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Ellenbrook bus stalled at last minute

Ellenbrook bus stalled at last minute
Long wait: Maximillan Markus and Nicole Krause. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian

The State Government came within hours of fulfilling a promise to provide a rapid public transport link to Ellenbrook before abandoning the election announcement abruptly in February.

The Weekend West can reveal that explosive emails and draft media statements proving the now-mothballed Ellenbrook bus rapid transit system was being crafted as a key pitch to voters in the March State election.

Ellenbrook, one of Australia's fastest-growing suburbs in Perth's booming northern corridor, is projected to double its 27,000-strong population by 2036 but remains vexed by poor public transport links despite repeated promises by politicians.

The documents, obtained by Labor frontbencher Rita Saffioti, reveal that video animation of a full route, artists' impressions of Ellenbrook and Gnangara Road stations and park-and-ride facilities were primed for release by January.

The route was to include a bus "transitway" between Ellenbrook town centre and its Marshall Road destination at Bassendean train station, according to the dossier released under freedom of information laws.

February 1 was set as the announcement date and emails reveal a departmental officer asked Transport Minister Troy Buswell's office the previous day: "What time will the event be tomorrow (if going ahead)?"

Emails on February 5 show a statement announcing the project was rescheduled for release during the caretaker period starting the next day.

The revelations compound the misery of Ellenbrook commuters, who since 2008 have been promised a heavy rail line three times - twice by Labor and once by the Liberals - and a BRT once by the conservatives.

This would have been the second BRT pledge.

Mr Buswell is yet to reveal why this month's Budget had no money in its four-year cycle for the project, which he described as recently as January 9 as one of the Government's "top priorities".

The Weekend West understands the project, originally slated as a $61 million venture, shot up to $100-110 million after revised Department of Transport costings early this year.

Ms Saffioti, the member for West Swan, said she suspected that after Labor announced a heavy rail link to Ellenbrook on January 30, the Liberals concluded their bus option looked limp.

When Labor Leader Mark McGowan criticised the Government in his Budget reply speech last week for not funding Ellenbrook's BRT, Premier Colin Barnett's interjection suggested politics was at play.

"They should have voted for (Liberal West Swan candidate) Natasha Cheung," Mr Barnett said. Mr McGowan replied: "People are punished if they don't vote for the Premier."

Acting Transport Minister Mike Nahan said the Government remained committed to the project.

Despite $630,000 of concept designs being completed in March, the Government was "awaiting the outcome of further design works before making any additional funding commitments".

Locals believe the lack of public transport is a major drawback of Ellenbrook.

"If you don't have a car or don't have the opportunity to use a car, then it's really difficult to get around," Maximillan Markus, 21, said.

Ellenbrook mother Karen Delandgrafft said her son faced a daily headache getting to Curtin University and said repeated, unfulfilled promise of improved links had taken its toll.