$50m+ projects to aid COVID-19 economic recovery

6MAY2020

The City of Cockburn is steaming ahead with projects totalling over $50m as it moves to shake off the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has also flagged another six ‘shovel ready’ projects valued at $30m+ with the federal government for possible completion within the City’s boundaries.

In Cockburn, projects worth $57m+ will go ahead as planned.

"These projects will commence in the 2020/21 financial year, securing local employment and economic stimulation vital to the district’s recovery through to 2022/23," Acting CEO Daniel Arndt said.

These projects include:

• Beale Park redevelopment: $9.4m ($500k is in 2020/21 budget for design)

• Cockburn Coast Oval – Stage 1: $1.5m in 2020/21 draft budget

• Cockburn Wetlands Precinct upgrade: $6m budgeted this year and on track for completion in 2021

• Hammond Park Sporting Reserve: $7.7m

• Malabar BMX Park redevelopment: $3.2m

• Treeby Community Centre: $3.1m

• Operations Centre upgrade Stage 2: $2.2m

• Parks & streetscape improvement projects: $4.7m

• Port Coogee Marina expansion: $5.3m

• Goodchild Park upgrade: $800k

• Radiata Park skate facility: $600k

• Roads & footpath construction program: $9.5m+

• Henderson Waste Recovery Park redevelopment Stage 1: $3m

• Residents Groups projects funding: $400k

The City has also responded to a call from the Federal Government to identify projects worth $30m+ it considers are ‘shovel ready’ to aid the nation’s COVID-19 economic recovery, should funding be approved.

One such project has already received $1.175m from the federal Black Spot Program to help upgrade the Rockingham/Phoenix Rd intersection in Hamilton Hill.

Other ‘shovel ready’ projects include:

• Jandakot Road widening (Solomon Road to Berrigan Drive): Total project cost $11m

• Rockingham Road Revitalisation: Total project cost $4m

• Hammond Road widening (Branch Circus to Bertram Road): Total project cost $10.5m

• Rowley Rd/Lyon Rd intersection: Total project cost $1.4m

• North Lake Road/Discovery Drive intersection: Total project cost $2m

• North Lake Road/Farrington Road intersection: Total project cost $1.2m

The State Government has also announced $6.7m to fast track an upgrade for the Beeliar Drive/Stock Road intersection.

City of Cockburn Engineering & Works Director Charles Sullivan said the City had been pushing Main Roads WA for funding to improve the intersection for several years.

“This Main Roads WA project will help significantly improve vehicle and pedestrian safety and traffic movements at this intersection, especially the capacity for turning movements.”

Mr Sullivan said the Phoenix/Rockingham Rd intersection upgrade would improve vehicle safety and congestion by converting the four-way traffic light controlled intersection into a roundabout.
        
“For the five-year period to the end of 2018, this intersection was among the City’s 15 top black spots in terms of vehicle crash history,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Between the beginning of 2014 and the end of 2018, there were 58 crashes recorded costing $3.4, with 11 casualties. The predominant crash type at this location are right-angle and right turn thru crashes, as well as rear-end crashes.”

The Phoenix/Rockingham Rds upgrade will form part of the Rockingham Road Revitalisation project which includes a $100k streetscape redesign between Phoenix Road and Spearwood Avenue.

The road design is currently underway so service relocations can begin in the 2020/21 financial year.