Division 38: Commissioner of Main Roads
Ms Lisa Munday, Chair.
Ms Rita Saffioti, Minister for Transport.
Mr Ashley Vincent, Acting Director General, Transport and Major Infrastructure.
Mr John Erceg, Managing Director.
Mr Des Snook, Chief Operating Officer.
Mr Maurice Cammack, Director, Portfolio Investment Planning.
Mr Philip D'Souza, Executive Director, Finance and Commercial Services.
Mr Leo Coci, Managing Director, Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery.
Mr Peter Laing, Principal Policy Adviser.
(The witnesses were introduced.)
The Chair: The estimates committees will be reported by Hansard, and the daily proof will be available online as soon as possible within two business days. The Chair will allow as many questions as possible. Questions and answers should be short and to the point. Consideration is restricted to items for which a vote of money is proposed in the consolidated account. Questions must relate to a page number, item or amount related to the current division, and members should preface their questions with those details. Some divisions are the responsibility of more than one minister. Ministers shall be examined only in relation to their portfolio responsibilities.
A minister may agree to provide supplementary information to the committee. I will ask the minister to clearly indicate what information they agree to provide and will then allocate a reference number. Supplementary information should be provided to the principal clerk by noon on Friday 11 July 2025. If a minister suggests that a matter be put on notice, members should use the online questions on notice system to submit their questions.
I give the first question to the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Thank you very much, Chair. Treasurer, I refer to division 38 and budget paper No 2, volume 2. We are talking to page 566 here. Under "New Initiatives", about seven lines down, there is "Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct Planning". Is the $1.5 million budgeted for 2024–25 part of the announced total cost of the project of $217.5 million?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I recall, it is separate. It was funding that we allocated for the planning, and the $217 million is the allocation for future planning and delivery.
Mr Basil Zempilas: In that case, minister, what is the breakdown of expenditure for that $1.5 million?
Ms Rita Saffioti: The breakdown?
Mr Basil Zempilas: Yes. What will that money be spent on? Where will it be spent?
Ms Rita Saffioti: It has been spent on planning—FTE staff and consultancies for planning.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Okay—same theme, but page 574, under "Election Commitment" and the line "Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct", has an amount of $4 million under estimated expenditure for 2024–25. Does that include that $1.5 million?
Ms Rita Saffioti: The estimated expenditure of $4 million is for the asset investment program. The $1.5 million would have been recurrent in relation to planning money. I am not sure whether all the $4 million has been acquitted at this stage, but I do not think so. I do not think it would have been.
Mr Basil Zempilas: To be clear, is the $4 million part of the $217.5 million for total expenditure on the project?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes.
Mr Basil Zempilas: I thank the minister. On the same theme and the same spot on page 574, has the government complied with the requirement under section 19(2) of the Infrastructure Western Australia Act 2019 to refer major investment projects to Infrastructure WA for assessment?
Ms Rita Saffioti: This is an election commitment. We are working through the planning and delivery of it. In relation to Infrastructure WA, we will possibly refer it for its consideration, but this is something we are very much committed to.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Is it not required under the legislation for a project to be referred if it is over $100 million?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I think we do refer projects over $100 million, but they are sometimes referred to Infrastructure Australia for assessment; that is one of its key roles. In relation to Infrastructure Australia, we do not require federal funding for this project, so we are happy for Infrastructure WA to have a look at it.
(4:20 pm)
Mr Basil Zempilas: I thank the minister for her response. I refer to the same place on page 574. Does the state government need to buy or acquire any additional land for this project?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We are working through all those details at the moment. Of course, the configuration of that project will have an impact in relation to land assembly. That is why we are going through a detailed assessment at the moment. Burswood Park Board had some bold plans as part of its vision, including creating an inlet in front of Crown casino and an amphitheatre. We are working across government looking at the site. This is why we are out for consultation. We are working with not only the community but also all the key stakeholders, of which there are many, and particularly those who want to use and be part of this vision. Dozens of different groups are seeing an incredible opportunity, whether it be cycling advocacy, music industry or street skating groups. A number of different groups are all really excited about the potential uses for this area, and that is why we have gone out for consultation.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Noting that Burswood parkland is state government land, if additional land is required, can the minister tell us where that additional land would come from? From whom would it be purchased or how would it be acquired at that site?
