AUSTRALIA: The proposed A$1·9bn Metro Area Express Light Rail project in Perth is to be deferred by three years under a package of measures designed to reduce Western Australia's debt which was announced by state Treasurer Troy Buswell on December 18.
The state's 2013-14 budget had previously allocated A$432m over four years for the 22 km MAX Light Rail line, which would serve the inner north, central west and eastern suburbs of Perth.
Parsons Brinckerhoff and AECOM were appointed to support project development, and construction had been scheduled to start in 2016 with the first phase to open by the end of 2019. Completion has now been put back to late 2022.
In a statement, the MAX Light Rail project team said the state government was 'committed to delivering the project in full.' Work will continue to complete tasks for the final business case during the first half of 2014, which would enable the project to be restarted in three years under the direction of the Public Transport Authority.
