Road route concerns

Growing community distress over Main Roads plans for a Geraldton bypass saw almost 200 people fill the Walkaway Hall at a public meeting on Sunday. Main Roads intends for the Geraldton section to take an inland route, following most of Morrel, Narra Tarra-Moonyoonooka, Arthur and Allanooka Springs roads. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn opened the meeting and gave an overview of Main Roads’ proposed corridor for the entire Northampton-Geraldton-Dongara bypass. He said the City’s preferred route started at Webberton Road and continued inland through Narungulu, following Rudd’s Gully Road to the Brand Highway. Mr Van Styn said the final decision was up to the WA Government and his council had very limited powers. He urged landowners to lobby for their preferred position by writing to Main Roads directly. Meeting chair Julie Campbell said 11 families with 18 schoolchildren lived on Arthur Road, and if they could not get into Walkaway, it would “decimate” sporting and community groups, and Walkaway Primary School. Ms Campbell said the planned route went over a major aquifer and many were worried it would affect vital water supplies and destroy important wildlife habitat. Mr Van Styn said the department’s refusal to hold a public meeting in Geraldton showed a “disregard for communities”. Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney told the meeting there was clear consensus on the northern section of the bypass from Yetna to Northampton. “I think the northern section could start sooner,” he said. Mr Blayney said the Allanooka wetlands could be more significant than the Beeliar wetlands which halted Perth’s Roe 8 highway extension. “It makes sense to take as long as we want to find the right route,” he said. Mr Van Styn thanked Agricultural Region member Laurie Graham for attending, even though as a member of the Government, he could not address the meeting. Mr Graham said he did not necessarily agree with all of the proposed route. “I don’t speak for Main Roads, it is the dilemma of being a politician,” he said. City development services director Phil Melling asked people making submissions to Main Roads to forward a copy to council@cgg.wa.gov.au so the City was aware of their concerns. He said the council would not initiate any planning scheme amendments, such as the bypass route, until landowner compensation had been agreed.