1. Why extend Roe Highway?
Roe Highway forms a strategic link in Perth’s road network, running between the Great Northern Highway and the Kwinana Freeway. It functions as a high quality ring road that allows north-south traffic to bypass the Perth CBD and inner suburbs. The current State Government promised to extend Roe Highway west from the Kwinana Freeway WA in the lead up to the last State Election.
Over the last decade the south metropolitan region has experienced extraordinary growth. This growth is set to continue with a number of significant projects scheduled, including the Murdoch Activity Centre (encompassing Fiona Stanley Hospital). This growth will put unsustainable pressure on our road network and present increased safety risks for local communities.
The proposed project will be a significant east-west link in the south west metropolitan transport network, servicing a forecast demand of between 47,000 and 79,000 vehicles per day in 2031 – vehicles that would otherwise be using existing local roads (Source: Main Roads Regional Operations Model outputs – Roe Highway Stage 8). The westward extension of Roe Highway will improve the efficiency and ease traffic on both parallel east-west roads such as South Street and Leach Highway, and Kwinana Freeway between Roe and Leach Highways. It will improve safety and traffic conditions within the regional road network.
The proposed project will provide better, easier and faster access for residents and road users in the Cities of Cockburn and Melville to Kwinana Freeway, Bibra Drive, North Lake Road and Stock Road. It will also provide opportunities for improved access to the future Fiona Stanley Hospital and other developments in the Murdoch area.
With some improvements to intersections, Stock Road is considered to be of an appropriate standard to provide access north to Fremantle Inner Harbour and the future Outer Harbour (Kwinana Quay), Kwinana Intermodal Terminal, James Point Private Port, Kwinana Industrial Area and various other industrial areas.
2. What is the alignment of the Roe Highway Extension?
The indicative alignment for the Roe Highway Extension is shown on the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) Plan. In general the extension will join to the Kwinana Freeway at the location of the existing Roe Highway interchange in Jandakot and head west along the MRS road reserve for approximately 5 km to end at Stock Road in the vicinity of its current intersection with Forrest Road.
The MRS is administered by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and is the base plan for the Perth metropolitan and regional area that defines Perth’s future land use by dividing it into broad zones and reservations. The MRS, in conjunction with local government town planning schemes, provides detailed plans for specific localities accommodating Perth’s future land use needs and changes. The MRS was implemented in 1963 and land development, including around the Roe Highway Extension reservation, has occurred in accordance with the scheme over the past 45 years.
For more information on the MRS and local government town planning schemes please visit the Western Australian Planning Commission’s website www.planning.wa.gov.au
3. The road reserve is already in place for this section of Roe Highway. Is Main Roads locked in to the current road reserve or is there some flexibility?
The portion of the Roe Highway alignment between North Lake Road and Stock Road will be in an area constrained by urban development. The portion of the alignment between North Lake Road and Kwinana Freeway has some flexibility. The alignment through this section will be the subject of extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders. The aim is to arrive at a solution which minimises environmental and social impacts and fully incorporates sustainability principles.
4. What is the timeline for the project?
The State Government’s commitment is to begin construction of the Roe Highway Extension by 2012. The South Metro Connect team is currently undertaking all planning activities in accordance with a schedule that will satisfy that commitment, subject to the obtaining of environmental and other approvals.
The environmental approvals process sets out the process for the planning phase of the project. The process can be viewed here on the South Metro Connect website (see the Project/Current Status page).
The South Metro Connect team will submit the Environmental Scoping Document in January 2010. Once this document is submitted it is estimated that a further 10 months will be required to complete the field studies, select a preferred design option, undertake the Environmental Impacts Assessment and prepare the Public Environmental Review (PER). Community consultation will continue throughout this process.
Once the PER has been submitted, a formal 12 week public comment period will be undertaken. Following this, the EPA will review the PER and submissions received and make their recommendations to the Minister for the Environment. There is no statutory timeframe for this process.
5. How will the project be funded?
Estimated project costs will be identified during scope development over the next two years. Funding for the project will be subject to future government budgetary processes.
6. What government approvals are required?
Several approvals are required: Environmental, Aboriginal, Development Approvals.
- Environmental approvals: Environmental scoping and assessment for the project will be in accordance with Section 45 of the commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 and Section 38 of the state Environmental Protection Act 1986. In the context of environmental project approval, the overarching authorities for the Commonwealth and the State are the Department for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), respectively. In accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth and the State, the scoping assessment documents will be submitted to the EPA. Regulatory requirements relevant or potentially relevant to the proposed project are presented in the draft environmental scoping document which is located on the South Metro Connect project website.
