Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:24:02 to 5:28:54
Discussion regarding the status of tenders for the Matilda Bay and Applecross ferry terminals in Perth, including funding splits and project milestones.
Topics: Infrastructure, Procurement
Speakers: Melony Czajor, Hon James McGrath, Jessica Hall, Senator Glenn Sterle, Unknown Speaker
>> You still got till till 2:30. Senator McGrath like to share with your colleagues.
>> Excellent. I'd like to ask about the Perth Ferry Terminal.
>> Do you know why we've got the the rabbit proof fence? It's to keep you Queenslanders out of >> Do you know that? >> Just thought I'd share that with you [snorts] that was for you. I did that for some
>> uh, we all get on so well here. Um, can you provide an update on the status of the expanding Perth Perth's ferry network project?
>> Uh, yes, Senator, I can. Uh, Melanie Child, assistant secretary, Western Australia Northern Territory land so in regards to uh the Perth fairies, there are tenders for the two ferry terminals um located at Matilda Bay and Appleross were released on the 2nd of June in 2026 and closed on the 18th of August. They are expected to be awarded in November. Uh and Western Australia continuing to engage with local stakeholder groups regarding the concerns about the location of Matilda Bay terminals. Um and the planning works as part of the stage two for that project um have commenced Senator in terms of the forward uh further planning of further expansion.
>> So in terms of the dates that you outlined there, how does that compare with the the schedule that was provided to the Commonwealth when the funding
>> I would need to take that on notice. I don't have the original uh time frames with me, Senator. Um in terms of the original time frames, they would have been included in the business case which was subject to a public interest immunity uh for when the order of production of documents was requested. So I can't talk to the business case unfortunately.
>> But it's also worth noting Senator um and we've had this conversation um on multiple times on either sides of um uh politics that we pay against milestones and that we organize our payments in regards to when schedule actually is ready to be delivered. Um so we align with that. So we often have movement of
infrastructure investment program identifies a total project cost of $120 million, but the WA government lists as $107 million. Um, just to help me, are are you able to explain the difference between those
figures? So, our commitment was made on a 50/50 basis um with $50 million going towards the the terminal um infrastructure and $10 million towards the planning infrastructure. Uh there are other funding um elements that are not uh funded by the Australian government such as the fairies themselves. So it could be I have without seeing their website, Senator, it could be that um the $17 million cost was in relation to the fairies that are being funded by WA or the electric charging infrastructure. Uh but I would need to check with Western Australia on the difference to be certain.
As of today, in relation uh to your your answer, Miss Hall, how much of the $60 million has been paid to the WWA government?
>> We haven't made any payments yet, Senator.
are you able to detail exactly what activities are intended to be funded by the $10 million?
yes. I think it's probably easier to sort of outline what isn't funded if that's okay, Senator. Um so in terms of so the project includes um the terminals at U Matilda Bay and Apple Cross. Um but it also as part of the expanding that ferry network will include or will need to include the fairies themselves, dredging and charging infrastructure um as well as a ferry birthing facility. So those items that I just listed are not funded by the Australian government. Just the terminal infrastructure which is considered as an intermodal terminal uh is funded.
>> Okay.
>> Might give you time for one more. Senator McGrath before I
>> um I might come back to this. It's probably a good time to um pass it off.
>> Okay. Senator O Sullivan.