Joe Mahon, a Perth business owner, says years of railway construction related to the Oats Street Metronet project have cost his business hundreds of thousands of dollars. The works, which involved removing the Oats Street level crossing, elevating the rail line, and building a new train station, caused road closures and parking issues that affected customer access.

Mahon told 102.5 ABC Perth that while he did not object to the public transport upgrades at East Victoria Park from late 2023 to mid-2025, he has submitted a $250,000 compensation claim to the Public Transport Authority (PTA). He believes this amount reflects the business revenue lost due to the disruptions, based on a prior annual turnover growth of 25 to 30 percent.

Located at the corner of Bank Street and Forward Street, Reid's Remotes was chosen for its street visibility, customer parking, and ease of access. However, closures of Oats Street forced customers to navigate complicated and frequently changing detours. Mahon said, "At the start it was gradual because it was issues like their workers taking up all the parking onsite so our customers couldn't actually park." He added that the shop was "extremely difficult to access at times," with roads sometimes closed during certain hours and online maps unable to keep up.

Mahon also stated he was not informed that Oats Street would be closed for 18 months until after the closure occurred. He described the impact of the road closure as "like falling off the edge of a cliff," with customers unable to access the business. The prolonged disruption nearly forced his business to close last year.

Mahon emphasized the importance of passing trade, noting that in 2018 his business began tracking how customers found them, with many coming in after seeing signage while passing by.

Sources