Together with Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan, the Federal Opposition Leader paid a visit to the area recently to announce the pledge towards the project’s first stage which is set to benefit residents from throughout the city, including those in Balcatta.
The announcement was described as “fantastic news” by City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin, who said a decade of work by the City had already been invested to help bring it to fruition. Irwin added:
“The visionary project will transform the Stirling City Centre into an accessible, vibrant urban centre providing increased jobs and housing and connecting transport from the heart of the City through to the iconic destination of Scarborough Beach.”
The project’s first stage of development will see an extension to Stephenson Avenue, constructed along with a Freeway interchange set to relieve congestion, unlock significant government and privately owned land, and make way for the stage two arrival of light rail.
According to Mayor Irwin, the first stage will represent the beginning of the centre’s transformation, while graphic designs of Stage 2 of the project include the establishment of 7km of light rail in Scarborough Beach Road. Once completed, Irwin believes 82,000 jobs, housing for 63,000 people and $16bn in private investment will be generated over the next three decades.