- Aboriginal approvals: If the final alignment of the road requires that disturbance of heritage sites is unavoidable the project will be submitted to the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act, 1972. This application will be supported by a report detailing the outcome of all archaeological and ethnographic (study of human culture) investigations and consultation undertaken during the course of this project. Aboriginal Heritage is also protected by the Commonwealth through the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Heritage Protection Act, 1984, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
- Development applications: Any work that may be undertaken outside the MRS road reserve will be subject to the local government Development Application process.
7. What will be the standard of the new road?
The scope of the South Metro Connect project, as defined by the Minister for Transport, sets out that the Roe Highway Extension will be built as a four lane highway.
The original planning for this section of Roe Highway was based on a six lane road of 100km/h freeway standard with full access interchanges at all major cross roads. As part of Main Roads’ approach to designing and constructing Roe Highway Extension and in recognition of environmental and social values, all of these aspects will be reconsidered as part of the community and stakeholder engagement process.
Although the concept designs will explore the standards to be adopted, the intent is still to provide a safe and efficient road that meets its functional requirements.
8. What is the proposed layout for the new intersection that will be formed at Roe Highway / Stock Road?
While there have been some options proposed in the past, the final configuration is as yet unknown, as the layout of the intersection will be developed in consultation with the community and relevant stakeholders. However, one objective of the project will be to encourage heavy vehicles to use Stock Road rather than continuing west along Forrest Road, whilst still retaining access to the west for local traffic.
9. How will traffic patterns in the area be affected?
Traffic modelling strongly indicates that when Roe Highway Extension is constructed there will be a reduction in traffic on both the existing main east to west roads and local roads.
Planned development in the region over the next 20 years is such that traffic inside and into and out of the region will increase greatly. The Roe Highway extension will take a significant part of the additional traffic. However the volumes over this period are predicted to be so great that the other main east to west roads in the region will still operate at, or near, capacity during peak hour.
If the Roe Highway is not built most of this additional traffic would be using local roads as the main roads will be at capacity. Thus a major benefit of the Roe Highway extension will be to take traffic off the local road system and relieve the congestion levels in the major road system.
10. How will local roads be impacted and what connections will be provided to Roe Highway Extension?
The connections from the local road network are subject to review as part of the project development phase. The review will be included in the community and stakeholder engagement process that will soon commence. Some preliminary indications, working from east to west, are:
- Kwinana Freeway: The original planning for the interchange was for a full freeway to freeway type connection so that free flowing access is available in all directions, however this is subject to review and many options will be investigated.
- Bibra Drive: The original planning for a connection at Bibra Drive was a grade separated interchange for which the on and off ramps had a major impact on the nearby Roe Swamp. This layout will be reviewed so that environmental impacts will be minimised.
- Murdoch Drive extension: The development of the Murdoch Activity Centre, including the Fiona Stanley Hospital, relies on an additional connection to provide adequate access. A southern connection from Roe Highway connection is planned as an extension of Murdoch Drive. Various options for this connection will be considered and it is intended that the location of the connection is within government owned land. Because of their proximity the connection of Bibra Drive and the Murdoch Drive extension are strongly interrelated and may well occur in one interchange.
- North Lake Road: The current proposal is for a diamond type interchange to be provided at North Lake Road however this will be reviewed in consultation with the community and stakeholders.
- Stock and Forrest Roads: The termination of the extension is likely to be a three or four-way connection. The need for a fourth leg, which is a connection to Forrest Road west of Stock Road, depends on the access requirements further to the west. The Department of Planning has commenced a planning review to determine the appropriate road network west of Stock Road. All connection options at this intersection will be examined during the community engagement process.
Several local roads will be impacted by the Roe Highway Extension. Treatment of these impacts will be determined during traffic studies and stakeholder and community engagement. Roads likely to be impacted include:
- Progress Drive: Roe Highway Extension will cross Progress Drive near its current intersection with Hope Road. Options may include cul-de-sacs on Progress Drive either side of Roe Highway or an underpass.
- Hope Road: Hope Road is likely to be impacted by Roe Highway Extension near its current intersection with Progress Drive. Further impacts will be identified during selection of the final road alignment.
