City of Greater Geraldton to negotiate Marine Terrace roundabout with Mid West Port Authority, Main Roads WA

The City of Greater Geraldton will negotiate an agreement with Main Roads WA over repairs to council roads used by heavy vehicles as it continues its push to reclassify part of Marine Terrace as a State road. The council voted at last Tuesday’s meeting to take action on issues around Marine Terrace and the roundabout near the port, as well as the Eastern Breakwater. It has previously asked Main Roads to take ownership of the parts of the roads which have been damaged by heavy vehicles. Trucks enter the Geraldton port via John Willcock Link, a road owned by the State due to it being part of the heavy vehicle route. However, they use Marine Terrace and Portway to get back on to the main road, which both belong to the City of Greater Geraldton. According to the city, the roads involved are under stress and it was “required to perform a level of service far greater than that of a typical local government road.” The total stretch of the road it is looking to reclassify is about 700m. A council report said Main Roads was open to taking ownership but had asked for it to be upgraded to heavy vehicle standard prior to the handover, which would cost the council close to $1 million. Instead, the council has voted to push for chief executive Ross McKim to negotiate an agreement with Main Roads over the repairs and to continue to push for the road to be reclassified. Cr Victor Tanti said the reclassification of the Marine Terrace was important and the city shouldn’t bear the cost of the upgrades. A Main Roads WA spokesperson recently told the Geraldton Guardian the organisation was working with the council to find a solution. “Main Roads is in the early stage of discussions with the City of Greater Geraldton and the Midwest Port Authority regarding the Geraldton Port maximisation project,” she said. “Should Marine Terrace meet the relevant criteria to be considered for reclassification, any transfer timing would depend on available funding, asset responsibility agreements with the city and other parties, and would be subject to Treasury approval. “Main Roads is currently undertaking rehabilitation of the pavement at the intersection of Marine Terrace and John Willcock Link to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of heavy vehicles into the port.” Other parts of the move include decreasing the lease size of the Eastern Breakwater to reflect the addition of the new jetty and to classify part of Crown land near Marine Terrace as a public road to reflect the roundabout.