House of Representatives on Monday 1st June 2017

Check against delivery

This government is committed to infrastructure projects that will unlock growth in regional and rural Australia.

The community of Austin Lakes in my electorate of Canning is a prime example of a regional area constrained by lack of infrastructure. Since it opened, Austin Lakes has grown to include Austin Cove Baptist College, the only K to 12 school in the Shire of Murray; a shopping centre, the first to be established in South Yunderup, comprised of an IGA, owned by Karen James; a cafe; a liquor store; a pharmacy and a medical centre; and a $6 million family recreation park.

Despite being situated alongside the Forrest Highway, the main arterial road between Perth CBD and the south-west, residents in Austin Lakes have no immediate freeway access. The nearest freeway interchange is at Pinjarra Road, a seven-minute drive north. For residents wanting to head south it is quicker to take this journey than to drive 15 minutes past Pinjarra to Greenlands Road. A freeway interchange at Beacham Road would reduce travel time drastically. For Waroona students attending Austin Cove, it would shave 30 minutes of their morning journey.

A freeway access road into Austin Lakes has the potential to generate $1.8 billion in private investment over the next 20 years, providing a boost to the local construction industry. This proposal is supported by the school community, the residents, the developers and the shire. I will be calling on the government for its support.