- Coolbellup Avenue and Sudlow Road: It is likely that there will be a bridge over Roe Highway Extension linking Coolbellup Avenue and Sudlow Road. However, this is subject to review.
- Forrest Road: The Roe Highway Extension road reserve includes the current Forrest Road from near its intersection with Sudlow Road west to Stock Road. Forrest Road from Sudlow Road east to North Lake Road is unlikely to be impacted by Roe Highway. Connections from this section of Forrest Road to other local roads will be subject to review.
11. How will trucks over 12.5 metres long (such as semi-trailers, B-doubles and long vehicles) travel to Fremantle once this new section is built?
Trucks heading to Fremantle on the current Roe Highway will continue across Kwinana Freeway, travelling west on the new extension until its end point at Stock Road. From there vehicles will travel north along Stock Road and then turn left at Leach Highway and use Leach Highway / High Street to access Fremantle as is currently the case.
As a result, a significant number of trucks will be removed from the Kwinana Freeway (between Roe Highway and Leach Highway) and Leach Highway (between Kwinana Freeway and Stock Road).
Prior to the opening of the Roe Highway Extension the State Government will review the available information and determine the benefits and practicality of extending the existing truck restrictions on Leach Highway and South Street.
12. What past studies have been considered as part of this project?
Roe Highway was originally planned to form part of Perth’s strategic ring road network. In 1963, the alignment for the proposed project was set aside as a Controlled Access Highway in the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS). The highway was designed to connect Fremantle Port with the Kewdale, Welshpool and Canning Vale industrial areas; as well as major transport corridors—the Great Northern and Great Eastern Highways. It is intended to accommodate freight traffic generated by the port and passenger vehicle movement.
After 1963, several reports were prepared in review of future transport requirements and strategy in regards to an alignment within MRS boundaries. Generally, the studies identified the need to build Roe Highway from Island Street in Fremantle to the Kwinana Freeway by 1979.
In 1988, another study was undertaken for the review of the MRS alignment through North and Bibra Lakes (Sinclair Knight & Partners 1988). The study recommended further review to ensure limited impact of the alignment on the lakes.
In the 1990s, additional studies were undertaken by Main Roads, WAPC, Fremantle Port Authority and Department of Planning and Infrastructure to determine the transport needs and strategy for the project area. Generally, these studies identified the completed Roe Highway (to Fremantle Port) as a “strategic freight route.” However, one study (South West Metropolitan Region Transport Strategy) recommended deleting Roe Highway west of Stock Road and the Fremantle Eastern Bypass from the MRS. The report indicated that building Roe Highway to the west would be against the philosophy of demand management and the aim of reducing car dependency (South West Metropolitan Region Transport Planning Committee 1992). The Fremantle Eastern Bypass was abandoned in 2003 and the available land within the MRS was re-zoned for urban use and sold.
In 2002, the Metropolitan Freight Network Review working group for the Freight Network Master Plan conducted a multi-criteria analysis process to consider Roe Highway Stage 7, Roe Highway Extension and other alternatives. Selected route options were assessed against economic, social and environmental criteria. The highest ranked option was to construct Stage 7 coupled with a major upgrading of Stock Road. While the options for the proposed project all ranked low, an option to upgrade Leach Highway west of the Kwinana Freeway ranked high.
Following the Metropolitan Freight Network Review, various studies were completed that did not take the proposed project into consideration and supported the Freight Network Strategy. One study conducted within this time period suggested that intersection improvements and congestion management solutions would ease traffic congestion in the region (Freight Network Review Second Congress 2002).
Roe Highway (Stage 7) was completed in 2006 and presently terminates at Kwinana Freeway. Subsequently, a strategic review concluded that the extension of Roe Highway to Stock Road is required due to inadequate transport infrastructure to support present and future development.
In August 2009, the Minister for Transport announced the creation of the South Metro Connect project team to manage the environmental approvals, identification of a preferred design and community engagement processes for the proposed project. The Minister stressed that the State Government recognises the value of the natural environment in the vicinity of the proposed project and that the project team will strive to meet the highest possible environmental standards with high levels of community engagement.
In 2009, the proposal was referred to both the EPA and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and the bi-lateral agreement was enacted. The EPA has set the level of assessment for the proposal at Public Environmental Review with a 12 week public comment period.
13. The 2003 Freight Network Study reported that Roe Highway Stage 8 was not required and that freight could travel to the coast using the existing road network. What has changed since then?
