Major Projects Unit

The Major Projects Unit was established to deliver high-value, high-risk complex public transport infrastructure projects. It has a small, specialist management team and about 45 staff and contractors.

As at June 30, it was overseeing the implementation of projects - primarily Perth City Link and the northern extension of the rail network - valued at $850 million over four years. The unit will expand its operations to take on the delivery phase of the next wave of major projects including the transport infrastructure for the major stadium at Burswood and the next stage of expansion of the Joondalup Line north of Butler.

Perth City Link

PCL will transform the CBD. The project’s transport component - funded by the State ($336 million), the Commonwealth (rail project only $236m) and the City of Perth ($37m) - is among its first stages and, literally, sets the scene for the most significant urban renewal in the WA capital’s history and the development of major inner-city residential, retail and commercial properties. To realise this vision, the PTA will:

• sink the Fremantle Line between William Street and Lake/King Streets to enable development of street-level connections between the CBD and Northbridge
• build associated works to enable further development by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) after completion of the rail and bus works
• upgrade Perth Station and ensure platform capacity for future growth
• improve connections between Perth Station and Perth Underground with a pedestrian underpass
• replace the existing Wellington Street Bus Station (WSBS) with a new underground facility.

The PTA will deliver the PCL transport project in two stages: the $360m rail project (2011-2014) and the $249m bus project (2014-2016). When this is done, the MRA will continue with its program of above-ground development on the newly-released land.

PCL Rail Project

Forward works for the rail component of PCL were completed late 2010 and July 2011. The main work is being undertaken by the Perth City Link Rail Alliance - the PTA’s first experience in the delivery of a major infrastructure project through a competitive alliance form of contract. The Alliance (the PTA, John Holland and design consultant GHD) was formed in March 2011 and will continue to the end of the construction and the commissioning of the railway works, scheduled for mid-2014.

The PTA has a number of key senior people working within and alongside the Alliance to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved and that interfaces with the PTA and key stakeholders are properly considered. By balance date, the Alliance had achieved:

• Design complete to 80 per cent
• Dewatering and recharge system established and commissioned
• First track work changes completed (December 2011)
• Establishment of 11 work sites between Moore Street and Fitzgerald Street (work under way on all sites)
• Major progress towards completion of diaphragm walls for the Fremantle Line tunnel
• Major progress on pedestrian underpass between the station building and Platform 6
• Start of works for the rail tunnel beneath Barrack Street and the structural support work under the City of Perth Child Care Centre.

PCL Bus Project

The PTA reviewed the scope, procurement strategy and delivery timeframe for the underground bus station. The procurement methodology for this project will be focused on managing risk and interface with multiple external stakeholders. Later in the year the PTA will put out a public tender for competitive bids to progress design and to construct the bus station, with completion no later than mid-2016.

The new bus station will have advanced passenger information systems and a real-time tracking system to accurately locate buses. This will enable arrival and departure points within the station to be assigned by an intelligent transportation system that will operate a dynamic bus-stand allocation system.

Joondalup Line extension to Butler

The $241 million Butler Extension Project (BEP) was approved in 2009 and is due for completion by late 2014. It will include:

• Duplication of the existing single track between Clarkson Station and Nowergup Railcar Depot
• New double-track railway between Hester Avenue (Nowergup) and just north of the new station at Butler (about 4km)
• A new station at Butler
• Replacement of the main communications fibre optic cables and station equipment between Clarkson Station and the Public Transport Centre in East Perth
• A new fibre optic cable system to provide back-up communications, replacing a low-capacity microwave system
• Signalling, traction overhead wiring and traction SCADA for the extension to Butler
• Bulk earthworks, retaining walls and drainage for the railway alignment
• Three road-over-rail bridges
• A new traction-power supply and feeder station within Nowergup Depot, with new equipment and interconnection work at the nearby Western Power sub-station
• Additional stowage tracks at Nowergup and Mandurah Depots, and new servicing facilities at Mandurah
• Supply of 11 new buses to serve the expanded bus network around the new station and to enhance the frequency of existing services.

The coming year will be very significant for the BEP, with up to $93 million being committed towards completion of the road bridges, construction of the station, continuation of work on communications equipment and cables, the acquisition of materials for the railway infrastructure, including track, sleepers, rail fastenings and turnouts, and the power supply, feeder station and Western Power connection.