SECURING Federal funding for the planned $16 billion Stirling City Centre would be subject to independent evaluation like any other project, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.
On the campaign trail in Perth last week, Ms Gillard fielded questions by Community Newspaper Group reporters.
A major project for the Stirling council, a second Perth CBD is set to take shape around the Stirling train station and Innaloo retail precinct by 2031, catering for another 25,000 residents and releasing up to 30,000 jobs.
“We assess projects that come up from local councils through independent processes, that’s the appropriate thing to do,” Ms Gillard said.
“The government has been huge investors in infrastructure through local councils and into local schools.”
The council is set to apply for an initial $9.8 million from the government later this year.
Stirling planning and development director Ross Povey said the council would expect a similar level of funding after Ms Gillard announced an 80 per cent commitment to the Sydney rail extension.
Recently, Stirling Mayor David Boothman said that Stirling and WA continued to “miss out” on federal funding despite the city doing everything right when it came to its projects and submissions.
Stirling MHR Michael Keenan said he would always support local projects and issues like the Stirling CBD.
“I have a track record of doing so over the past six years,” he said.
“I have already committed more than $12 million of investment directly into local projects in Stirling during this campaign.”
Stirling’s Labor candidate Louise Durack said she would “make her voice heard” on the project as a local member should the government be re-elected.
“It is very exciting to think about creating a second CBD in Perth, particularly because it could alleviate the traffic gridlock in this area, so it’s really important,” she said.