Currently freight travels to Fremantle via the Kwinana Freeway and Leach Highway leading to congestion, an unsafe mix of heavy and light vehicles and in the case of Leach Highway, noise and other pollution on a primarily residential road. The extension of Roe Highway to Stock Road aspires to provide a high standard link to both the inner and proposed outer harbours with improved social, environmental and economic outcomes when compared to the current situation.
Since the opening of Roe Highway Stage 7 there has been a noticeable increase in traffic entering the Kwinana Freeway, which has increased congestion. This, coupled with the consequences of significant residential and commercial development in the southern corridor, has resulted in escalation of related impacts on residents and businesses on and around Leach Highway and South Street.
14. What are the benefits of building this extension of Roe Highway?
The provision of modern and effective transport services demands that a sound transport policy, delivering high standards of safety, environmental performance and productivity at a sustainable cost, is fundamental to the welfare, lifestyle and advancement of the people of Western Australia, and to ensure the prosperity of the State.
The extension of Roe Highway from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road will:
- Complete the key strategic link in Perth’s road network which connects Reid Highway, Great Northern Highway and Great Eastern Highway in the Midland area to Tonkin Highway, Kwinana Freeway and Stock Road.
- Allow for improved access to the future Fiona Stanley Hospital and other developments in the Murdoch area.
- Provide better access for residents in the City of Cockburn who are travelling to the east and better access from the east to the rapidly expanding Cockburn coast area.
- Provide improved access to the Fremantle Inner Harbour.
- Form part of the key freight route to the proposed Outer Harbour and the expanding Kwinana industrial area.
- Remove trucks from the residential areas along Leach Highway between Stock Road and Kwinana Freeway, which will improve safety, reduce noise and improve the general amenity in this area.
- Improve safety and reduce congestion on the east-west roads in the Murdoch area such as South Street and Farrington Road, and other local roads.
15. Why can’t the Roe Highway Extension follow the existing freight railway line between Kwinana Freeway and Stock Road to the south of Bibra Lake?
Studies have identified that this route will result in an inferior standard road and severe social disturbance with substantial resumption of homes required. It is therefore not considered to be a viable option.
16. What is the Government’s position on building the remainder of Roe Highway Stage 8 and Fremantle Eastern Bypass?
Advice from the Department of Planning indicates that from a transport planning perspective, constructing Fremantle Eastern Bypass (FEB) and a further extension of Roe Highway through to Cockburn Road would improve traffic and road safety conditions for freight and general transport in the south west metropolitan corridor.
The previous government however, oversaw the removal of the FEB from the Metropolitan Region Scheme in 2004. Disposal of the land to private ownership is now well advanced and some development is already occurring within the former FEB reservation. As a result of this redevelopment it is highly unlikely that the FEB project could be reinstated.
In relation to a further extension of Roe Highway from Stock Road to Cockburn Road, the Department of Planning has commenced a planning review to determine the appropriate road network west of the planned Roe Highway / Stock Road intersection. For more information please contact the Department of Planning.
17. The current MRS road reserve appears to be quite large. Will this amount of land be required for the road?
The final road alignment and footprint will be the subject of extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders to arrive at a solution which minimises the actual land required for the road.
18. If the final alignment is outside the existing reserve or the road footprint is less than the current reserve what will happen to any surplus land?
The intent is for that surplus land from the existing road reserve between Bibra Drive and Progress Drive to become public open space forming part of the Beeliar Regional Park.
19. The 2003 EPA bulletin concluded that it would be extremely difficult to make this project environmentally acceptable. What has changed since that time?
Since no actual alignment was defined the EPA based the information within the Bulletin on the MRS road reserve, which is substantially larger than the ultimate project footprint.
The current thinking for this section of Roe Highway is based on providing a sustainable road development with minimal impact to the natural environment. In this regard, all options for the new road, including revising the standards, alignment location, layout of the interchanges and adopting innovative measures to enhance the environment, will be considered.
20. How will the environmental impacts be managed, particularly on the wetlands and fauna?
Consultation with local residents, community groups, conservation groups, Local Government Authorities, the Conservation Council, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the wider community is expected to result in a sustainable solution which minimises environmental impacts, in particular on the wetlands and fauna, with the objective of ensuring that the environment in the Beeliar Regional Park is in better condition following completion of the project. Improvements to the existing environment could include:
- Reduced noise and emissions pollution on local roads;
- Improved management of drainage run off from local roads into Bibra and North Lakes;
- Rehabilitation and revegetation of degraded areas in Beeliar Regional Park;
- Improved interpretive, pedestrian, cyclist and recreation facilities; and
- Improved connectivity between Bibra and North Lakes (Hope Road currently forms a barrier).
