Infrastructure Planning and Land Services
The Infrastructure Planning and Land Services (IPLS) division was formed in mid-2009 to focus on strategic planning of the public transport network. Its brief includes the definition of future infrastructure and rollingstock requirements; the master planning of major projects, including justification and the development of business cases; the management of PTA land and properties; and the management of the PTA’s environmental activities and issues.
The division has four branches:
- Transit Planning and Business Development
- Rail Planning and Design
- Land and Property Services
- Environmental
In the year under review, IPLS’ major task was to address the PTA’s medium to long term planning needs; provide effective land management including the disposal of redundant land; and to meet the PTA’s environmental obligations in both planning and operations. A future priority will be the development of initiatives coming out of the 20-Year Public Transport Plan (20YPTP), expected to be released by government in the first half of 2011-12.
Transit Planning and Business Development
Agreement was reached with the Department of Transport (DoT) regarding the allocation of planning functions between DoT and the PTA. As a general rule, the PTA will plan extensions and improvements to the suburban rail network and have substantial input into freight rail planning, specially through the contribution of railway expertise. The PTA also remains responsible for reviewing existing operations and planning future services.
Analysis of future demand and business opportunities is a key focus of this branch, and it’s envisaged that operational planning will become increasingly so.
At the Canning Bridge interchange, demand continued to grow for rapid bus access to Curtin University and the on-going redevelopment in the area. Patronage has grown from the anticipated figure of less than 1000 boardings a day to around 4000 and the figure is expected to double over the next 20 years. The branch has developed a concept design for a new stand-alone, elevated bus facility (or deck) off the highway and alongside the Kwinana Freeway. This conforms with plans for the greater Canning Bridge area developed by the Department of Planning.
At the request of the Midland Redevelopment Authority (MRA), the branch will prepare a concept plan to shift Midland Station to the east.
The Government has promised improved transit services to Ellenbrook along a dedicated right of way. This is expected to be addressed further in the 20YPTP.
Rail Planning and Design
This branch provides technical expertise on the engineering feasibility of rail projects - it covers everything from vertical and horizontal alignment profiles through to geotechnical assessment of routes. Computer-aided design is undertaken from initial concept to master planning.
After completing highly-developed railway engineering designs for the Perth City Link (PCL) project, the branch produced a major re-design plan for the Nowergup rail yard as part of the Butler extension project, as well as final designs and plans for the route, earthworks, drainage and track from Clarkson to Butler.
A detailed concept design and costing of railway facilities and station to support a new sports stadium at Burswood - announced just before year’s-end - was prepared for Government consideration and comparison with other proposed sites.
Land and Property Services
The branch is responsible for managing PTA land and property, including heritage aspects, leasing, acquisitions and sales. Income from leasing provides significant revenue for the PTA - in the year under review it generated approximately $12 million and is growing at about 10 per cent annually.
The branch carried out a risk analysis of disused railway lines. More work will be done to address issues raised.
Environmental Branch
This branch was formed to provide specific environmental services across the PTA. It addresses such significant and diverse environmental issues as noise and vibration, land contamination and revegetation.
The first stage of a major investigation of contaminated residual land forming the Batavia Coast Marina Stage 2 development was completed, and investigations undertaken at the Kewdale freight terminal, Bluff Point (Geraldton) and Leighton. We also measured lead levels along existing railway routes prior to the haulage of export lead to Fremantle.
Revegetation of land (pertaining to the New MetroRail (NMR) project) at Leda and ground water monitoring has also been managed by the branch.
Support was provided to the Major Projects division regarding preparation of clearing proposals at Butler and Nowergup, and environmental studies for several future projects (the Butler-to-Yanchep railway extension, the link to Perth Airport, and Karnup Station) have also been undertaken.