THE City of Wanneroo is still trying to secure funding it needs to develop roads to provide access to the Neerabup industrial area.
Mayor Tracey Roberts said the city was still waiting to hear if it had been successful after it had applied to the Federal Government’s national stronger regions fund for money for the Neerabup strategic link.
During round three the city applied to the fund for $6,999,673, which the city wanted to use to help pay to upgrade part of Flynn Dr from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway.
Mrs Roberts said the Neerabup strategic link was the critical road freight connections to ensure Neerabup had sufficient access north, south, east and west.
“At present the east west connections need improving,’’ she said.
“These improvements are already underway with the freeway extension, Neerabup Rd construction and realignment of Flynn Dr.
In this year’s Budget the city has committed more than $1 million to go towards planning the development of Neerabup’s business and technology park.
Mrs Roberts said the money would pay for a dedicated project manager to oversee the project, a town planner to review the structure plan and an environmental compliance officer to prepare reports for the required state and federal government environmental approvals.
“This budget also contributes to a number of reviews and surveys such as a geotechnical, water, ground water, sewage, power, roads, lighting and subdivision surveys in preparation for the area’s development,’’ she said.
Neerabup was in the news this week with Transport Minister announcing a new transport plan as the government prepares for when Perth is expected to be home to an extra 1.4 million people by about 2050.
The transport blueprint included a new Yanchep highway of freeway standard – the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy – to link Tonkin Hwy with Mitchell Fwy with the section between Tonkin Hwy and Neerabup to be built by the time Perth’s population reached 3.5 million.
Mrs Roberts said the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy was a future north-south road and as it would be a primary regional road it would be constructed by Main Roads.
She said the alignment for the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy was depicted in the draft north west sub regional framework.
“The Neerabup strategic link is east-west road, but ultimately they will intersect.’’
“The Neerabup strategic link will provide critical freight road connections between the business and technology park and all other areas in Western Australia for example the airport, ports and northern WA.
“Accessibility is a key component in any location and purchase decision for businesses – therefore to promote and accelerate development improving these road connections is critical.’’
