JBA TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR ARENA STATION

The Joondalup Business Association will continue to support community calls for the State Government to reconsider a decision not to build the Arena Train station.

 

JBA President Russell Crook said the association had been in consultation with stakeholders since the announcement in December last year and it would appear that the justification for not going ahead with the project was based on outdated information.

 

“A recent meeting of stakeholders including the JBA, Mayor and Councillors of the City of Joondalup, Joondalup Falcons, Arena Joondalup, Edith Cowan University and local resident organisations revealed that there were many more reasons in support than those recognised by the Government,” Mr Crook said.

 

“Excuses for not investing the $11 million on what is considered to be a very important part of the developmental infrastructure of Joondalup appeared to be based on outdated usage options as outlined in recent correspondence from the Department of Planning & Infra structure.

 

“This information, which refers to limited usage by football and special events patrons at Arena Joondalup and some school children is somewhat outdated as the demographics have changed quite dramatically in the last few years,” Mr Crook said.

 

“For instance we now have a train line that connects directly with Mandurah and it doesn’t take much to imagine what that might do to the weekend population of Joondalup when Peel and the Falcons meet at Arena. The line also now goes right through to Clarkson which brings another demographic into play with regard to student travel,” he said.

 

“While suggestions that the money could be better spent on other pressing needs in the area are commendable, it should not be at the expense of other projects such as the Arena Station, much more consultation is needed before making a final decision,” Mr Crook said.