Ms Rita Saffioti: This is a government precinct and the Burswood Park Board is, in a sense, the key manager of the land. State taxpayers own the land. We will go through the planning and we will make sure we deliver this incredible project. We will negotiate and make sure we get the best outcome for Western Australians.
Mr Basil Zempilas: If additional land is required, the adjacent land and Crown casino is owned by Blackstone Group, to differentiate between Crown Perth and crown land, is the minister telling us that the government will not need to acquire any land from Crown Perth—the casino entity, for point of clarity—to construct this racetrack?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we are going through the detailed planning right now. Once any decision is made in relation to the final layout, then all things will be considered. But in relation to the detailed planning, we are doing that right now.
Mr Basil Zempilas: How can we know whether we are at the final amount? How can we know whether $217.5 million will be the final amount if detailed planning is yet to determine whether additional land will need to be acquired from the Crown entertainment complex, I assume, and therefore at a cost?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We are very confident that we will not be buying any land. In relation to the amount, that is our estimated total cost from the draft assessment we undertook—our concept plan.
Mr Basil Zempilas: The minister has just said she is very confident that the government will not be acquiring or purchasing any land. Could a land swap be in play here?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I am not going to go through a hypothetical assessment when we are going through the process of planning this very exciting street circuit project. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition was very supportive of a street circuit last year, when he had a secret meeting. We will go through and make all the relevant decisions. Once any decision is made, all the information will be provided.
The Chair: I think the minister has made her point, Leader of the Opposition. Maybe we should move on.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Okay. I will ask a different question on this same topic if that is okay.
The Chair: Yes, sure.
Mr Basil Zempilas: I am still on page 574. What planning approvals are required for the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we are going through all of that in relation to the approvals process, but first of all we have to finalise the concept. That is what we are in the process of going through. Following our extensive consultation, we will finalise the concept and then go through the relevant approvals process.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Is a referral required under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 and, if so, when will that happen?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We will take advice in relation to that. As the Leader of the Opposition will remember, and as I recall, a stadium was built on half of an 18-hole golf course that was on top of a tip. We will be very much following similar processes to what happened in relation to the $1.8 billion stadium. That is what we will be doing.
Mr Basil Zempilas: On that point, is a review of ground and water conditions being undertaken for the site and, if so, when and by whom?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As part of the works that are happening now, we are consulting about the size and shape of the final outcome. We are consulting with all the users—as I said, the dozens of users who are very keen. We have also gone out to start our geotech. Of course, it is an old rubbish tip. I think it started as a cement works and then was an asbestos site, as I recall. Then it was a rubbish tip—landfill. Basically, it took any landfill. It was not unauthorised, but anything could have been dumped there. It was then capped with some sand as part of works done in relation to the then Burswood Casino. In relation to the water quality of the ponds, I recall some issues with the water quality and its impact on local wildlife in 2017. A stadium was built on half of that site. We are doing our geotech. We are doing an analysis of the ponds. The analysis so far shows that there are some contamination issues in the ponds that we will need to deal with as part of construction.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Given the history of the precinct and the land that the minister has identified so well, what treatment is planned and likely to be necessary for the stabilisation of ground movement on this site for the construction of a racetrack?
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is similar to the situation with the roads that were built there. I am not sure whether the Leader of the Opposition has seen Optus Stadium, but there are a couple of roads that lead to it!
Mr Basil Zempilas: Roads for motor racing would be of a higher standard.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I am not sure whether the Leader of the Opposition has noticed, but hundreds of buses go along there, too.
Mr Basil Zempilas: No, but—
Ms Rita Saffioti: This is not about you, mate. You are asking a question.
Mr Basil Zempilas: They will be travelling at significant speeds—say, 200 to 250 kilometres an hour. If the road surface is out just a fraction, that could have a catastrophic effect for motor racing vehicles.
The Chair: Leader of the Opposition, you need to point to an item number and a line for a question, please.
