Summary: The Environmental Protection Authority EPA has released its recommendations to the Environment and Heritage Minister on a proposal by Main Roads Western Australia Main Roads WA to construct the Tonkin Highway Extension from Gosnells to Mundijong to link with South Western Highway in the vicinity of Jarrahdale Road.
Release Date: 26 February 2002
Details: The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its recommendations to the Environment and Heritage Minister on a proposal by Main Roads Western Australia (Main Roads WA) to construct the Tonkin Highway Extension from Gosnells to Mundijong to link with South Western Highway in the vicinity of Jarrahdale Road.
The proposed extension is approximately 416 hectares in area, of which 260 hectares will be used for construction. The road area, including interchanges, will be approximately 190 hectares and about the same length as the existing highway.
It is planned as a bypass to reduce the volume of heavy traffic in the urban areas of the south-east of the Perth Metropolitan Region.
EPA Chairman, Bernard Bowen, said the Authority considered the proposal could be managed in an environmentally acceptable manner subject to the proponent's commitments being made legally binding as environmental conditions.
"The EPA's objective for this proposal has been that there should be no nett loss of environmental values in the region," Mr Bowen said.
"Although the route of the highway is mostly cleared farmland the proposal will still impact on eight Bush Forever sites, two vegetation complexes with less than 10 per cent of the original extent remaining in the Perth Metropolitan region and approximately 15 hectares of conservation category wetlands and has the potential to impact adversely on noise sensitive premises in the vicinity.
"Extensive discussions have taken place with Main Roads to ensure that all measures are undertaken to minimise the impacts from the road construction and to lay the ground work to develop strategies for their mitigation where those impacts are unavoidable.
"Examples of mitigation strategies include restoration of Marri vegetation along Mundijong Road to Paterson Road, the purchase for rehabilitation and protection of areas containing similar Threatened Ecological Communities and wetlands and the collection of seed before disturbance for use in rehabilitation after construction.
"The proposal has also been altered at Mundijong Road to minimise environmental impacts."
For noise Main Roads will prepare a Noise Management Plan to determine how required noise levels will be achieved for the various sections of the highway taking into consideration the topography, location of existing dwellings and noise management measures such as noise barriers and road surfaces. Noise during construction will also have to be addressed.
The EPA's report on Main Road's proposal is subject to appeal until close of business Monday 11 March 2002.
Media contact: Charlie Maling ph 9222 7062, 9278 0673 or mobile 0400 866 450.
Status: Final
Appeals close