METRONET Karnup Station Moves Ahead with $10 Million Commitment

It’s a Sunday. And the Secret Harbour by election isn’t far away – just 4 weeks yesterday, in fact. And so, surprise, surprise, we have yet another State Government infrastructure announcement. The proposed new Karnup station on the Mandurah line is not far from Secret Harbour, the State seat that’s currently held by Labor but being eyed off by One Nation and the Libs. WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the time is right to deliver the long‑planned METRONET Karnup Station, with the Cook Labor Government committing $10 million to final planning, design and approvals ahead of construction starting in 2028.

“Karnup Station has always been part of our planning along the METRONET Mandurah Line,” Ms Saffioti said, adding –

“With new housing developments being finalised, local public transport patronage will continue to grow — so the time is right to deliver Karnup Station.

“We delivered Lakelands Station in 2023 after the Commonwealth Liberal Government chose to fund that project over Karnup.

“This investment will ensure the new station meets the needs of the Karnup community now and into the future.

“We’re proud to have made public transport more accessible and affordable than ever, with Karnup residents set to travel to Perth on a one‑zone fare once the station is complete.”

The $156 million project will include a bus interchange with at least eight stands, a dedicated pick‑up and drop‑off area, and more than 400 parking bays.

The station will sit at the corner of Paganoni Road and Mandurah Road, serving a fast‑growing corridor between Warnbro and Lakelands.

Planning for the 39‑hectare housing precinct around the station has been finalised, expected to deliver 800 homes. Land sales later this year will help fund half the project cost, with the State seeking matching Commonwealth support.

DevelopmentWA has also partnered with Mirvac to deliver the first 1,500 homes in a 484‑hectare master‑planned community, part of a broader Karnup District Structure Plan that could see up to 20,000 homes built.

Private developers, including Golden Group, are already releasing new lots nearby.

Premier Roger Cook said the project shows WA Labor’s commitment to the southern suburbs.

“Only my WA Labor Government is putting WA first and delivering for our southern suburbs,” Mr Cook said.

“Our record on public transport is strong — WA Labor built the Mandurah Line and we’ve delivered 23 METRONET stations since 2017.

“My government is the only one that can deliver Karnup Station, and it’s always been part of our long‑term METRONET plan.”

Patronage across the network continues to rise, with a 24 per cent increase at nearby Warnbro and Lakelands stations over the past three years — an extra 1,000 passengers a day — boosted by the Go Anywhere Fare that caps travel at $2.80 statewide.

Looking wider afield, it’s interesting to see just where Perth Metro’ rail system now reaches.