Mr Basil Zempilas: This is still on page 574. Under the works in progress is the election commitment for the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I will tell the Leader of the Opposition what has been built in that area. They built a stadium; a concourse; two roads, being Victoria Park Drive and Camfield Drive; and the Camfield. We built a zip-line, a cafe and a train station. We will make sure that we deliver these projects, similar to the concourse, the roads and all the work that has been done there. This area is used by hundreds of buses each weekend. We make sure that we maintain the quality of our roads and the quality of the stations there. There is a lot of activity on the site. I am sure that we will be able to build it. Like I said, I have faith in Western Australians and faith in my team to deliver a very good project.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Has the government prepared a noise management plan for the intended motor sports in the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct to comply with the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 and, if so, has it been submitted for assessment?
(4:30 pm)
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, that is work that is being undertaken now. People kept saying that the government needed to consult, which we are doing. Sometimes the concerts at the stadium are pretty loud, but everyone loves the stadium. I understand that noise management plans already happen for that area and for the stadium.
Mr Adam Hort: Again, I refer to page 574 of volume 2 of budget paper No 2 and the election commitment for the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct planning. Does the project require any expansion of water, gas, power and telecommunications infrastructure to service the PESP, and, if yes, what are those expansions and what is the cost?
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is part of the initial $217 million budget. I will raise a couple of things. First of all, we have just finished a cafe in that area. There is also a minigolf course, a zip-line and new headquarters for the zip-line, which have all required the relevant infrastructure. In relation to the amphitheatre in this area, a key part of the cost of delivering events, whether it be Celebrate WA or Diwali events, is the cost of setting up. For example, thousands of people attend the Celebrate WA event and the organisation has to bring in generators and public toilets. It has to bring in a lot of things. Of course, as we move to the full electrification of buses, there are probably other things that we will need to do at the bus station to support the electric charging of buses. The Camfield has water, sewerage and electricity services. Yes, it will need that.
Celebrate WA incurs extra costs for each event to set up a stage and to bring in toilets and energy services, and the same applies for Diwali events. All these event organisers are paying hundreds of millions of dollars over a year to bring temporary infrastructure to site, such as stages, water and energy services and toilets. One of the benefits of the new amphitheatre is that all those things will be incorporated. That is why the members of the Burswood Park Board were so excited by the amphitheatre when I met with them. They put it forward as a key part of what they want to do. I met with the members of the Burswood Park Board in July 2023. I think they launched their master plan at a breakfast; unfortunately, I was not at the breakfast. It was quite a comprehensive master plan. It included an amphitheatre, an inlet and some bridges. In particular, when they briefed me, they said that they really wanted the amphitheatre because it will be a game changer and will make sure that the precinct becomes the sporting and cultural capital of the entire area. That is why we considered all these things—the amphitheatre and services. The member missed it. I have young kids, or I did—now they are teenagers, they do not hang out with me. We used to go to that peninsula, and the lack of public toilets meant that we had to sneak into the Camfield and pretend we were buying a pizza just to use the toilets. The provision of all those services will make it much more user friendly for the community.
Mr Adam Hort: I too have snuck into the Camfield with my small children. I refer to page 574. Obviously, the minister has just spoken about her team and being confident that they can deliver on this. What are the governance arrangements for the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct? Who is responsible for the ongoing project?
Ms Rita Saffioti: First, it is being delivered through the Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery. It has been working. We very much got involved in the precinct when we built Matagarup Bridge, which was one of the projects I inherited that was not complete. That is an understatement—there were a couple of piers in the water. A group in Main Roads was basically delivering Matagarup Bridge, and those people know the area very well, particularly the soil conditions. That was quite a significant project. We actually reclaimed part of the Swan River for a couple of years. There were very strict environmental conditions we had to comply with, particularly on the quality of the Swan River. That team still rests in Main Roads through OMTID, and it is that team in a sense that, with further assistance, leads this project. We are in the process of establishing an across-government committee that will include the future operator, which will probably be VenuesWest, to make sure that the final product is what the operator, VenuesWest, wants and that the final outcome delivers for the operator as well as the entire community.
