THE Peel economy is poised to lose millions of dollars in tourism revenue over the coming weeks, business owners claim, as the Perth to Mandurah rail line began a temporary shut down at the weekend.
Trains between Mandurah and Rockingham will not run on weekends for the next three weeks because part of the line needs to be sunk to make way for the Mandurah entrance road.
A massive protest, attended by business owners and former Transport Minister Alannah MacTiernan , took place at the train station last Friday in a show of anger against the shutdown.
Tourism Council WA chief executive Graham Moss said a lack of communication by Government with the business community in the Peel region demonstrated that tourism was being overlooked.
“The weekend closures have come as a complete shock to businesses in the region and could lead to the closure of many businesses in the area,” Mr Moss said.
In a letter sent to small business owners last week, the Peel Tourism Association says the expected loss to the Peel economy as a result of the train stoppages was is in the vicinity of $2.8 million.
The group has also written to Transport Minister Simon O’Brien voicing their concerns over the closure.
“Many businesses in the region are already struggling with the economic downturn and the loss of customers with the new Perth-Bunbury Highway,” the letter said.
“Potentially businesses and jobs will be lost should action not be taken to minimise the damage resulting from these train stoppages.”
The Peel Tourism Association is proposing a compensation plan for individual businesses who can demonstrate losses due the stoppages.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said Main Roads would be engaging its “normal protocol” for compensating affected businesses that can demonstrate losses incurred as a result of the works.
Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts, who attended the protest, maintained local businesses had been consulted over the shutdown months prior.
He raised concerns over what he described as a “negative campaign” being run by business owners. He added replacement buses running between Rockingham and Mandurah would be adequate.
Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes, who also attended Friday’s rally, said the replacement buses would be “more than able” to handle the shutdown.