Summary: The Environmental Protection Authority has released its recommendations to the Environment and Heritage Minister on a proposal by Main Roads Western Australia to develop a coastal road between Lancelin and Cervantes, including spur roads to Wedge and Grey settlements, and an unsealed link to Brand Highway via Mimegarra Road.
Release Date: 9 July 2002
Details: The Environmental Protection Authority has released its recommendations to the Environment and Heritage Minister on a proposal by Main Roads Western Australia to develop a coastal road between Lancelin and Cervantes, including spur roads to Wedge and Grey settlements, and an unsealed link to Brand Highway via Mimegarra Road.
The 66 kilometres long single carriageway sealed road is the final stage of the Perth to Dongara coastal Indian Ocean Drive. Construction will result in the excision of 230 hectares from the conservation estate and clearing of 123 hectares of vegetation within the excised area.
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.
"Indian Ocean Drive will provide an alternative tourist route with Main Roads maintaining the Brand Highway as the major high speed freight traffic route.
"The final section of the road was designed to showcase and provide access to the environmental and scenic attributes of the conservation estate.
"The EPA supports the decision of Main Roads to only excise enough land from the conservation estate to allow for the construction of a single carriageway.
"Any future proposal to upgrade the road to a dual carriageway will require further assessment.
"The EPA considers that Main Roads through its consideration of alternatives, environmental investigations, management plans and the development of a strategy to replace land lost from the conservation estate has shown that the proposal will not impact significantly on the conservation estate or other regionally significant vegetation.
"Additional land will be provided by Main Roads for inclusion in the conservation estate and disturbed areas will be rehabilitated.
"Main Roads have also changed the route so that the road is outside Lancelin's Water Reserve."
The EPA's report on Main Road's proposal is subject to appeal until close of business Monday 22 July 2002.
Media contact: Charlie Maling ph 9222 7062, 9278 0673 or mobile 0400 866 450.
Status: Final
Appeals close