CHRIS THOMSON

A misguided dash for Commonwealth cash was the cause of a $270 million blowout on the Northbridge Link project, a Parliamentary report reveals.

In what the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee dubs an “inadequately scoped and costed submission”, state officials in 2009 told their Commonwealth counterparts the Link would cost $468 million.

The federal government agreed to fund just over half that cost, $263 million, and – wisely from its perspective – said there would be no top-up.

The budget for the Northbridge Link now stands at $737.7 million.

Contributing to the $270 million blowout have been extra train platforms, bus bays, track, strength to underground components to cater for 30-storey buildings above, and a pedestrian underpass.

In one fell swoop, a government decision that it, and not a private developer, would deliver a town square added $73.1 million to the project cost.

The main purpose of the project is to sink 320 metres of railway line and link Northbridge to the Perth CBD.

The $737.7 project cost works out at $2.3 million per metre of train track.

In evidence published in the committee’s latest report on major infrastructure projects, Transperth boss Reece Waldock said the cost quoted to Canberra was “very premature”.

Mr Waldock said it was only in March 2010 that the final scope was arrived at.

From his evidence, the committee concluded the Link “was probably not ready for consideration for funding” when the Commonwealth assessed it.

The Public Accounts Committee is headed by veteran Labor MLA John Kobelke. MLAs Joe Francis (Liberal), Tony Krsticevic (Liberal), Rita Saffioti (Labor) and Chris Tallentire (Labor) are the other members.

In dissenting comments, Mr Francis and Mr Krsticevic air concerns about “political statements” of the report and say “crucial evidence” had been omitted for political gain.