Perth Voice Interactive

AT least one Northbridge landowner will lose property to accommodate a bus layover for the new underground busport.

Despite the $209 million project starting two years ago, the first mention of the layover was in last month’s mid-year budget review.

The proposed layover site is just south of Graham Farmer Freeway, with James and John streets as access points.

WA transport Minister Dean Nalder says up to $5.5 million can be spent acquiring land.

“It was always required that additional bus layover area be created somewhere in the CBD,” Mr Nalder says.

West Swan Labor MP Rita Saffioti claims the minister is “making it up as he goes”.

“Yet again the minister has no idea what is actually going on.”

She says she’s talked to local business owners who were oblivious about the layover until news broke this week.

by EMMIE DOWLING