MANAGEMENT of the Midland Metronet station project was mentioned in a November senate hearing when Senator Linda Reynolds raised resident concerns to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

Senator Reynolds said she’d been working closely with Commercial Bar and Kitchen owner Kevin Bartholomew over the last 12 months and visited the venue multiple times to see the disruptions first-hand.

“Shockingly, The Commercial Bar and Kitchen have been passed around between DevelopmentWA, Public Transport Authority, Metronet, and the WA State Labor Government without any resolution,” she said.

“I raised this issue in Senate Estimates with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, who were unaware of the extent of the issues and failed to provide any resolution.

“The department confirmed the issues have only been raised about the nightworks on ‘a broad level, not at a detailed level’.”

Senator Reynolds said her office received multiple emails per day about the disruptions on Railway Parade from local businesses and residents voicing their concerns and that they deserved an apology.

“Issues (include) flooding, power outages, damaged roads and footpaths, road closures, loss of parking spaces, private parking being used and blocked by contractors, faulty street lights, traffic cones and signs left strewn across the road for days,” she said.

“There have been potential multiple breaches, which as a project with federal funding deeply concerns me.

“Development should never come at the expense of the local community.”

Dust mitigation also remained a chief concern for Railway Parade residents heading into holiday season with calls for more effective measures to prevent a repeat of last year’s sandblasting.

“During last year’s Christmas shutdown, we experienced several severe dust storms as seasonal easterly winds picked up dust from the construction site, frequently rendering our licensed alfresco area unusable,” Mr Bartholomew said.

“With the site closed and no immediate action from contractors, I sought help from the City of Swan to understand local dust tolerances.

“However, I was informed that the City of Swan has no jurisdiction to enforce standards at our address.

“(I was told) the responsibility for enforcing local laws and tolerances lies solely with DevelopmentWA.”

When Echo News reached out to DevelopmentWA about dust mitigation issues, they said the PTA was best placed to respond as the authority responsible for the management of the project construction.

A PTA spokesperson said this summer, dust suppressant and water carts would be used across the entire project site, including along Railway Parade and monitors were in place for early detection of issues.

“Works will temporarily stop between Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, January 5 and the site area will be treated with dust suppressant in the lead-up to the closure,” they said.

“If residents have any concerns about dust during the closure, they can contact the project team on (08) 9326 3666.”