New line on track to improve connectivity

The 21km Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook line is set to officially open tomorrow Sunday December 8, starting at Bayswater Station and travelling through five new stations at Morley, Noranda, Ballajura and Whiteman Park to Ellenbrook.

Journey times to Perth will take about 31 minutes from Ellenbrook and about 17 minutes from Morley.

However, for a city as spread out as Perth and so reliant on public transport to traverse those distances, what does improved infrastructure like train access mean for property prices?

According to Perth Realty Group Senior Property Executive Prash Nayar, infrastructure projects which improve transport links have historically led to property value appreciation in the serviced areas.

“The completion of the Morley-Ellenbrook line is expected to enhance accessibility and reduce commute times to the Perth CBD, making suburbs along the corridor more attractive to buyers,” he said.

“This improved connectivity is likely to increase demand for properties in areas such as Morley, Noranda, Ballajura and Ellenbrook, potentially driving up property prices.”

However, REIWA CEO Cath Hart said these benefits were not necessarily immediate prospects.

“While the addition of infrastructure, such as a train line, can improve the appeal of a suburb over the longer term, it doesn’t automatically translate to significant price growth,” she said.

“Well-established suburbs, including Morley and Noranda, typically already have a range of existing amenities like shopping centres, schools and parks, as well as existing public transport links and major transport routes, which supports capital growth.

“The new train line will be an added convenience for residents, but it’s unlikely to drive a major rise in median house prices.

“Where you are more likely to see the effect of a train line is in outer areas with plenty of land for development, which did not have the same access to public transport as older, established suburbs.”

According to Ms Hart, these areas include developing suburbs like Dayton and Brabham.

While price gains are expected to vary by area, housing diversity is another boon on the horizon of the new train line.

According to Mr Nayar, the Metronet extension had spurred the development of diverse housing options in Ellenbrook, notably the introduction of micro-lot homes – compact, affordable residences on green-title sites under 100sqm – which aim to cater to a broader range of buyers, including first-time homeowners and investors.

“This initiative reflects a shift towards higher-density living solutions in anticipation of improved public transport connectivity,” he said.

Mr Nayar said Ellenbrook had traditionally attracted a demographic of young families, professionals and first homebuyers due to its affordability and community amenities – a trend likely to persist, as these demographics were also key stakeholders in the medium to high-density market.

While construction on the new train line began in 2021 and may have garnered increased interest in the area since then, any growth has yet to exceed general trends in the Perth market.

“Suburbs along the Morley-Ellenbrook train line have experienced strong price growth over the past few years, however this has been in line with the broader growth in prices across Perth driven by strong population growth and limited new housing supply,” Ms Hart said.

As it appeared in the 2024 December 7 edition of The West Australian.