Advertisement of changes to planned northern city bypass road

16/6/94

Planning Minister Richard Lewis has given approval for the State Planning Commission to advertise changes to the proposed northern city bypass road, aimed at easing Perth's future traffic problems.

Mr Lewis said today the decision to advertise the changes was based on a recommendation of the commission's Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC).

Proposals for the northern city bypass, and a major amendment to reserve the road alignment in the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS), were released for public comment last September.

The east-west bypass proposals included a segmented tunnel under Northbridge and a surface road - both connecting Great Eastern Highway and Orrong Road in Rivervale to the Mitchell Freeway in Leederville.

"The MPC has recommended that the proposed road alignment through East Perth should be lowered and moved closer to the railway line," Mr Lewis said.

"As a result of the changes, the MRS amendment affecting East Perth will have to be readvertised for public comment."

The Minister said 48 properties previously affected by the original proposal would no longer be touched.

However, the new alignment would impact on 13 properties which were outside the original route.

Mr Lewis said that despite the additional cost, the MPC had also recommended that the bypass go ahead as a full tunnel.

"It should be clearly understood that this advice relates to land use requirements only and that Cabinet has yet to consider other questions such as funding and timing of the project," he said.

The full tunnel recommendation and the change to the route were made after extensive public consultation, which included more than 700 written submission and 59 public hearings.

"Based on the public hearings, the MPC has recommended that because of the sensitivity of Northbridge a full tunnel is the best option," Mr Lewis said.

The Minister said the public would have one month from tomorrow in which to lodge submissions with the State Planning Commission regarding changes to the bypass route.

Media contact:  Paul Plowman 222 9595