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Petition to save Moonyoonooka Store from bypass destruction

Geoff VivianGeraldton Guardian
The Moonyoonooka Store provides a "vital service" to surrounding areas including Narra Tarra, Eradu, Bringo, Northern Gully and Kojarena.
Camera IconThe Moonyoonooka Store provides a "vital service" to surrounding areas including Narra Tarra, Eradu, Bringo, Northern Gully and Kojarena. Credit: Picture: Facebook/Moonyoonooka Store

Petitions with thousands of signatures were handed over to Parliament last week, calling for the historic Moonyoonooka Store to be spared from the route of the proposed Geraldton bypass road.

Main Roads’ draft plans for the Geraldton bypass show the corridor passing directly through the Moonyoonooka Store, which is the only food and fuel outlet on the Geraldton to Mount Magnet Road.

Shadow transport minister and Deputy Opposition Leader Shane Love said the proposed bypass must not destroy the Moonyoonooka Store or homes and businesses in the area.

Mr Love said the site had been the home of the Moonyoonooka Store for more than 100 years.

“Located on the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road, the store is an important community hub offering a post office agency, fuel, papers, takeaway food, liquor and groceries,” he added.

The next-closest store is 15km away and this is the only place that trucks heading east from Geraldton can easily stop.

Mr Love lodged a petition with 1443 signatures in Parliament last week organised by former Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney.

The petition implored the Government to ensure the store’s services to the Moonyoonooka community were allowed to continue uninterrupted and without termination.

Mr Love also presented a further petition containing 1658 electronic signatures to Parliament.

Member for Moore Shane Love presented former Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney's petition calling on the Government to preserve Moonyoonooka Store.
Camera IconMember for Moore Shane Love presented former Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney's petition calling on the Government to preserve Moonyoonooka Store. Credit: The Geraldton Guardian, Geoff Vivian The Geraldton Guardian

Main Roads WA released the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton road corridor preferred route in October 2020 for community consultation.

The submission period closed on March 31. Mr Love said the Northampton bypass should be considered a standalone project and there was no reason why issues at Mooyoonooka should hold up the Northampton works.

“The alignment of the Northampton bypass has been in the planning phase for 20 years and it is time that funding was prioritised and work began,” he said.

And local residents are entitled to know where the current Member for Geraldton stands on this issue.

Member for Geraldton Lara Dalton said the project was in its early planning stages, with no funding allocated.

“I’ve been advised Main Roads met with the owners of the Moonyoonooka Store late last year as part of a number of landowner meetings,” she said.

“Moonyoonooka is a beautiful part of the Mid-West and I’m keen to hear from the local community about their thoughts on the project.”

Ms Dalton said the preferred corridor for the Dongara-JUGeraldton-Northampton was released for community feedback by the WA Transport Minister last year.

“Given the interest from the local community, the Minister asked for the community consultation period to be extended until March 31,” she said.

Consultation feedback will now be examined by Main Roads.

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