Population boom boosts funding pressures

City of Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle JP has called on both major political parties to pledge a boost to infrastructure funding in key growth areas after figures released today show Perth is growing faster than any other capital city in Australia.

“As a member council of the National Growth Areas Alliance, the City of Gosnells is urging the major political parties to focus on local infrastructure needs in the lead-up to this month’s Federal Election.

“Perth is experiencing near record rates of population growth and the City of Gosnells is no exception as the third fastest growth council in the outer metropolitan area.

“The level of unfunded major infrastructure projects has never been greater and without support now, high growth areas like the City of Gosnells will fall behind,” the Mayor said.

Despite the City’s strong rate of growth, it has remained in the State’s top quartile of financially viable local governments through careful economic management.

“We are proven to be sound financial managers but not even good budgeting will see us through the next 20 years, with an estimated population increase of 40,000,” Mayor Searle added.

“Already, the City’s growth has sparked a project backlog worth millions of dollars and the gap continues to widen between what we can fund and what our community needs.

“We have been well supported by the Federal Government in the past and we want to ensure that relationship continues as future funding assistance is vital to the City’s sustainability,” the Mayor said.

“New suburbs like Southern River and Canning Vale have had phenomenal growth in recent years and there are no signs of this slowing down with the City issuing more 3200 building licence approvals a year.

“With these new residential areas comes a need for the City to provide new roads, parks, footpaths, community centres and family services. At the same time, there is still a need to maintain infrastructure in established communities.

“Federal support is vital if we are to meet the demand for road projects in particular, the $4 million widening of Garden Street, between Nicholson Road and Warton Road – a major traffic link for big growth suburbs.

Mayor Searle said the National Growth Areas Alliance was about getting financial support for well run, high growth councils.

“Given the City’s financial track record and strong partnership the Federal Government, I am confident that whoever wins the Federal Election will understand the benefit of providing additional funding so that the City may continue to build strong, vibrant communities.”

Key unfunded projects in the City of Gosnells:

$2.5 million – widening of Corfield Street, Gosnells (Verna Street to Eileen Street)
$2.5 million – bridge duplication (Burslem Drive, Maddington)
$250,000 – traffic signals (Albany Highway-Gosnells Road West intersection)
$1.25 million – widening of Burslem Drive (Olga Road to Albany Highway)
$125,000 – roundabout at Gosnells Road West-Alcock Street intersection
$95,000 – roundabout at Alcock Street-Flax Street-Harmony Fields access
$636,000 – to begin Walter Padbury Reseve redevelopment


as posted on COGsite