Ordinary Meeting of Council 23 March 2005

4.1 HEPBURN AVENUE (BALLAJURA WARD) (OPS)

KEY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATION

• This matter was raised at the Council meeting held on 3 March 2005 when it was asked whether Council would reconsider the construction of Hepburn Avenue. • The construction of Hepburn Avenue from , Malaga, through to Reid Highway, Beechboro dates back to 1995. • Council resolved to apply for Metropolitan Regional Road Funding for the project in the 2005/6 financial year. • Currently projects such as and have a higher priority under the assessment system used than Hepburn Avenue. Recommended that Council resolved to continue to pursue funding for the construction of Hepburn Avenue.

BACKGROUND

This matter was raised by Cr John McNamara at the Council meeting held on 3 March 2005 when he asked whether Council would reconsider the construction of Hepburn Avenue.

The planning and construction of Hepburn Avenue from Alexander Drive, Malaga, through to Reid Highway, Beechboro, has a long history going back to 1995, detailed as follows:

• November 1995: Working Group formed to study the Regional Road Network in Ballajura- Cullacabardee area comprising representatives from Ministry for Planning (MfP), Main Roads WA (MRWA), Shire of Swan and Shire of Wanneroo. • February 1999: Council resolved to endorse the recommendations of the Study Report, which includes construction of Hepburn Avenue from Alexander Drive to Marshall Road (Stage 1) in the short term and further extension from Marshall Road to Reid Highway (Stage 2) in the long term. • May 1998, 1999 and 2000: Council resolved to endorse the MRRP funding for Hepburn Avenue Stage 1 for budget years 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02. • January 2001: Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) set an ’Informal Review with Public Advice’ level of assessment for Stage 1 works. • May 2001: City proposed a concept route for further extension of Hepburn Avenue Stage 2 from Marshall Road to Reid Highway and obtained endorsement from MRWA and Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI). The proposed route for Stage 2 lies in a MRWA road corridor. • May 2001: Council resolved to endorse the funding application to MRRP for construction of Hepburn Avenue Stage 2 for budget year 2002/03.

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• November 2001: City submitted the Stage 2 EAMP to Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection (DEWCP), to set a level of assessment. Stage 2 works require crossing of Conservation Category Wetlands (CCW) located within the road corridor and DEWCP verbally objected to the work. • April 2002: DEWCP verbally informed the City that a PER level of assessment will be required for Stage 2 work. The PER process would take a time period of 9-12 months.

• November 2003: Estimated cost of project from Alexander Drive to Reid Highway following public consultation is now $13M of which the City’s contribution would be $9M. Council resolved to apply for Metropolitan Regional Road Funding for the project.

As indicated City staff have pursued funding for the Hepburn Avenue project in the 2005/6 financial year. As the funding allocated to all of local government was initially reduced, the City will receive no funding for improvement projects in the 2005/6 financial year even though Council at its meeting held on 9 June 2004 resolved to submit two projects - Marshall Road (Bellefin Drive to Beechboro Road) and Hepburn Avenue (Alexander Drive to Beechboro Road).

The Marshall Road project received a higher score of 569 compared to 447 for Hpeburn Avenue.

REPORT

City staff are currently assessing projects for the 2006/7 financial year which have to be submitted for assessment by early May 2005. At this point in time, Hepburn Avenue will again be submitted but at a cost of $8.2M and with a score of only 447 it is unlikely to be funded with the current level of funding.

Marshall Road will again be considered for funding as will the construction of a dual carriageway in Beechboro Road for Reid Highway through to Marshall Road.

Alternative funding sources, such as the Roads to Recovery funding by the Federal Government is an option but at this stage the criteria for the assessment of this project under this funding are yet to be released. It is also claimed that much of the $150M made available under the scheme has already been allocated in election promises.

As Council is aware, staff have been preparing Place Plans for Ballajura and Malaga. A key issue which has arisen from the preparation of these place plans is the accessibility into the Malaga/Ballajura area. In particular, access into the area is limited to key roads such as Alexander Drive, Malaga Drive, Hepburn Avenue, Beach Road and Marshall Road.

While the issue of the duplication of Marshall Road has been raised earlier in the report, a recent check of the highest ranking intersections with regard to crashes within the metropolitan area has indicated the following for the five years from 1999 to December 2003:

Rank Location Frequency Cost 2 Reid/Alexander 281 $7.05M 16 Beach/Alexander 162 $3.90M 29 Reid/Malaga 138 $3.80M

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The defining detail here is that 3 of the top 30 sites within the Perth metropolitan area are not only within the but all are adjacent to Malaga and are key access points into the Malaga/Ballajura area.

The upgrading of each of these intersections to improve the accessibility and reduce accidents will not be cheap. While the intersections of Reid/Alexander and Reid/Malaga are both main roads and interchanges are planned for both intersections, the cost of each of them could exceed the cost of building Hepburn Avenue.

The EMRC has recently let a tender for a study in the “Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Regional Transport Strategy”. This matter will be raised in the context of that report.

Due to the cost of upgrading either or both of these intersections on Reid Highway, the construction of Hepburn Avenue may be a reasonable alternative to improve access and reduce traffic volumes on Alexander Drive, Malaga Drive and Beach Road.

It is recommended that Council fund a transport study in the Malaga/Ballajura area with the report being used to lobby local Members of Parliament for the upgrading of access into Malaga/Ballajura which includes Hepburn Avenue.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil

APPENDICES

Nil

STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

Nil

STATUTORY ENVIRONMENT

Nil

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Nil

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RECOMMENDATION

That the Council resolve to:

(1) Raise the construction of Hepburn Avenue as an issue in the EMRC study on “Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Regional Transport Strategy”.

(2) Consider the funding of a report on the accessibility to Ballajura/Malaga as part of Council’s 2005/6 budget.

MOTION that the Council resolve to:

(1) Raise the construction of Hepburn Avenue as an issue in the EMRC study on “Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Regional Transport Strategy”.

(2) Provide funding for a report on the accessibility to Ballajura/Malaga as part of Council’s 2005/6 draft budget due to the high number of accidents at the intersection of Alexander Drive and Reid Highway, Alexander Drive and Beach Road and Malaga Drive and Reid Highway.

(3) Following the completion of the report, listed in (2) above, make a submission to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure for the funding of Hepburn Avenue by the State Government.

(4) Record that the reason for changing the staff recommendation is for Council to provide the funds in the draft budget and to make a submission to the Minister for the funding.

(Cr Congerton - Cr Haynes)

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY TO:

(1) Raise the construction of Hepburn Avenue as an issue in the EMRC study on “Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Regional Transport Strategy”.

(2) Provide funding for a report on the accessibility to Ballajura/Malaga as part of Council’s 2005/6 draft budget due to the high number of accidents at the intersection of Alexander Drive and Reid Highway, Alexander Drive and Beach Road and Malaga Drive and Reid Highway.

(3) Following the completion of the report, listed in (2) above, make a submission to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure for the funding of Hepburn Avenue by the State Government.

(4) Record that the reason for changing the staff recommendation is for Council to provide the funds in the draft budget and to make a submission to the Minister for the funding.

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