Mid West residents band together to voice opposition to the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton route alignment

Midwest residents turned out in their droves on Friday afternoon to voice their opposition to the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton route alignment. The route was announced two weeks ago by the State Government with little to no consultation provided to affected landowners. More than 60 Minnenooka, Walkway, and Moonyoonooka residents attended the meeting at Riverview Farm, home to Alana Birnie and Mat Birnie. Shadow transport minister and deputy leader of the Nationals WA Shane Love attended the meeting and spoke with those affected. Residents highlighted several concerns including undervalued compensation figures, a lack of transparency from Main Roads and uncertainty caused by the decision. Mr Love said he came out expecting to see half a dozen affected residents based on the report he received but instead was greeted by 60 people. “Now this route was selected, announced back on June 22. We’re now on the first of July and there are people here who have only been informed today, that their property is part of that announcement, that is reprehensible,” he said. “It’s a disgrace that these people have not been included in any of the early consultations, this route was not put out to the public for any discussion. “There was no attempt to talk to these landowners and residents before the route selection took place. That’s so disrespectful for the community that should not be the process of an open, transparent government.” Mr Love urged those in attendance to write to their local MP outlining their complaints. “I am calling on Lara Dalton, to work with her minister to ensure that these landowners are properly consulted with, that Main Roads come to a meeting with all of the affected landowners as a group, not try to single them off one by one, meet with them and discuss openly and frankly, why they’ve been treated so miserably,” he said. Farmers Warren and Tammy Treasure own a property on Glengarry Rd which will be affected by the proposed bypass. “We’re actually right next door to Warren’s parents’ farm and we farm it as one entity, but we’re actually three families that own three separate pieces of land in there,” Mrs Treasure said. “Warren’s worked his whole life as a farmer, I’ve only been in the family for 15 years, we now have two children who are both showing an interest in farming.” Mrs Treasure said losing the farm would not only affect their livelihood now, but also the next generation. “So my kids have spent their whole life on the farm. That’s all they know, that’s what they love, and their future’s gone, just because somebody drew a line on a map.” Many residents questioned why the existing Brand highway could not be upgraded or if it had even been considered by Main Roads “I think that they should be upgrading existing roads, rather than looking at bypassing in such a big area, because if they move it from us, which is what we want, it’s going to affect our neighbours, our friends or someone else down the road,” Mrs Treasure said. Daniel Treasure — who is set to lose more than 100 hectares of his farm if the bypass goes ahead — echoed those thoughts “Maintain what they’ve got, upgrade the Brand Highway to a suitable condition, it only needs a metre on each side plus half a metre down the middle. “I don’t believe there’s the traffic flow to warrant this new road even with forecast traffic loads in 20, 30 years time the inland highway takes most of the heavy traffic up to the iron ore mines. I just don’t see it even if Oakjee does go ahead.” Transport operator Duncan Pearse said he was unaffected by the bypass but felt for all the people who were. “I can’t see any reason why the existing Brand Highway can’t be upgraded. Running it through people’s farms either way they want to do is not right there. The whole process is wrong,” he said. Ms Dalton previously said the route had been talked about for many years and she was pleased the government was “getting on with the job of planning for this important piece of future infrastructure”. “This new route will give more clarity and confidence to the local community and landowners moving forward,” she said.