The properties will be assessed prior to major earthworks taking place to protect homeowners from any subsequent impacts and protect the state government against vexatious claims for damages. Michael Walker's Jandakot home will back onto Metronet's new Thornlie-Cockburn link. He claimed his Glen Iris Drive house had already suffered damage from the vibrations and movement of trains on the existing freight line. Metronet trains are expected to run more frequently. “The noise doesn’t bother us, it’s just the vibrations and the damage that it appears to be doing to the house,” Mr Walker said.

"The vibrations are quite severe, you can feel the house vibrate even when you're upstairs. “I also spent a lot of money last year to get the whole rear of the house re-painted because water was seeping through the walls from the outside and I would say the gusts from the trains had something to do with that. “At this stage, we’re considering moving. I know my neighbour is already on the market again for the second time now, but it’s not a good time for selling.” Mr Walker said when he noticed cracks in his walls, authorities told him the vibration levels in the area were at an acceptable level. More than 200 homes along the new Thornlie-Cockburn link will be assessed. Credit:Metronet

According to Public Transport Authority documents, the planned pre-condition survey for properties impacted by the two new rail lines will establish the condition of all structures in the Metronet ‘zone of influence’ - which appears from mapping to encompass 15 metres either side of the rail corridor boundary. If a property owner claims the construction or operation of the railway line has impacted their home, the state government will refer to the original report when assessing any damage. The new Thornlie-Cockburn link will be the first east-west rail connection in the city and is expected to significantly influence the way people living in the southern suburbs travel. The line will begin at Beckenham station, with three kilometres of passenger rail to be duplicated to Thornlie station. From there, 14.5 kilometres of passenger rail will be built alongside the existing freight rail with stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road.

It will travel through the Glen Iris tunnel in between the Mandurah line tracks and end at a new platform at Cockburn Central. The new Thornlie-Cockburn link Credit:Metronet Thornlie resident Helmut Gulich’s house will back onto the new line. He said the state government had been keeping him well informed about the major transport project, which will see Metronet trains pass at the back of his Nyandi Court house. “When we bought this property in 2000, the (rail) plans were already in place and we were warned about them then, so we were fully coming into this knowing all about it, knowing that freight was going to be increasing slowly and that the suburban rail at some point would wind up coming past the back of our place,” he said.

“We are under the impression that sometime next year is when they will be coming through the house (to conduct a pre-condition report). “Apparently what happens is they come through your house and check there’s no cracks or structural damage, they check the footings and things like that out, and put a report in, and if something does develop down the track then you can turn around and say, ‘Hey your equipment or your machinery is damaging the property’.” Some of the houses within the influence zone for the Yanchep rail extension (highlighted orange and blue). Credit:PTA According to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, the majority of the railway reservation for the Thornlie-Cockburn link was gazetted in 1963, with the Thornlie, Nicholson Road and Ranford Road station sites reserved in 2005. The original Butler to Yanchep railway corridor was reserved in 1996.

The Yanchep line extension will extend Perth's existing Joondalup line, starting at Butler station, by 14.5 kilometres with new stations at Alkimos, Eglington and Yanchep. The Yanchep rail extension will go through Butler and Alkimos Credit:Metronet A Public Transport Authority spokeswoman said the precondition surveys were carried out as a matter of course by the authority when doing major works near residential and commerical properties. Similar surverys were completed for the Butler extension, Aubin Grove Station and Perth Stadium Station.