Community input leads to a sustainable road alignment solution

South Metro Connect has moved a step closer to submitting its Public Environmental Review to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) by holding its first Multi-Criteria-Analysis (MCA) option selection workshop. The workshop was held on 29 June following a series of successful design workshops held between March and June this year. The workshop was of an interactive nature and brought together a balance of community members and stakeholders to jointly identify a preferred alignment for a section of the proposed Roe Highway Extension through a thorough analysis of each option against the previously agreed social, environmental and economic criteria.

Mark Hazebroek, Project Director said, “The MCA group was presented with two alignments for the Bibra Drive to North Lake Road section of the proposed extension through the environmentally sensitive wetlands area. The two alignments were identified from community and stakeholder input received at the design workshops and a further two options were included in the assessment following discussions at the MCA workshop. The outcome of the workshop was clear with the group identifying a preference for a northern alignment that would maximise use of the existing power line corridor. This option will now be examined more closely including further assessment of the impacts and opportunities in more detail.”

South Metro Connect would like to thank all of the participants in the MCA workshop for taking time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the process.

Please click here to view the interactive project map and alignment options.

Quenda tracking

The quenda is a marsupial found throughout the metropolitan area living in native bushland and is often seen in domestic gardens adjacent to these areas. Although quite different they are sometimes thought to be a large rat, or even a rabbit, when spotted from a distance. The survival of quenda on the coastal plain is linked to parks and reserves of reasonable size and with suitable habitat. Unfortunately, options for fox and cat control are very limited in the metropolitan area
due to the unacceptable levels of risk posed to the public and their pets. The areas around North Lake and Bibra Lake are believed to support healthy populations of quenda.

“The quenda is a Priority 5 species which means it is a specially protected fauna. Due to ongoing threats, principally from urban and industrial development on the Swan Coastal Plain, where its survival has been dependent upon active conservation action, it is important to understand population size, demographics, movement and preferred habitats within the Bibra Lake area, in order to mitigate any impacts to the local population”, said Jamie Shaw, Environmental Manager South Metro Connect.

Quantifying quenda numbers and identifying preferred habitats and movements in and around the proposed Roe Highway Extension road reserve is essential to determine the potential impacts of the proposal on the species, how best to mitigate or manage those impacts and to evaluate the future success of the management actions taken. Fauna specialists have been engaged to undertake targeted quenda surveys to determine this information.

The activity encompasses systematic grid and transect trapping of individuals in order to determine number per hectare, sex, breeding and general condition, weight and length. Each individual is then micro-chipped for future identification, which will provide information on territory and movement. The traps are cleared twice a day and the individuals released after all details are recorded. While relatively small, the quenda has a penchant for fighting and has sharp claws, is quite fast and has very strong hind legs making the task of measuring, weighing and micro-chipping one that must be done carefully to protect the individual as well as the researcher.

EPA approves Environmental Scoping Document

South Metro Connect submitted an Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) on the 22 April 2010 to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA). The OEPA approved the document on 11 June 2010 following some requested minor amendments. The ESD sets out the scope of studies and investigations for the Public Environmental Review (PER) for the project. The purpose of the ESD is to define critical issues and further studies necessary to make an informed assessment of the proposed project’s environmental and social impacts in compliance with Section 45 of the Western Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).

The outcome of the PER is approval or otherwise for the proposed Roe Highway Extension to proceed to construction, subject to specified conditions and commitments.

Please click here to find out more about the ESD and to download the approved version.