❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Perth-Midland cycle path construction, focusing on environmental impact, consultation, and safety concerns related to signage. The answer defends Main Roads' actions, citing legal compliance and design standards.
AnsweredQoN 3894Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Perth-Midland Cycle and Pedestrian Path construction from East Street to Morrison Road, Midland, and I ask: (a) why was the project completely carried out by Main Roads Western Australia without any consultation with the Department of Environment Regulation in relation to the removal of 26 mature native trees, when residents were advised that vegetation clearing would be kept to a minimum; (b) what consultation was undertaken and what was the timeframe for that consultation; (c) what feedback was received from the consultation process and was that feedback incorporated into the project; and (d) will Main Roads Western Australia remove all billboard advertising signage from the East Street Crossing to Morrison Road along Great Eastern Highway which will be an obstruction/blind spot in the line of sight for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 May 2016
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
56 days
(a) Main Roads undertook clearing for the construction of this section of Principal Shared Path in accordance with its legal obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 and the conditions of its Clearing Permit CPS818.
Most of the cleared vegetation was not categorised as native vegetation because it had been intentionally planted at this location a number of years ago. The cleared vegetation had low environmental value.
Main Roads designed the project to ensure Australian standards were met and to accommodate the constraints of the site including the need for separation distances between people, trains and cars with the standard of fencing along the railway line taking into account the presence of extensive PTA infrastructure and other services.
Clearing of native vegetation within these constraints was minimised in accordance with the requirements of the project.
Main Roads reported the clearing of the native vegetation to the Department of Environment Regulation in accordance with the requirements of its Clearing Permit CPS818.
(b) – (c) The State Heritage Office and City of Swan were contacted on 31 October 2014. The City of Swan advised the Woodbridge Residents and Ratepayers Association had been contacted and that the Association did not consider a community meeting was warranted as construction of the Principal Shared Path was a straightforward project.
(d) Main Roads has designed the Principal Shared Path to meet Australian Standards including sight distances.
The project is under construction and due for completion in July 2016. Once construction is completed Main Roads will undertake a road safety audit of the project to ensure the design is satisfactory and road safety requirements have been met.
Most of the cleared vegetation was not categorised as native vegetation because it had been intentionally planted at this location a number of years ago. The cleared vegetation had low environmental value.
Main Roads designed the project to ensure Australian standards were met and to accommodate the constraints of the site including the need for separation distances between people, trains and cars with the standard of fencing along the railway line taking into account the presence of extensive PTA infrastructure and other services.
Clearing of native vegetation within these constraints was minimised in accordance with the requirements of the project.
Main Roads reported the clearing of the native vegetation to the Department of Environment Regulation in accordance with the requirements of its Clearing Permit CPS818.
(b) – (c) The State Heritage Office and City of Swan were contacted on 31 October 2014. The City of Swan advised the Woodbridge Residents and Ratepayers Association had been contacted and that the Association did not consider a community meeting was warranted as construction of the Principal Shared Path was a straightforward project.
(d) Main Roads has designed the Principal Shared Path to meet Australian Standards including sight distances.
The project is under construction and due for completion in July 2016. Once construction is completed Main Roads will undertake a road safety audit of the project to ensure the design is satisfactory and road safety requirements have been met.
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