❓ Question regarding the closure of three rest areas on the South Coast Highway between Albany and Bremer Bay due to safety risks and illegal dumping, and the lack of replacement plans. The Minister confirms the closures and cites safety and illegal dumping as reasons.
AnsweredQoN 228Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to media reports that Main Roads WA has closed three rest areas on the South Coast Highway between Albany and Bremer Bay recently, including the Marbelup rest stop closed off and bulldozed due to illegal camping and dumping, and I ask: (a) are the reports regarding the Marbelup location accurate; (b) what are the other two locations closed; (c) why were the locations in (b) closed; (d) have any other rest stop locations been closed in the past 12 months along the South Coast Highway; (e) in relation to (d), for what reason; (f) have any rest stop locations been opened in the past 12 months along the South Coast Highway; (g) are there any plans to replace the three rest stops; (h) if no to (g), has any analysis been done on safety and fatigue-related risks in relation to the decision to remove rest stops and not replace them; and (i) in reference to (h), what was the outcome of the considerations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 August 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
7 days
a) - (i) Three rest stops have been closed on South Coast Highway between Albany and Bremer Bay:
· one east of Kojaneerup Road West (67.14 SLK);
· one west of Mettler (85.67 SLK)
· one just south of Wellstead (94.08 SLK)
The rest areas were reviewed, and closed due to the following considerations:
· Remove rest areas that pose a safety risk to motorists (poor locations, sub standard access, sight distance concerns etc).
· Close rest areas that have been used by the public for the illegal dumping of household and other waste.
No new rest stops have opened on South Coast Highway in the past 12 months
· one east of Kojaneerup Road West (67.14 SLK);
· one west of Mettler (85.67 SLK)
· one just south of Wellstead (94.08 SLK)
The rest areas were reviewed, and closed due to the following considerations:
· Remove rest areas that pose a safety risk to motorists (poor locations, sub standard access, sight distance concerns etc).
· Close rest areas that have been used by the public for the illegal dumping of household and other waste.
No new rest stops have opened on South Coast Highway in the past 12 months
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