STIRLING councillors have thrown their support behind a light rail service from the Stirling to Glendalough train stations.
At a meeting last week, councillors voted in favour of advising the Department of Transport that a route along Scarborough Beach Road become “the first priority” in a future Perth metropolitan light rail network.
Stirling chief executive Stuart Jardine wrote to the Department of Transport in March advising that it was “extremely critical” the link becomes a priority in the Draft Public Transport Plan.
“This route has the potential to extend to Scarborough Beach, which would further enhance transport to this area for locals and also for tourists, creating an extraordinary beachside destination,” the letter read.
The Stirling City Centre Alliance, which includes residents and State Government delegates, included light rail in its funding proposal to the Federal Government’s Infrastructure Australia program late last year.
The alliance hopes to secure 75 per cent ($423m) of the $564m stage one cost from the Federal Government to deliver Perth’s second CBD, which has an overall cost of $16 billion.
If successful with Federal funding, and $107m from the State Government for stage one, the City would contribute $34 million to the project during a six-year period, starting in 2013.
A recent report by City staff noted that officers had taken part in preliminary discussions with the department about the possibility of a light rail route along Alexander Drive to the Mirrabooka Regional Centre.
“It is believed that this may be identified by the Department of Transport as a possible higher priority,” the report noted.
As well as improving the transport system, City staff suggested the light rail proposal would allow for creation of 40,000 new jobs and 20,000 new dwellings.