Extract from Hansard [COUNCIL - Wednesday, 19 November 2003] p13331b-13332a Hon Kim Chance

FREMANTLE EASTERN BYPASS, DELETION OF RESERVATION Statement by Leader of the House HON KIM CHANCE (Agricultural - Leader of the House) [12.45 pm] - by leave: The Western Australian Planning Commission has recommended to government to proceed with the metropolitan region scheme amendment to delete the reservation for the eastern bypass. The Fremantle eastern bypass was inserted into the metropolitan regional scheme in 1973 by the first Court Government in substitution for the Point Resolution bridge crossing. The deletion of the Fremantle eastern bypass has been a long-term commitment of the Government as part of a strategy of integrated and sustainable transport and land use planning. On any indicator, Perth has an extraordinary level of automobile dependence. Although we have managed this in the past, Perth is growing quickly. Over the next 25 years, we can expect another 700 000 people and 345 000 homes, and we must now be prepared to make a real paradigm shift. All submissions on the amendment have been fully considered. At the end of the day, the Western Australian Planning Commission made its decision based on the merit of the argument. Many of the issues raised would not have been resolved by the Fremantle eastern bypass and need more creative solutions. Major reasons for the Western Australian Planning Commission making its decision to delete the Fremantle eastern bypass include - The Commission noted that to simply build more roads is not Perth’s, or any other major city’s, solution to transport demand and a fundamental change is required in land use and transport planning to encourage alternative solutions. The outer harbour will play an increasingly more important role as the inner harbour reaches its capacity over the next 10 years or so. At this time traffic numbers at the north eastern end of the south west corridor will stabilise and demand will move towards the south west as development occurs in the coastal region south of Fremantle. Investment needs to be directed towards future transport needs servicing the outer harbour, the Fremantle-Rockingham industrial area, Kwinana and Naval Base. The commission noted that the road network west of the will still have adequate capacity over the next 25 years. Even if the Fremantle eastern bypass were built, and other major roads in the region would remain busy roads and the issues raised in public submissions, such as road safety, levels of service, and noise, would need to be dealt with in any case. In making its recommendation, the commission has set a challenging agenda for government relating to traffic management, safety and planning in the south west region. No longer can Western Australia continue with the predict and provide model and allocate scarce revenue towards building more roads. The Government’s alternative approach uses a wide range of measures, including better planning, better interfaces between transport modes, improving existing transport networks, reducing demand from private cars and improving public transport. The freight network review, which brought together the community, industry and government over 2001-2002 devised better ways of moving freight in the metropolitan area, resulting in the six-point plan, which involves - extend to Kwinana Freeway; put more freight on rail; build inland container terminals; better logistics; plan for the outer harbour at Kwinana; and improve existing roads. The deletion of the Fremantle eastern bypass sets the State on a new path for dealing with our transport systems and networks. I table the related report and the plan. [See papers Nos 1699 and 1700.] Debate adjourned, on motion by Hon B.K. Donaldson.

[1]