policy
City of Perth Revises Local Procurement Policy for Metronet Projects, Linking Contracts to Resident Employment
Perth residents in suburbs along the rail corridors can apply for priority consideration in construction and maintenance roles tied to the next stages of the Metronet program.
How we reported this
The City of Perth has amended its local government procurement policy to require contractors on Metronet rail extensions to allocate a portion of positions to workers living within the metropolitan area. The change applies to projects passing through central Perth and adjacent local government areas, covering roles in track laying, station fit-outs and ongoing service maintenance.
Why the update arrives now
State budget papers released in May 2026 record continued iron ore royalty flows that support the Metronet program, while federal AUKUS defence contracts have increased demand for skilled trades in the Perth region. The City of Perth policy document dated June 2026 states that local government procurement rules must now align with these larger state and federal spending streams to retain employment benefits inside the city boundaries.
Residents in Highgate, East Perth and Subiaco will see the first recruitment rounds under the new rules when the Morley-Ellenbrook line stations reach final construction phases later this year. Local advocates note that the policy requires tender documents to list postcodes of successful applicants, giving council staff a direct way to track whether jobs stay with Perth ratepayers rather than interstate crews.
Services and infrastructure changes for daily life
Maintenance contracts for the expanded network will also fall under the revised rules, meaning routine work such as platform cleaning and signalling checks could employ people already using the service. Policy analysts say this could reduce response times for minor faults because crews will be based closer to the lines rather than travelling from outer depots.
The City of Perth annual report for 2025-26 records the number of active Metronet-related planning applications lodged with the council. The next step involves quarterly compliance reports to be published on the council website, beginning in October 2026, so residents can check whether the local hiring targets are being met on each contract.