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 complete project development for an extension of Roe Highway west from the Kwinana Freeway in the lead up to the last state election in 2008. The primary objective of project development is to obtain all required clearances and approvals to enable construction of the project to commence and South Metro Connect will complete this phase of the project by mid 2012.

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 55,000 and 75,000 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 are the benefits of extending Roe Highway?

 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.

• 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.

• 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.

3.  What has the project accomplished?

In mid-2009, South Metro Connect started project development for the Roe Highway Extension. The primary objective of project development is to obtain all required clearances and approvals to enable construction of a project to commence.

A critical aspect of project development for the extension was engagement with the community and stakeholders to identify sustainable project outcomes taking social, environmental and economic factors into consideration.

Activities have included:

• Identification of a preferred alignment within pre-determined project boundaries (in or immediately adjacent to the Metropolitan Region Scheme road reserve);

• development of a preferred concept design in collaboration with the community and stakeholders; and

• obtaining environmental and other approvals.  

Project development is nearing completion, with a preferred concept design developed and environmental approvals documentation, such as the Public Environmental Review document, submitted to the relevant government authorities for their consideration. 

4.  Does the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) include a reserve for Roe Highway Extension?

Yes. The reservation for Roe Highway Extension is shown on the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) Plan.  In brief, the reservation commences at Kwinana Freeway at the location of the existing Roe Highway interchange in Jandakot and heads west for approximately 5 km to 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.

The section of the Roe Highway Extension preferred concept design between Kwinana Freeway and North Lake Road is not fully contained within the current MRS reservation and an amendment to the MRS is therefore required. 

For more information on the MRS and local government town planning schemes please visit the Western Australian Planning Commission’s website at www.planning.wa.gov.au.

5. Where is the preferred concept design for the Roe Highway Extension outside the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) reservation for the road?

The section of the Roe Highway preferred concept design between North Lake Road and Stock Road is in an area constrained by urban development and is wholly contained within the existing MRS reservation for the road.  The section of the preferred concept design between North Lake Road and Kwinana Freeway has been the subject of extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders resulting in the identification of an alignment, which is slightly north of the existing MRS reservation.  The preferred concept design was identified, by incorporating sustainability principles and mitigating environmental and social impacts, to arrive at a solution which minimises the actual land required for the road.

Click here for more information about the preferred concept design.

6. The section of the preferred concept design between Bibra Drive and Progress Drive requires less land than that set aside in the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) reservation for the road. What will happen to this surplus land? 

Surplus land from the existing road reserve between Bibra Drive and Progress Drive will be transferred to the Beeliar Regional Park. This will achieve a nett gain in the size of the park of approximately 9 hectares.

7. When will the road be built and how will it be funded?

It is anticipated that all approvals and clearances required for construction to start will be obtained by mid 2012. However, timing for construction is dependent on funding which will be subject to future government budgetary processes.

8. What government approvals are required?

Required approvals include Environmental, Aboriginal Heritage and Development.

• Environmental approvals: The project is being formally assessed in accordance with Section 45 of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)and Section 38 of the State Environmental Protection Act 1986 (level of assessment is Public Environmental Review). In accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth and the State, the scoping assessment documents were approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Regulatory requirements relevant or potentially relevant to the proposed project are presented in the Environmental Scoping Document and Public Environmental Review (PER) document. Both documents are located on the South Metro Connect website.

• Aboriginal heritage approvals:  The preferred concept design for the project does have some impacts on registered heritage sites. The project will therefore be submitted to the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.  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 Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities.

• Development applications: Any work that may be undertaken outside the MRS road reserve will be subject to the local government Development Application process.

9.  What will be the standard of the new road?

10. What is the proposed layout for the new intersection that will be formed at Roe Highway / Stock Road?

11.  How will traffic patterns in the area be affected?

12.  How will local roads be impacted and what connections will be provided to Roe Highway Extension?

14. How many trucks will be removed from Leach Highway and South Street?

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.

15. 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 Roe Highway Extension 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 and community and stakeholder engagement processes and identify a preferred concept design 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 October 2009, the GHD Meyrick Report (Roe Highway Strategic Review) examined the strategic fit of the proposed Roe Highway Extension from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road as part of the road transport network in Perth’s southern metropolitan area. The report concluded that if the Roe Highway was not extended from its current terminus at Kwinana Freeway, severe and restricted traffic flow will be widespread by 2031. As a result, Perth will experience higher transport operating costs, greater road safety problems and worse noise and pollution level for communities located near the roads (GHD Meyrick, 2009).

