Stage 2A of light rail to Commonwealth Park will cost Canberrans over $800m

Shadow Minister for Transport Mark Parton has raised significant concerns following the release of the costings and timeframe for the delivery of light rail stage 2A, announced by the Labor-Greens government today.

Mr Parton said the costings and delivery date for stage 2A are significantly higher and longer than the Canberra Liberals' estimates released last year.

“The Canberra Liberals’ estimate which was conservative suggested that stage 2A would come in at $343 million and today’s announcement by the government is significantly higher than that,” Mr Parton said.

“Adding the LRPDE contract which includes the expansion of the depot, acquiring the light rail vehicles and the purchase of batteries and retrofitting along with the raising of London Circuit you end up with a figure well over $800 million.

“When you then look at stage 2 to Woden in its entirety it is highly likely that we will have a figure significantly above $4 billion.

“It is ludicrous for the Labor-Greens government to just use this contract for the final cost of stage 2A, the Minister must be upfront with Canberrans and admit that the cost of stage 2A is more than $800 million.”

Mr Parton also indicated should the Canberra Liberals win government in October next year it is a foregone conclusion that light rail will get to Commonwealth Park.

“We are not in the business of tearing up contracts and it has always been the Canberra Liberals position that it is highly likely we will end up at Commonwealth Park but not proceed to Woden which will cost Canberra taxpayers’ well over $4 billion.

“It would be a dereliction of my duty as an MLA to sign up to the reckless amount that it would cost to get to Woden because it is astronomical and who knows which decade it will actually arrive, the delays have been extraordinary."

Mr Parton also highlighted the opportunity costs of where federal money would have been spent if not for the light rail white elephant.

“The Canberra Liberals have made the call, that spending well over $4 billion on a tram to Woden is not a good use of taxpayers’ money and we can provide better public transport outcomes for much less,” Mr Parton concluded.