{"id":"railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999","name":"Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999","slug":"railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106454,"registerId":"wa-railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nRailway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999\n\nWestern Australia\n\nRailway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999\n\nContents\n\n1. Short title 1\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Authority to construct railway (Currambine‑Butler) and for railway to deviate 2\n\n4. Authority to construct railway (Jandakot‑Rockingham‑Mandurah) and for railway to deviate 2\n\nSchedule 1 — Line of Currambine‑Butler Railway\n\nSchedule 2 — Line of Jandakot‑Rockingham‑Mandurah Railway\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 5\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nRailway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999\n\nAn Act to authorize the construction of a railway from Currambine to Butler to extend the Perth‑Joondalup Railway and a railway from Jandakot to Rockingham and from Rockingham to Mandurah.\n\nThe Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999.*\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\n##### 3. Authority to construct railway (Currambine‑Butler) and for railway to deviate\n\n(1) A railway, and all necessary, proper and usual works and facilities in connection with the railway, may be constructed and maintained along the line described in Schedule 1.\n\n(2) Despite the deviation specified in section 96(1) of the *Public Works Act 1902*, the railway may deviate to a distance of 2 kilometres on either side of the line described in Schedule 1.\n\n##### 4. Authority to construct railway (Jandakot‑Rockingham‑Mandurah) and for railway to deviate\n\n(1) A railway, and all necessary, proper and usual works and facilities in connection with the railway, may be constructed and maintained along the line described in Schedule 2.\n\n(2) Despite the deviation specified in section 96(1) of the *Public Works Act 1902*, the railway may deviate to a distance of 4 kilometres on either side of the line described in Schedule 2.\n\nSchedule 1 — Line of Currambine‑Butler Railway\n\n[s.3]\n\nThe line of the railway commences at a point about 27.3 kilometres along the Perth to Joondalup railway line, as described in the Schedule to the *Perth‑Joondalup Railway Act 1989*, that is just south of Burns Beach Road, Currambine, and proceeds in a generally north‑westerly direction through a combined railway‑controlled access highway reserve for a distance of about 9 kilometres to a point, near Australian Map Grid coordinates 378350 East and 6498000 North, that is just north of Lukin Drive, Butler.\n\nThe course to be taken by the railway is shown as a red line on Department of Transport map number 1040‑00‑10 Rev D.\n\nSchedule 2 — Line of Jandakot‑Rockingham‑Mandurah Railway\n\n[s. 4]\n\nThe line of the railway commences at a point about 29.7 kilometres along the Kewdale to Kwinana railway line, as described in the Fourth Schedule to the *Railways (Standard Gauge) Construction Act 1961*, and proceeds in a generally southerly direction along the median strip of the Kwinana Freeway for a distance of about 15 kilometres to a point near Australian Map Grid coordinates 391352 East and 6433947 North then, leaving the median strip, proceeds in a generally south‑westerly direction for a distance of about 10 kilometres to a point near Australian Map Grid coordinates 384870 East and 6428090 North near Dixon Road, Hillman, then proceeds in a generally southerly direction for a distance of about 29 kilometres and terminates at a point near Australian Map Grid coordinates 382068 East and 6400291 North so that the overall distance from the commencement point to the termination point is about 54 kilometres.\n\nThe course to be taken by the railway is shown as a red line on Department of Transport map number 936‑00‑13.\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999* and includes all amendments effected by the other Acts referred to in the following Table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999* | 49 of 1999 | 8 Dec 1999 | 8 Dec 1999 (see s. 2) |\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The supplied text is the original Act as compiled. It authorises two specific railway alignments and sets permitted deviation distances. The compilation table shows only this Act and no later amendments; the text contains no provision changing that scope. Therefore there is no indication in the source material that the legal scope of the authorisation has changed from the Act as enacted."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused statute: authorises construction and specifies routes in two schedules (low structural complexity).","Technical geographic detail: schedules include map references and precise Australian Map Grid coordinates (requires technical interpretation).","Cross‑references to other Acts: expressly disapplies or modifies the deviation limit in s.96(1) of the Public Works Act 1902 and references earlier railway Acts for commencement points (needs attention to external provisions).","Delegated implementation detail omitted: Act grants corridor and deviation but leaves funding, acquisition, approvals and exact alignment decisions to other processes (practical complexity in implementation)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- The Act authorises construction and maintenance of two specified railway extensions in Western Australia: a northern extension (Currambine to Butler) and a southern extension (Jandakot to Rockingham to Mandurah). The legal authority to build and maintain those railways is contained in sections 3(1) and 4(1).  \n\n- The precise routes are fixed by the two schedules. Schedule 1 gives the Currambine–Butler line start and end points, approximate distance (about 9 km) and a Department of Transport map reference. Schedule 2 gives the Jandakot–Rockingham–Mandurah route, its approximate distances (overall about 54 km) and a map reference.  \n\n- The Act also permits the routes to be varied within fixed corridors. Section 3(2) allows the Currambine–Butler line to deviate up to 2 kilometres on either side of the Schedule 1 line. Section 4(2) allows the southern line to deviate up to 4 kilometres on either side of the Schedule 2 line. Both deviation permissions are described as being allowed “despite” the deviation limit in section 96(1) of the Public Works Act 1902, which the Act therefore disapplies to these lines to the extent described.\n\nWho it affects and who decides\n\n- The Act authorises whoever holds the practical responsibility for design and construction to build and maintain the lines along the routes set out (ss 3(1), 4(1)) and to place the alignment within the permitted deviation corridors (ss 3(2), 4(2)). The Act itself does not name a funding body, contractor, or operator, nor does it set out acquisition or compensation procedures.  \n\n- Land, property owners and users located on or near the fixed lines or within the 2 km / 4 km deviation corridors are the parties whose legal situation is most directly affected by the statutory authorisation and permitted deviations. The Act does not itself specify how land affects are to be managed (for example, through acquisition or compensation) — other statutory processes and agencies would apply.\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical implications)\n\n- The Act’s stated purpose is to authorise construction of these two urban railway extensions; practically, it creates legal permission for a railway alignment to be established along the geographic lines and map references in the schedules and permits flexibility in final alignment within set corridors.  \n\n- Practical implications include: providing a clear statutory route and corridor width for planning and construction; enabling route adjustments within the specified deviation distances; and creating the legal foundation for subsequent project actions (design, procurement, construction, and any land access). The schedules’ coordinates and map references are the definitive geographic descriptions the Act uses.\n\nCosts, incentives, trade-offs and implementation points (mechanical, source‑grounded observations)\n\n- Who pays: The Act does not allocate or appropriate money or state who will fund construction. Funding and contracting arrangements are not specified in the text. (See ss 3(1), 4(1) — authorisation only.)  \n\n- Incentives and opportunities: By legally authorising the two corridors, the Act enables government agencies or private contractors to plan, tender and carry out railway works consistent with those corridors. That creates opportunities for firms that provide railway design, construction and operation services, but the Act does not prescribe how contracts will be awarded. (Authorisation: ss 3(1), 4(1).)  \n\n- Compliance burden and legal instruments: The Act sets route descriptions and map references (Schedules; map numbers in each Schedule). Parties must comply with those geographic specifications and the permitted deviation ranges when developing final designs. The Act also expressly modifies the operation of s.96(1) of the Public Works Act 1902 for these projects, which alters the usual statutory deviation constraint for these lines (ss 3(2), 4(2)).  \n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and implementation risk: The Act grants flexibility (fixed maximum deviation distances) but does not set who determines the exact alignment within these corridors, nor does it set procedural steps (environmental approvals, land acquisition procedures, compensation, or detailed planning controls). Those matters will be addressed under other legislation and administrative processes. Reliance on Department of Transport maps and grid coordinates means accuracy of those materials and subsequent administrative decisions will be important for implementation (Schedules 1 and 2).  \n\n- Trade‑offs and opportunity costs: The Act trades off the certainty of a statutory corridor (useful for project delivery) against the residual uncertainty for owners inside the wider deviation corridors because exact alignment can move within the permitted distance. The Act does not on its face allocate mitigation, compensation or alternative land‑use arrangements; those are left to other laws and administrative steps.