Click here to view the GHD Meyrick Report in full.

16. 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.

17. 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 extreme social impact, with substantial resumption of homes required.  It is therefore not considered to be a viable option.

18. The 2003 Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) bulletin concluded that it would be extremely difficult to make this project environmentally acceptable. What has changed this time?

Since no actual alignment was defined at that point, the EPA based the information within the Bulletin on the MRS road reserve, which has a substantially larger footprint and in the wetlands section is on a more intrusive alignment than the current preferred concept design.

The preferred concept design seeks to mitigate wherever possible the findings of the 2003 EPA Bulletin. The EPA’s current formal assessment of the proposed project will determine if this has been successfully achieved.

19. What is the Government's position on extending Roe Highway and the Fremantle Eastern Bypass (FEB)?

Advice from the Department of Planning indicates that from a transport planning perspective, constructing the Fremantle Eastern Bypass (FEB) and an 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.

The need for a further extension of Roe Highway from Stock Road to Cockburn Road will be examined in current and proposed planning studies by the Department of Transport and Department of Planning For more information please contact these agencies.

20. How will the environment impacts be managed, particularly on the wetlands and fauna?

A comprehensive environmental study program has been undertaken since mid 2009. The objective was to ensure that as much data as practicable was collected to enable a detailed understanding of the environmental conditions of the project area. The outcomes of the studies were used to assist development of the preferred concept design by highlighting environmental constraints and opportunities for innovative design solutions.

It is proposed that environmental impacts are reduced by:

• Alignment of the project along the western section of Hope Road, between Bibra and North lakes, and along the existing high tension power line corridor to minimise the clearing footprint

• Maximised use of degraded vegetation areas to avoid impacts on high and medium quality vegetation

• Use of a minimum width highway median to minimise the clearing footprint

• As much as possible, avoidance of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos potential nesting sites

• Relocation of the original Bibra Drive interchange to a new location (Murdoch Drive Extension interchange) in cleared government-owned land to the east. This is to minimise impact on conservation category wetlands (including Roe Swamp) and high quality vegetation and fauna habitat

• Replacement of embankments and batters with retaining walls to minimise footprint in high environmental and heritage value locations

• Retention of minimum widths of existing vegetation to maintain ecological linkages in key areas

• Inclusion of bridges over a portion of Roe Swamp and south-east of Horse Paddock Swamp to minimise interruption to surface and potential subsurface flows. This will also maintain ecological linkages for fauna species and long-term genetic transference of flora species

• The use of top-down construction methods to build the bridge at Roe Swamp. This will reduce the clearing footprint by removing the need for ground level access by machinery and vehicles, which is especially important in this high-value ecosystem

• Reconfiguration of the Kwinana Freeway Interchange to retain areas previously set aside as environmental offsets for Roe Highway Stage 7

• Bioretention basins to treat road runoff and provide recharge to local wetlands via groundwater recharge. The basins were designed such that existing trees will be retained and already cleared, open space will be excavated for the basins, which will be rehabilitated to develop a reconstructed wetland environment. 

The current formal assessments of the proposed project by the Environmental Protection Authority and Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities (DSEWPaC) will determine if the proposed project is environmentally acceptable.

21. The new road will be between North and Bibra Lakes and across wetlands between Bibra Drive and Progress Drive. Won't this restrict fauna movement and current recreational use in the area?

The critical importance of maintaining ecological and recreational connectivity between North and Bibra Lakes is recognised. Between Progress Drive and Bibra Drive the proposed highway alignment will use part of the existing Hope Road reserve and the majority of the power line corridor, thereby maximising the use of already cleared land. 

A bridge structure will be built at the eastern end of this section over part of Roe Swamp using construction methods which will largely eliminate clearing and protect the wetlands vegetation.

Ecological and recreational connectivity in this area will also be maintained via a second bridge in the vicinity of the Horse Paddock Swamp wetland and several fauna underpasses.

22. There are some sites of significance to Aboriginal people in the project area. How will the impacts on these sites be handled?

The project area, in particular near Bibra and North lakes, holds great significance for Aboriginal people.

The project will affect at least two registered heritage sites and consent under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 is therefore required.