Mr Adam Hort: Further to that, has a management structure been considered for the Perth entertainment and sporting precinct? Will it be VenuesWest? Who will manage the property into the future?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we are in the process of consultation. The good thing about consultation is that we are talking to external stakeholders, including dozens of potential users; a lot of groups in the disability sports space, as more homes for things like wheelchair basketball are needed; and a couple of other key groups. There are a lot of stakeholders and then there is an across-government committee. We know that a lot of people are fond of this area. For example, Main Roads manages Matagarup Bridge, VenuesLive and VenuesWest manage the Optus Stadium precinct, the Burswood Park Board manages the area involved, Tennis West manages the Sate Tennis Centre and the Public Transport Authority manages the bus port very well and the train station. There are a lot of different operators.
Talking about stakeholders, there are a couple of things. First, to be honest, I get a lot of great feedback about the trains. People love the trains, particularly the new Thornlie–Cockburn Link; it is fantastic, member for Oakford. I also get very good feedback about buses. But a couple of things that people constantly raise with me is drop-offs and pick-ups. I have been in that situation when my daughter had to be dropped off to go and watch a Dockers game. It is a very hard place to find a drop-off point if, let us say, you have to drop off your daughter who had just finished playing another sport. It affects Ubers and taxis as well. That is what I get a lot of negative feedback about.
This is what happens. Dockers and Eagles supporters know that buses do not run to the stadium for Thursday and Friday night games, so they plan accordingly. But when there is a soccer or league game, those people who are attending who do not go to the stadium all the time are a bit shocked. It is a problem because they think that if they catch an Uber an hour before the game starts, they are going to get there in time. As part of the overall planning for this precinct, we are working with the transport agencies in particular on how we can improve drop-offs and pick-ups and how we can support taxis and Ubers.
The other thing is disability access and parking. The feedback that I get is that if someone with an ACROD permit needs to park, it is a bit challenging. They have to get there early so that they miss the traffic there and they have to leave later. Motorcycle parking is another issue that has been raised with me, which I have not yet addressed. As part of this precinct, we are looking at addressing all those issues, noting that the stadium is getting more and more popular as we have more and more events. We are going to make sure that we make it as easy as possible to get in and out.
Mr Adam Hort: Once the precinct is completed, will it be vested in the Burswood Park Board, VenuesWest or another government entity, or will it be a new management entity?
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, nothing has been finalised. We want to engage with the future operator, which will probably be VenuesWest. We are going through that. This is part of the planning that we are undertaking to make sure that we get everything right. I do not think it will be a new organisation, given that we have existing organisations. It is a complex management structure throughout the whole area. The Swan River Trust is a key player in that area. Main Roads Western Australia looks after the bridge. We have the operators of Matagarup Zip+Climb and we have Crown Casino Perth, the Burswood Park Board, the State Tennis Centre and the Public Transport Authority.
The other ongoing issue relates to bus parking. Before games, we park our buses in the car park—I have forgotten its name—that Crown has near the playground. There is an ongoing issue with that because Crown does not want us to park our buses there. We have to address a lot of issues as part of this overall planning.
(4:40 pm)
Mr Basil Zempilas: I have a question related to the same area and I refer to page 574. On what date was Integrated Event Delivery Management Pty Ltd engaged to do the design of the precinct?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We do not have that information. I think it was on 16 June 2024 that we announced that planning would commence on a street circuit for this site. The Sunday Times of 16 June 2024 states:
Attention all Revheads, V8s could soon be racing around Perth streets as part of a new world-class motor sports event.
The Cook Government has revealed that plans have begun for street racing at Burswood Park, with 2026 earmarked for the first event.
Roads in the area would be upgraded and converted into a V8 racetrack, with the races complimented by a 10-day festival in Perth and Kwinana.
The article refers to some comments made by Premier Cook and then states:
The street circuit—based on a highly successful model of street racing in Townsville and the Gold Coast—would see roads converted into a V8 race track, allowing about 50,000 local and interstate fans to turn out each day for a multi-day race event.
The event would require infrastructure upgrades at Burswood Park, which the Government is now examining in further detail, with the hope the track could be ready for the 2026 season.
Permanent grandstands and upgrades to the park would be included, creating public access year-round, and also providing a new track for local motorsport enthusiasts.