\n\nSections most directly engaged: sections 3 and 4 (authorisation and deviation permissions) and Schedules 1 and 2 (precise route descriptions and map references)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"It is impossible to assess whether the scope changed from the original intent, as the full text of the legislation is unavailable. The page has been removed from the WA legislation website and no substantive content could be retrieved for analysis."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative text available to assess true complexity","Infrastructure Acts of this type typically involve moderate complexity due to land acquisition and planning provisions","The 1999 date suggests potential amendments or repeal over the intervening decades, adding historical complexity","Score reflects inability to analyse actual content rather than assessed simplicity"],"plain_english_summary":"## Railway (Northern and Southern Urban Extensions) Act 1999 — Western Australia\n\n**⚠️ Content Unavailable**\n\nThe actual text of this Western Australian law is **no longer accessible** via the provided link. The page has been taken down due to system and security upgrades on the WA legislation website.\n\n**What we can infer from the title:**\n- This is a **1999 Western Australian Act** dealing with railway extensions in urban areas\n- It likely authorised or governed the construction and/or operation of **northern and southern urban rail extensions** in Perth (most likely related to the Joondalup/Clarkson northern extension and/or a southern suburban rail line)\n- It may have dealt with land acquisition (compulsory purchase of private land), planning approvals, or funding arrangements for these infrastructure projects\n\n**What this means for you:**\nWithout the actual legislative text, it is **not possible to provide a reliable plain English summary** of the law's specific effects, obligations, or rights it creates. Anyone needing to understand this legislation should:\n1. Search directly at [www.legislation.wa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au)\n2. Contact the Parliamentary Counsel's Office Helpdesk\n3. Check if the Act has been repealed or consolidated into another law"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: authorising construction of two specific railway corridors. There is no evidence of scope creep — no amendments have added regulatory schemes, environmental conditions, or operational rules. The compilation table shows no amendments, indicating the Act has remained unchanged since 1999."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short statute: only 4 operative sections plus 2 schedules","Minimal defined terms: no interpretation section; relies on external references (e.g., 'Australian Map Grid coordinates', 'Department of Transport map numbers')","Simple conditional logic: only one operative provision per railway (authority to construct + deviation power)","Limited cross-referencing: references only two external Acts (*Public Works Act 1902* and *Perth-Joondalup Railway Act 1989* / *Railways (Standard Gauge) Construction Act 1961*) for geographic anchoring","No exceptions, exemptions, or regulatory powers: straightforward enabling authority without administrative machinery","Schedules contain purely descriptive geographic data rather than legal rules"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act gives the Western Australian government formal permission to build two new railway extensions in Perth's northern and southern suburbs.\n\n**The two railway projects:**\n\n*   **Northern extension (Currambine to Butler):** About 9 kilometres of track extending the existing Perth-Joondalup line further north, running through a combined railway and highway corridor. It starts just south of Burns Beach Road and ends near Lukin Drive, Butler.\n\n*   **Southern extension (Jandakot to Rockingham to Mandurah):** About 54 kilometres of track running from Jandakot (near the Kewdale-Kwinana line) down to Mandurah. It follows the Kwinana Freeway median strip for roughly 15 kilometres, then branches off through Rockingham before continuing south to Mandurah.\n\n**Key practical powers:**\n\n*   **Construction authority:** Authorises building the railways plus \"necessary, proper and usual works\" — meaning stations, bridges, signals, and other infrastructure.\n*   **Flexibility on route:** Allows the railway to deviate (move) from the planned line shown on official maps — up to 2 kilometres either side for the northern line, and up to 4 kilometres either side for the longer southern line. This overrides the stricter deviation limits in the *Public Works Act 1902*.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\nPrimarily government agencies (especially the Public Transport Authority and Department of Transport) who build and operate the railways. It also affects landowners near the proposed routes, as the deviation powers allow some flexibility in acquiring land for the final alignment.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis is the foundational legal authority for what became the Joondalup line extension to Butler and the Mandurah line — two of Perth's major suburban rail corridors. Without this Act, the government could not lawfully construct these railways or acquire the necessary land."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999","history":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999/history","analysis":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/railway-northern-and-southern-urban-extensions-act-1999/documents"}}