passenger rail to Byford,” they said.
“This is too vague a commitment especially with the rate of growth occurring in Byford.
“(It) should be completed by at least 2025, with stations at Byford Town Centre and Eleventh Road Wungong to cater for the rapid population growth occurring in both Byford and Wungong Urban.”
When it came to roads, officers said the lack of mention of the Armadale Road duplication was concerning and it should be treated as the highest priority project in the short-term.
They said the extension of Tonkin Highway to Mundijong Road should also have been included in the plan.