I think that is when we started looking at planning the precinct. I do not know exactly when that work was undertaken, but as the member can see, it was on 16 June 2024 that the idea of the Victoria Park circuit was announced.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Could the minister tell us how many designs to date for the racetrack have been produced by Integrated Event Delivery Management Pty Ltd?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I am not sure what individual changes have been made to the concept design, but as I said, it put forward a concept that has been worked on and has now gone out for consultation to make sure that we deliver the best proposal possible.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Just to be clear, I think I have understood that whichever is the final design for the track, the minister is confident that no additional land will be required to be purchased or acquired in any way from Crown Hotels for this racetrack.
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we will not be purchasing any land.
Mr Basil Zempilas: But it may need to be acquired then?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We will not be purchasing any land for this proposal. We are currently going through the proposed layout and its impacts, whether that be on the bus port or around the area. We will make all those decisions later, but we will not be buying any land.
The Chair: I think the minister has been clear here.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Yes, clear on not buying any land, but not clear on not acquiring any land, and there is a distinction, obviously, Chair. The minister has made it clear that the government is not buying any land, but she is not ruling out having to acquire land from Crown Hotels Perth—for example, a land swap.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I equate acquiring with buying. We are not going to be buying any land.
The Chair: Thank you, minister.
Mr Shane Love: I am going to look at one of the many projects that have seen increased costs over the years: the Bussell Highway duplication. In the last budget document, it had an estimated cost of $125 million. When it was first released in 2020, it was going to cost $85 million. Can the minister explain the steady and ultimately 100% escalation in the cost of this project?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Cost escalations were experienced by all projects across the nation and the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive spikes in construction costs. I am proud that we have done that project. It was not an election commitment, but I was very determined to get it done, and we did it through negotiations with the Commonwealth. I am very proud that we have delivered the Bussell Highway duplication.
Mr Shane Love: If the standard for cost estimation is 100% since pre-COVID times, why has the cost of delivery for some budget items that are longstanding projects, such as the Bindoon bypass, not had their estimated cost of delivery increased?
Ms Rita Saffioti: It depends on the stage of delivery. For example, if we are in the middle of delivery and experiencing significant cost increases, that will impact the project. With the delivery of other projects, we continue to work with both the Commonwealth and our contractors. I have not shied away from the fact that it has been a challenging time to deliver projects over the past five years during the COVID pandemic, the Ukraine–Russia war and supply chain interruptions. It has been a challenging time.
Mr Shane Love: Is there a list of existing projects that the minister is seeking to have an uplift in funding for from the Commonwealth government that will enable them to be delivered?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We are constantly working with the Commonwealth on uplifts. It continues to change depending on where we are in the contract cycle, but we are continually working with the Commonwealth.
Mr Adam Hort: I refer to page 574 and the table on the Main Roads asset investment program, specifically the line item on the Albany ring-road with an estimated total cost of $225 million last year and $240 million this year. What is the cause of the escalation?
(4:50 pm)
The Chair: Sorry, member for Kalamunda; where are we on page 574?
Mr Adam Hort: Page 574—namely, estimated total cost for various Main Roads programs under the asset investment program, then we have the Albany ring-road line.
The Chair: Yes, page 575—at the top under completed works.
Mr Adam Hort: Sorry, yes; the next page.
The Chair: That is all right.
Ms Rita Saffioti: This escalation was due to increases in equipment, wages and materials, and additional funds relating to addressing further environmental offset and environmental approval conditions.
Mr Adam Hort: I refer again to "Other Works in Progress" in the same table and the line item "Bussell Highway Duplication Stage One and Stage Two", which had an estimated cost of $125 million last year. It is now listed for $170 million. What is the cause of this escalation?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I just outlined that to the member for Moore. It was increases in equipment costs, also in relation to some weather events, and also additional transport costs due to some limited availability of local resources. It is a number of different aspects, but that one is a state–Commonwealth contribution. We are expecting an 80:20 split on that. The state has contributed $34 million to that project.
Mr Adam Hort: Again in the same table, I refer to the line item "Nicholson Road and Garden Street Grade Separation Planning and Construction", which had an estimated total cost of $80 million last year and is now listed for $145 million. What is the cause of this escalation?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Again, it would have been increasing cost pressures in relation to equipment and wages and also some scope changes for that one. It is a significant project and it has some cost pressures in relation to scope as well, including a couple of additions to the initial project.
