BUNBURY OUTER RING ROAD
ROUTE
963. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Bunbury Outer Ring Road
project update of September 2018, which states that Main Roads is committed to
the existing corridor for the southern section.
(1) What
environmental issues are of concern to the government in relation to —
(a) the existing
corridor; and
(b) the alternative
corridor?
(2) Has the
government compared the likely positive and negative impacts of the use of the
existing corridor and the alternative corridor on issues such as local
business, tourism, safety, liveability, and community development; and —
(a) if not, why not; and
(b) if yes, what
impacts on the community have been identified for each corridor, by the
government and by the community?
(3) Is the
government intending to undertake more meaningful, collaborative community
engagement beyond question and answer sessions; and, if not, why not?
(4) Please detail
the community engagement methods that will be used, and how they differ from
question and answer sessions?
(5) Will the
minister meet with residents of Gelorup to view the environment that will be
destroyed should this corridor be cleared?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) (a) The
environmental issues that have been raised with regard to the existing corridor
for the southern section include banksia woodland, the black cockatoo and the
western ringtail possum.
(b) Detailed
environmental surveys are being undertaken within the alternative investigation
corridor as part of the environmental approvals process. These will provide
information on environmental values.
(2) Not at this
stage. The focus of the current work is to compare the two alignments in terms
of environmental impact.
(3) Yes.
(4) In April
2018, Main Roads formed an integrated project team to complete detailed
planning and project development. This work is scheduled for completion by the
end of 2019 and includes an extensive program of community and stakeholder
engagement. Ongoing activities include two community reference groups;
community drop-in sessions; landowner meetings; local government consultation;
consultation with special interests, including freight industry, road user
groups, community groups and Bunbury port; and regular project updates to
members of the community.
(5) Main Roads is
still undertaking the project planning/development investigations and is
keeping the minister's office apprised of the issues.