Perth's stalled Northbridge project has a new lease of life after tonight's federal budget invested $236 million to kickstart the long-stalled city heart project.
Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, who visited the site two weeks ago, said the project would "end the divide" in Perth's heart.
Western Australia also received a second vote of confidence from the Rudd Government when it also decided to invest $339 million in the new deepwater port and rail project at Oakajee, 20 kilometres north of Geraldton.
Infrastructure projects totalling $22 billion in 2009-10 are the Federal Government's direct response to job losses, which Treasurer Wayne Swan predicted would rise to 8.5 per cent by June 2011.
Mr Albanese said the Northbridge rail link would revitalise Perth's central city.
"The project will lower the rail line and will mean that the city of Perth can end the divide that is there because of the current rail line," Mr Albanese said.
"You have the two sides of the rail line not being linked. This will lead to a massive improvement in Perth as a city."
The Northbridge project will mean the lower the central city reach of the Perth to Fremantle rail line and build a new rail platform, freeing 50,000 square metres of land for urban development.
The West Australian Government has already committed matching funds to the project, Mr Albanese said.
"I visited the site with the Prime Minister just two weeks ago and this is a great project for Perth." Read on about the new Perth Northbridge redevelopment
65a86a11-dad1-4d11-9832-b3796d989629|2|4.5