Mr Adam Hort: What is the change in scope? What are those additions?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Some of the additional scope includes some of the Western Power assets. It is how we can improve pedestrian access in that area to make sure we have very good pedestrian links, as well as some changes to the Western Power scope of works. There are some further works around Bannister and Nicholson Roads too.
The Chair: Further question first to the Leader of the Nationals WA. Did he have a further question?
Mr Shane Love: Not a further question.
The Chair: The member has a new question. Further question to the member for Mandurah; he asked initially.
Mr Rhys Williams: Thank you. I refer to page 574 of budget paper—
The Chair: Sorry, member for Mandurah; is this a further question to the topic of the member for Kalamunda?
Mr Rhys Williams: No, it is a new question.
The Chair: Okay. Further question to the member for Oakford, then I will come back to the member for Mandurah.
Mr Yaz Mubarakai: Could the minister outline how the Cook Labor government's investments in the congestion-busting broad infrastructure improvements in the southern corridors have been helping families travel safely to and from work?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Absolutely. The south-east corridor and the Perth southern suburbs have already seen—
Several members interjected.
The Chair: Sorry, is someone standing?
Mr Basil Zempilas: Point of order. Is that a further question or a new question?
The Chair: Minister, is that a further question or a new question, in your opinion?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Further.
The Chair: The minister will answer the question.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Of course, this is part of our road projects around the state, including around the southern corridor. We have seen significant upgrades around Thomas Road. We also have the widening of Kwinana Freeway that we now have funded, and a number of other projects. In relation to Serpentine–Jarrahdale, for example, we committed, I think at the last election, about $17 million to support local road improvements, and now we are committing another $17 million or $18 million to support further road improvements in the area. Of course, there are a number of other projects. Like I said, there is $17 million to build roundabouts at the intersection of Kargotich, Abernethy, Orton and Gossage Roads. Also, as the member knows, as we were out there looking at some of these projects, there is the widening of Kwinana Freeway, with an additional lane in both directions between Russell and Mortimer Roads, an additional lane between Roe Highway and Berrigan Drive, an additional lane northbound from Russell Road to Beeliar Drive and coordinated ramp signals between Safety Bay Road and Roe Highway to improve the flow of the freeway.
Mr Shane Love: I refer to page 574 and works in progress and the fourth reference from the bottom of "Regional Level Crossing Upgrade". There is a funding allocation this year and next, but nothing in the out years. Does this project have an end point or does the minister consider that there is no need for further funding in the future—or will there be consideration of an increase in the future?
Ms Rita Saffioti: There are a number of different projects. The Commonwealth government put forward a particular program, which we matched. As part of the 2022–23 Australian Government budget, the Commonwealth announced the Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety program, which includes $160 million. Round 1 was approved in November 2023 and round 2 in December 2024. We got $7 million in round 1 and $9 million in round 2, and we will fund the remaining 50%. This is on top of the many existing projects that we have across the state. As I said, these are significant works. They include 14 priority projects for railway crossing improvements in regional areas, and another 19 priority projects including things like replacing stop signs and give-way signs with flashing lights. I think we have already completed—I might be corrected—the replacement of all the give-way signs to stop signs, which was another project that we delivered. Des, is that right?
Mr Des Snook:
Every give-way sign that was to be replaced with a stop sign has been replaced, but the give-way signs that still have to be replaced with flashing lights will be done this year.
The Chair: Thank you, Mr Snook.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Thank you, Mr Snook. We already have that program underway—I think I announced that about two years ago—replacing every give-way sign with a stop sign. We are now replacing stop signs with flashing lights, and flashing lights with boom gates. It is a significant amount of work. This is part of the Commonwealth matching, but we already have funding in other packages that will continue. We see this as a continued program of works. What is shown now is just the Commonwealth program; we are now state matching in the round 1 and 2 initiatives, but we will continue to invest as part of our improvements to safety across the state.
Mr Shane Love: Is the minister actively seeking further funding from the Commonwealth government to support Western Australia in further improving regional level crossings across the state?
