A parliamentary question regarding road construction within Fitzgerald River National Park, specifically addressing whether planned works involve new roads or simply sealing existing ones. The Minister for Transport clarifies that funding is allocated to reconstruct and seal existing roads, not to build new ones.

AnsweredQoN 6Legislative Council
Asked
3 March 2010
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

FITZGERALD RIVER NATIONAL PARK
I refer to the ministerial media statement “State’s plan for Fitzgerald River gets further support” dated Thursday, 17 December 2009. (1) Is the Premier aware that according to the Shire of Ravensthorpe there are no plans at present to construct a road through Fitzgerald River National Park and that works undertaken in the future are to seal existing gravel roads, construct walk trails and provide tourism infrastructure? (2) Can the Premier confirm that any construction undertaken in Fitzgerald River National Park is not for a new road but to seal existing gravel roads? (3) If no to (1) and/or (2), why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Is the Premier aware that according to the Shire of Ravensthorpe there are no plans at present to construct a road through Fitzgerald River National Park and that works undertaken in the future are to seal existing gravel roads, construct walk trails and provide tourism infrastructure? (2) Can the Premier confirm that any construction undertaken in Fitzgerald River National Park is not for a new road but to seal existing gravel roads? (3) If no to (1) and/or (2), why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Can the Premier confirm that any construction undertaken in Fitzgerald River National Park is not for a new road but to seal existing gravel roads? (3) If no to (1) and/or (2), why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If no to (1) and/or (2), why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the honourable member for notice of the question. Even though it was initially addressed to the Premier in its terms, it has been referred to me with a request to answer it in my capacity as Minister for Transport and I am very pleased to do so. (1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(1) As outlined in the Premier’s media statement dated 17 December 2009 to which the member referred, the scope of works for the project relates to the reconstruction and sealing of the existing Hamersley Drive from East Mt Barren to Hamersley Inlet and the reconstruction and sealing of existing roads linking Bremer Bay to Point Ann. The Department of Environment and Conservation is also developing a coastal walk trail and associated tourism infrastructure within Fitzgerald River National Park. (2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(2) The current $40 million of state and federal funding is allocated for the above-mentioned works. There is no funded proposal to construct a new road through Fitzgerald River National Park. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.

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