Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
DETAILS:
Comment
In the absence of sufficient funding to progress with the design and feasibility study, there
has been no further progress made on the project. Commitment to the project and financial
contributions from the various stakeholders including state government agencies and the
City of Vincent are necessary in order to progress the Study. Looking ahead, opportunities
for funding may arise through the City of Vincent's mid-year budget review, in which case,
the project could be revisited in the second half of the 2012/13 financial year.
The Leederville Link forms an important element of the implementation of the West
Leederville Planning and Urban Design Study and failure to progress at all with the link
would reduce the opportunity to redevelop the area in line with the Indicative Development
Plan for the Leederville Link. Furthermore, the Town has already invested in the purchase of
38 Cambridge Street and 39 and 43 Southport Street, West Leederville, to help facilitate an
improved connection between Leederville Station and Cambridge Street.
In addition, the case for an improved connection has recently been reinforced by the
Department of Transport's commitment to a Bus Interchange Facility at Leederville Station
(to be accommodated on Main Roads land to the east of Southport Street) with steps to the
existing bridge and the introduction of a new "Green CAT" service between Leederville and
the Esplanade which is to operate from July 2013. These plans, in addition to the possible
extension of the Subiaco Shuttle bus service, will result in Leederville Station becoming an
important transfer station.
While the Leederville Link project is on hold at the moment, it remains important that it is
resumed into the future and that the Town's existing financial commitments to the project in
the 2012/13 budget are preserved for future use. The Town's administration will continue to
liaise with other project partners to identify opportunities to progress the project which will
most likely be designs for Option 2A.
POLICY/STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS:
Improving the pedestrian/transit connection with the Leederville train station and town centre
is an initiative that arose from the West Leederville Planning and Urban Design Study and
forms part of implementing the study.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In order to proceed with the study and develop Option 2A, it is estimated that $140,000 is
required (revised down from $220,000 to develop both Options 2A and 2B).
The Town had allocated $60,000 towards the Leederville Link design and feasibility project
for the 2012/13 Financial Year and the Department of Transport has committed $20,000 to
the project. The City of Vincent is unable to commit funding at this stage but has indicated
that funds may become available mid-way through the 2012/2013 financial year.
The cost estimate provided only accounts for the design and feasibility study and does not
cover the cost to progress the project to the construction stage.
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