The value of the natural environment in the vicinity of the project, particularly in the Beeliar Regional Park, is recognised. Accordingly a high level of innovative planning and design solutions and construction techniques, unlike that previously seen on Main Roads’ projects, will be implemented on this project.
The Environmental Protection Authority has decided that the level of assessment is at a Public Environmental Review assessment level, with a public review period extended from six to 12 weeks.
21. The new road will create a barrier between North and Bibra Lakes. Won’t this restrict fauna movement and current recreational use in the area?
The critical importance of maintaining connectivity between North and Bibra Lakes is recognised. The type and extent of this connectivity will be determined during consultation with the community and stakeholders. Our intent is to ensure this connectivity is maintained or improved from the existing situation where Hope Road provides a barrier.
22. There are some sites of significance to Aboriginal people in the project area. How will the impacts on these sites be handled?
Traditional landowners will be consulted on the best ways to eliminate or minimise impacts on Aboriginal heritage. Innovative techniques will be adopted to avoid Aboriginal heritage sites, however if the final alignment of the road requires that disturbance of heritage sites is unavoidable, the project will be submitted to the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee and Minister for Indigenous Affairs for assessment under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.
23. Will local residents be affected by increased noise as a result of trucks using this new route?
Roe Highway Extension will be designed and constructed, in consultation with stakeholders and the community, to minimise noise impacts on local residents such that nationally recognised standards and any specific Environmental Protection Authority noise control conditions are met or exceeded.
24. How can local residents and stakeholders get involved in the project?
South Metro Connect intends to consult and collaborate widely with interested community members and organisations, local governments, regulatory agencies and private industry in order to achieve a sustainable outcome and minimise environmental impact.
Consultation commenced in August 2009 and will continue throughout the project. Community and stakeholder participation will be invited via planned workshops to identify classifications and associated ratings for the multi-criteria analysis to be used and to determine a preferred design option. Frequent project updates, including details of upcoming consultation activities, will be posted on the South Metro Connect website; advertised in local newspapers; and emailed to those subscribed to receive project updates.
Here are ways you can actively participate in the process:
25. How are you recording and reporting my feedback?
The South Metro Connect team will document all feedback. This information will be collected in a project database and will be reported formally as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document as part of the PER process.
26. What if I don’t support the project?
People who do not support the project can still make a valuable contribution to the process. South Metro Connect’s commitment is to record all views and submit these through the formal approvals process to ensure that the outcome reflects the broad spectrum of community sentiment.
27. What is the public opinion with regard to whether Roe Highway should be extended?
South Metro Connect commissioned independent market researchers Patterson Market Research in October 2009 to conduct a multiple stage research study to assess community sentiment on the Roe Highway Extension.The main objective of the survey was to capture the level of awareness within the community and note any community concerns in relation to the State Government’s commitment to extend Roe Highway from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road.
The survey results indicate a high level of support for the project throughout Western Australia with “two out of three respondents supporting the plans for the extension” (excerpt from Patterson’s Report 2009). The same results indicate that opposition to the project occurs primarily in the areas immediately surrounding the project area. The survey by Patterson Market Research was completed during the Roe Highway Extension project development period to gauge the views and opinions of the public and to guide community engagement efforts throughout the project.
For the full Patterson’s report and questions please click here.
28. One of the main benefits of the project is the removal of trucks from South Street and Leach Highway. What actual reductions are expected once Roe Highway Extension is built?
The daily heavy vehicle movements on Leach Highway are forecast to reach between 3 100 and 3 300 vehicles per day by 2031 without Roe Highway Extension. Construction of Roe Highway Extension is forecast to reduce the number of heavy vehicles along Leach Highway by between 15% and 19% in 2031.
Without the Roe highway Extension, the daily heavy vehicle movements on South Street are forecast to reach between 1 800 and 3 000 vehicles per day by 2031. Construction of Roe Highway Extension is forecast to reduce the number of heavy vehicles along South Street by between 33% and 52% in 2031.
Roe Highway Extension will provide a route designed for the safe and efficient movement of heavy vehicles which is anticipated to be in excess of 6 000 vehicles a day. Without the Roe Highway Extension these vehicles would have to be accommodated elsewhere in the network; most likely along less desirable routes.