Ms Rita Saffioti: We have a big program of works and will continue to actively engage to get more funding. I think this is one area where, I have to say, we have done a record amount—far more than other governments in the past. We will continue to invest and drive for more Commonwealth funding.
(5:00 pm)
Mr Shane Love: I refer to page 572, "Road System Management". I notice the total cost of service is $41 million over budget. It refers to a cause being some accounting changes around the Heavy Vehicle Network project. Could the minister give a brief explanation as to what those changes were and what Heavy Vehicle Network projects were referred to?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Sorry, what was the question?
Mr Shane Love: In the budget for "Roads System Management" on page 572, there is an explanation of significant movements, which states that the change to the estimated actual to the budget target is mainly due to the completion of Heavy Vehicle Network projects in 2024–25. I am asking what the projects referred to there actually are and their effect on the budget.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Is the member referring to the estimated actual of $239 million compared with $198 million? Is that correct?
Mr Shane Love: Yes, there is $191 million total cost of service in budget, but an estimated actual of $239 million.
Ms Rita Saffioti: They are different years. The estimated actual was $239 million for 2024–25 compared with our budget of $198 million. Now, $191 million is a new year.
Mr Shane Love: I beg your pardon, minister. I am sorry. It was $177 million in the budget and $218 million in the estimated actual. Sorry, I picked up the wrong thing when I was reading.
Ms Rita Saffioti: That is a result of further works on the Reid Highway and Stephenson Avenue extension and also the Heavy Vehicle Network projects. In relation to the Heavy Vehicle Network projects, we are undertaking a number of improvements to rest stops and other projects around the state. I think it is just more expenditure on that front as a result of the increased cost of delivery of, for example, Stephenson Avenue or some of the projects on Reid Highway.
Mr Shane Love: I have a further question on the total cost of services for road system management, which is what we have been discussing. This covers things like street lighting. Questions have been asked in Parliament around the situation on some of major highways, such as Tonkin Highway, where there has been a considerable level of theft of copper cables. It means that pretty well since NorthLink opened there have been no lights. What is actually being done to actively deter the theft of those cables and reinstate street lighting in these many areas of the state?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, the member is right, but this is across the network, to be honest. There has been increased theft. Thieves are accessing the cables stored in buried conduits via cable pits. There has been a standard installation methodology for these assets. We have seen quite a lot of cable theft and that has impacted approximately 65 kilometres of street lighting and 14 kilometres of principal shared path lighting. To be honest, looking at the years, we are on par with 2023–24, but there has been significant increase since 2018–19. We have consulted other road and infrastructure authorities, including Western Power, Ausgrid, Energy Queensland, Powercor and CitiPower, which are facing the same issue. We are working with police to investigate other ways to capture and prosecute thieves and vandals. We have had some success in recent years, with four people arrested over copper theft incidents in Collie and another six in the Wheatbelt in 2024. Trials are being undertaken using industry-standard lockable pits to try to deter thieves, but I note that we have thousands of these pits across the network, so there is going to be a big program of replacing the current lids with lockable pits. We are talking to industry about the production of those lockable pits. The prioritisation continues to be how we can support and restore cables along some key routes. We are looking at the second half of this year to replace some of those cables. I think we are looking at replacing 10,000 cable pits, which is going to be a lot of work. We have commenced a cable theft strategy to prevent, detect and respond to the theft of street lighting and PSP lighting cables. We are looking at things like CCTV alarms and community involvement. There are a number of different measures to try to prevent this situation from worsening.
Mr Shane Love: Has there been any thought of attacking the issue of where the market is for the copper cable and ensuring that there is a clear identification of the provenance, if you like, of the copper, and whether permission was given to remove large amounts of copper from a site?
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes. I was reading this in my preparation the other night. There is also work being done with police about the identification. As I understand, it is going to be very much working with police in trying to better understand the market. We are looking at working with the Western Australia Police Force to identify possible purchases of the stolen cable in the second-hand market. We are working with police to see who are the likely purchasers of the cable and then trying to work back from there.
The Chair: Members, I just want to draw to your attention that, with 50 minutes to go, we still have three divisions to get through. Did we want to finish up? Okay, great.
The appropriation was recommended.
