Premier visits the Armadale City Centre

The Premier, Hon. Colin Barnett, MLA visited the City of Armadale on Friday 1 August taking time out to check on the progress of the Landmark Building under construction in the City Centre.

Mayor Henry Zelones said the informal visit was also an opportunity for the City to highlight the urgent need for key Government infrastructure to cater for the rapidly growing population of the district.

“The Armadale City Centre is a designated Strategic Metropolitan Centres in the State Government’s Metropolitan Plan, and is the heart of retail, commerce, governance and services of a future population of 250,000 by 2050.

“As a Strategic Regional Centre, Armadale, unlike other centres such as Joondalup, Swan and Rockingham, has been largely left to develop without State or Federal government investment over recent years.

“The City is seeking government commitment to the construction of a new courthouse and police station, enabling the City to redevelop its own Civic Precinct, and the dualling of Armadale Road linking the Armadale Strategic Regional Centre and Kwinana Freeway at Cockburn Central.

“There is a critical need to upgrade the court facilities in our Strategic Regional Centre, not only to meet the demand of justice in our rapidly growing region but also to allow the redevelopment of our civic precinct.

“Land opportunities for expansion of both Police and Justice Facilities within the Armadale CBD are dwindling and clearly these services should be provided in the Regional Centre.

“Servicing the City’s fast growing population, before the effects of Reform are even considered, means the City also needs the courthouse resolved quickly to enable us to plan for adequate Civic facilities within the City Centre.

“The opportunity of a land swap to facilitate the new courthouse and police station cannot remain open much longer as the City has to urgently re-address its own accommodation needs, with several other options now pressing if the courthouse is to remain.

“We have also urged the Premier to bring forward the completion of Armadale Road as a dual carriageway for the Armadale Strategic Regional Centre to the freeway at Cockburn Central.

“Our residential growth, increasing traffic volumes and congestion near Cockburn Central mean that Armadale Road is now a dangerous and frustrating two-lane road between Forrestdale and the freeway.

“It’s important Main Roads WA bring forward this project before the dangerous mix of freight and local urban commuters leads to fatalities.

“We greatly appreciated the chance to update the Premier on the rapid growth of the region and the need for the state government to be on the front foot in providing the level of services necessary for our region’s rapidly expanding population,” said Mayor Zelones.