Government buys site for electric bus fleet
The state government has bought a major north east Perth industrial site to repurpose as a charging depot for its fast-growing fleet of electric buses.
After GST and other costs, including remediation, the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia is outlaying $15.96 million for 26 Wotton Street, Bayswater.
Covering 3.27 hectares, with extensive Tonkin Highway frontage, with storage sheds, but predominantly, hardstand, the conversion should be straightforward – the previous occupier operated it as the Green Dog Bus Depot.
The off-market sale, agreed in December, settled in July.
“Over the past couple of years, demand for large landholdings in core industrial markets has significantly outpaced supply, driving a dynamic shift in [the] market,” Colliers’ Hayden Dick, who marketed the site with Sam Hammond and Benjamin Képes, said.
“This deal was no different, representing one of the largest industrial transactions within Bayswater in many years, resetting the benchmark for three-plus hectare sites in the precinct,” he added.
Government commits to green
The state government committed to expanding its electric bus fleet after a trial with four vehicles started 12 months ago (story continues below).
Said to have commuted over 250,000 passengers and cover 140,000 kilometres – 230 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions alone were saved, it said.
Another 130 electric buses are planned to be delivered in stages – as well as associated charging infrastructure, like that set for 26 Wotton St.
Another electric charging station is earmarked within the Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
The initiative is being part-funded by a levy.
Volvo recently won a contract to operate a fleet covering the city’s north.
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