Plans for major reduction of land reserved for road widening

20/11/94

More than 500 Perth homeowners facing the threat of having their homes affected by road widening have won a reprieve as a result of a State Government initiative.

Planning Minister Richard Lewis today announced plans to dramatically reduce the amount of land reserved for road widening.

The move affects more than 1,200 properties in the metropolitan area, about 500 of which are homes.

Mr Lewis said the proposal not to proceed with the full extent of the road widenings would also save the State Government about $100 million in contingent liabilities.

The Minister said road reserves along nine of Perth's major regional roads are proposed to be reduced in the Metropolitan Region Scheme.

He said the amendment to the scheme followed a review of the city's road reserves based on traffic forecasts to 2021 and the need for future widening.

The amendment proposes to reduce reserves along sections of Walcott Street, Loftus Street, Railway Road, Manning Road, London Street, Scarborough Beach Road, North Lake Road and Aberdare Road.

"Perth's regional road reserves were introduced in the Metropolitan Region Scheme in 1963 to provide for extra lanes to meet projected traffic demands well into the future," Mr Lewis said.

"After 30 years some of the road reserves are much wider than required and we have a clearer picture of which regional roads need to be upgraded and to what extent."

Mr Lewis said the Road Reserves Review forecast a range of traffic flows for each of the nine roads, section by section, which reflects the different land use and public transport availability.

"While the road reserves will be smaller, they will still allow for some widening of the existing roads to accommodate safety measures such as median strips for pedestrians, on-road cycling lanes and right hand turning lanes at major intersections," he said.

Mr Lewis said the existing reserves generally allow for a 10-20 metre widening on one or both sides of the road, which in some cases could be reduced back to the existing property boundary.

"This will significantly reduce the impact of the reserve on properties along these major roads and will provide certainty to landowners about the extent of future road widening."

The Regional Roads Amendment proposes reducing the road reserves on:

·       Railway Road between Loch Street and Aberdare Road from 50 m to 30 m;

·       Aberdare Road between Railway Road and Thomas Street from 40 m to 24-27 m;

·       Fitzgerald Street between James Street and Walcott Street from 40 m to 23-25 m;

·       Walcott Street between Wanneroo Road and Lord Street reduced from 30 m to 23-25 m;

·       Loftus Street between Newcastle Street and Scarborough Beach Road generally from 40 m to 23-25 m;

·       London Street between Scarborough Beach Road and Wanneroo Road from between 30-40 m to 23-25 m;

·       Scarborough Beach Road between West Coast Highway and Green Street from 30-40 m to 25-30 m;

·       North Lake Road between Canning Highway and Leach Highway from 30 m to 24-28 m; and -

·       Manning Road between Lockhart Street and Ley Street from 45-50 m to approx 26 m.

Road design concept plans have been prepared for each road in consultation with local authorities, Main Roads and Bikewest.

Public submissions are invited on the amendment until February 24, 1995.

Media contact:  Tony Robertson  222 9595