City of Canning again defers decision on new transport link to Jandakot Airport
[ad_1]
It is proving to be a long road to creating a new transport link to Jandakot Airport, with the City of Canning again deferring a decision on whether to build it or not.
Plans for a Jandakot eastern link have been in the works since 2014 but work on it has been stalled since July 2022 as the council mulled over its implications.
Since then the council has held four briefings on the project.
The $8 million scheme involves building a road connecting Jandakot Airport to Ranford Road as part of the Ranford Station Metronet project.
It has been supported by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the City of Melville, Jandakot Airport Holdings Pty Ltd, Main Roads WA and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, which all said it would provide alternative access in and out of Jandakot Airport and improved traffic conditions.
The link is also expected to be the primary access to the proposed Canning Vale sports complex.
Main Roads WA is funding the project for three years and has set aside $5.332 million— two-thirds of the expected cost — for it.
Despite Canning staff warning that there was a high risk the money would have to be returned if work did not start soon, the council voted 8-3 to put it on hold until a meeting in April.
It came after a motion from mayor Patrick Hall to go ahead with the preferred design was lost 5-6.
Councillors said they did not have enough time to consider an alternative motion from deputy mayor Ben Kunze to abandon the project.
Cr Kunze had proposed returning Main Roads’ money and rezoning land set aside in the area for roads to environmental conservation.
The preferred route would be about 1.23km and require the removal of about 11,500sqm of vegetation in a Bush Forever site — the least of the three options considered.
The area is also home to about 300 western grey kangaroos, which would have to be relocated.
Cr Kunze said he could not “in good conscience” support the damage to the environment.
He said the link posed a significant risk to native species and would split their habitat.
Mr Hall said there had been no protests over the project.
“Our community has not risen up to oppose it, our public gallery is not packed with protestors,” he said.
“It seems that the only opposition to this project is from sections of this council.”
Mr Hall said there were more than environmental factors to consider.
“The Jandakot eastern link road connects two significant commercial precincts across two separate local governments and connects those districts more efficiently with the largest airport in WA outside of Perth airport and unlocks . . . land for potential commercial use,” he said.
“We have the eyes of the State Government and those that are supporting it (on us).”
Cr Jesse Jacobs said it would be “logical step” in the expansion of the city but Cr Amanda Spencer-Teo insisted that there was no proof the city would benefit from it.
A council report said building the link would provide better access to its waste transfer station and land holdings, improving their prospects of redevelopment.
It was also expected to improve traffic conditions.
“From Ranford Road to the future Canning Vale sports complex, the current trip time is 10 minutes,” the report said.
“With the addition of the JELR, the trip time is significantly reduced to two minutes.
“The existence of JELR would also lead to vehicles avoiding nearby Nicholson Road and Ranford Road intersections, where 49 crashes have occurred over the last five years.”
A Main Roads spokesman said the last advice it had from the City of Canning was in March, when it said it was progressing to detailed design for the Jandakot east link project.
“It is the city’s responsibility to manage their program,” the spokesman said.
“If there are any changes to the project deliverability, the city would need to seek an extension of time or scope variation from Main Roads before the end of 2024-25.”
[ad_2]
Source: News
About The Author
