THE WEST Australian state government has hammered the final nail in the controversial plan for the Roe 8 and 9 Perth Freight Link project.
The finalisation of an amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme means the road can no longer go ahead.
A key election issue in 2016/17 the road extension was to be a heavy haulage route for freight travelling to Fremantle Port, but its opponents declared the project’s $450 million cost a waste of money.
The road’s route would have also taken it through the Beeliar Wetlands, destroying habitat for endangered animals such as the Carnaby’s black cockatoo, which had conservationists up in arms.
When Labor won the election removing the incumbent Liberal government from office moves to cancel the project began.
The Metropolitan Region Scheme amendment passed by the state parliament on 17 January, removes regional road reservation ensuring areas of significant environmental and heritage value are protected.
Areas of the highest environmental and heritage significance will be reserved for parks and recreation.
In a government media release announcing the move it said other parts that are largely cleared or already developed will be rezoned for urban uses which allows for a variety of opportunities such as housing, local open space, recreation, private education, commercial and mixed use, which will be determined through subsequent stages of planning.
Planning minister John Carey said the move was part of Labor’s 2017 election commitment.:
“The road reservation has long been a barrier to planning for the Fremantle/Cockburn area, and the finalisation of this amendment provides certainty to all stakeholders and the community that this road can no longer go ahead,” Mr Carey said.
“The inclusion of urban-zoned land also enables a mixture of other local uses to be contemplated through subsequent stages of planning, with opportunities to boost housing supply and rejuvenate parts of the corridor.”