Heritage surveys of the project area have been conducted by specialist consultants in conjunction with recognised traditional owners. The preferred concept design has been developed with consideration to minimising impacts on heritage values. 

Opportunities to recognise cultural heritage in the region have been identified by traditional owners who will be further consulted if the project proceeds to construction.

A section 18 notice will be submitted to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in mid 2011 for consideration by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee and Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

23. What is the project doing to mitigate noise from the new highway? 

Roe Highway Extension will be designed and constructed, in consultation with community and stakeholders, to minimise noise impacts on local residents such that nationally recognised standards and any specific Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) noise control conditions are met or exceeded.

Noise levels will be assessed in accordance with State Planning Policy 5.4: Road and Rail Transport Noise and Freight Considerations in Land Use Planning (SPP5.4) (WAPC 2009). Appropriate noise mitigation techniques will be used to meet noise target levels where required.

There are a number of techniques that are used to mitigate noise, which may include:

• Using distance to separate noise sources from noise-sensitive locations

• Constructing noise attenuation barriers such as earth mounds and noise walls

• Traffic management

• Use of low-noise surfaces or constructing the new highway in cut (e.g. lower ground levels than neighbouring properties).

A noise report is available in the Public Environmental Review document, and the final determination on noise management requirements will be made by the EPA. However, details of the location and appearance of noise walls will be determined through an extensive community engagement process, which will be conducted during the detailed design/construction phases of the project.

24. How has the project involved the community and stakeholders?

South Metro Connect has implemented a collaborative community and stakeholder engagement program during the current project development phase to provide opportunities for the community and stakeholders to influence the concept design.

The program has included:

• information days

• design and options selection workshops 

• online discussion forums

• a shopfront for community and project team interaction

• meetings with stakeholders, including community groups

Over 1300 individual comments were received from the design workshops alone. All the comments received were analysed to identify opportunities for modifications to the original concepts presented at the workshops.

Suggestions that met the Government’s objective to extend Roe Highway along or near the existing MRS road reserve were evaluated for possible inclusion in the preferred concept design against environmental, social and economic values, technical standards and government regulations. This resulted in a number of significant modifications.

An important component of the project with several viable options was the section of Roe Highway between Bibra Drive and Progress Drive. An options selection workshop using multi-criteria analysis, and involving community and stakeholder representatives, identified and confirmed the most sustainable option. This option has been incorporated in the preferred concept design.

Although South Metro Connect is nearing the end of the project development phase of the Roe Highway Extension, there is still an opportunity for members of the community and stakeholders to have their say. You are encouraged to make a formal submission on the Public Environmental Review which was released by the  Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on 20 June 2011 for a 12-week public comment period closing on September 12 2011.

Click here for information on how to make a submission.  

25. How are you recording and reporting my feedback?

 South Metro Connect is documenting all feedback received throughout the course of the project development phase.  Information received prior to June 2011 has been collected in a project database and included in the project Public Environmental Review document.

Click here to view a summarised version of community feedback.

26. What if I don't support the project?

 People who have not supported the project have still made a valuable contribution to the overall 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. The current PER public comment period (closes 12 September 2011) provides further opportunity for those interested to comment on the preferred concept design and provide feedback on the project.

27. How will cyclists and pedestrians be accommodated on the proposed Roe Highway Extension?

A Principal Shared Path (PSP) will be provided for the full length of the extension. It will link to the existing PSPs on Kwinana Freeway and Roe Highway and the local shared use path network. The PSP will be fully grade separated through the provision of underpasses and overpasses to remove conflict with vehicles and to provide safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists.

Click here to view a concept drawing of the proposed PSP for the Roe Highway Extension.

28. What is the next step for South Metro Connect?

South Metro Connect’s primary objective is to obtain all required approvals and clearances required for construction of the project. 

Activities included thus far include working in collaboration with the community and stakeholders to identify a preferred concept design (released in May 2011) and prepare the Public Environmental Review (PER) document, (released by the EPA on 20 June 2011 for a 12-week public comment period which closes on 12 September 2011).

An application for Aboriginal Heritage Act Section 18 consent will be submitted to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in late 2011.

It is anticipated that all required clearances and approvals will be obtained by mid 2012 when South Metro Connect’s role will be completed.

Timing for construction is dependent on funding and it is unlikely that South Metro Connect will be involved in this phase of the project.