Western Australia

The WA Government has vowed to get more people on Perth’s trains.

WA spending to advertise public transport

“We all know Perth people love their cars but there are times when driving can be frustrating ”

$1.25 MILLION WILL BE SPENT TO ATTRACT more people to Perth’s public transport network, with motorists urged to take a break from driving by catching the train or bus.

Premier Mark McGowan and transport minister Rita Saffioti say recent data showed a decline in public transport use, which began in 2013, was reversed in the McGowan Government’s first year, with a 0.74 per cent increase in overall patronage reported in 2018. Patronage is still far below what the State Government would like, however.

“Prior to 2013, total patronage on our network had nine years of consecutive growth,” McGowan said. “Since then, the ongoing decline in public transport use across our suburbs has meant more cars are on our roads. Cars are crucial to the lives of so many Western Australians … however our public transport system is of a high quality and with a host of new Metronet projects underway, public transport is going to be an even bigger player as our city continues to evolve.”

Metronet is the McGowan Government’s collection of urban rail projects, including new rail lines and extensions, new stations,

level crossing removals, new rollingstock and more. It has received federal funding at various stages so far. “Metronet will transform public transport across our suburbs, connecting people to jobs, entertainment and services,” the premier said. “I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t used Transperth services in a while to consider how they can make their own journeys easier using our existing services.”

The advertising campaign will look to attract new and lapsed users to the network, which reportedly receives satisfied or very satisfied feedback for around nine in every ten passenger trips. “This campaign is about encouraging people to give buses or trains a go when a car doesn’t stack up,” Saffioti said.

“We all know Perth people love their cars but there are times when driving can be frustrating. In 2018, we finally saw an end to the decline in Transperth patronage but we still have a way to go to get back to previous levels. This campaign investment was an election commitment, and is about getting people back on board public transport and to help increase fare revenue backto the State.”

CBH credits network investments for bumper year

GRAIN COOPERATIVE CBH GROUP says significant investment in its network has already started paying off, with a $128 million surplus recorded in the 2017-18 season off the back of a bumper harvest in the nation’s west.

While growers in eastern Australia suffered through drought conditions, CBH’s 4,000 West Australian growers have reaped the rewards of a 13.3 million tonne harvest, with the cooperative delivering $95 million in rebates, or up to $10.50 per tonne.

CBH chief executive Jimmy Wilson said growers were enjoying a bumper crop while also benefiting from strong grain prices. He said the result was also evidence of the co-op’s focus on improving service for growers while reducing costs.

“The full year results confirm that our transformation is progressing well and that CBH can continue to deliver low cost outbound costs & good marketing and trading results for growers,” Wilson said. “We also continued to optimise our storage and handling network, investing significantly to improve the service and efficiency of our sites, make our fees even more competitive and deliver tonnes to port when its most needed.”

In the 12 months ending September 2018, CBH invested $212 million into network capital and maintenance. This included an extra 650,000 tonnes of

CBH spent $212 million on network capital and maintenance in the 12 months ending September 2018.

permanent storage in the network, 1.1 million tonnes of new emergency storage, and 24 projects to enhance throughput. “We remain committed to reducing paddock to port costs for our growers and working towards our goal of removing ongoing costs of more than $100 million from the business,” Wilson said.

“In addition, we are continuing the elevated work pace on the Network improvement to deliver an optimal supply chain and help keep our growers internationally competitive.”

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM CBH uses WA’s regional rail network to move much of its grain to export markets.

New operations boss CBH appointed Ben Macnamara its new general manager for operations on February18. Macnamara, formerly the group’s general manager for planning, strategy and development, took over from David Capper, who recently told the group he was moving on after five years at the helm.

Macnamara joined CBH in 2014 as a commercial and business development manager. Wilson said Macnamara’s deep understanding of the network and its future requirements would be invaluable, as the cooperative continues to reshape its network. “At CBH we are solely focused on operating the lowest cost possible outbound logistical supply chain and providing the most effective service for our growers,” Wilson said. “Ben has worked closely with the Operations team, particularly as part of the Plan-Build-Operate model that oversees our network investment, and he is well placed to lead the division forward.”

On the departing Capper, Wilson spoke of CBH’s operational achievements in the past five years: growing export capacity, commencing a new network strategy, delivering its largest harvest and export, and reducing fees.

“CBH would like to recognise David, as I am sure would the growers of Western Australia, for his dedication and service,” Wilson said.