Time for review of transport planning report extended

South West metropolitan communities will have a further opportunity to review and respond to an important regional transport planning report in the next month.

The report is designed to help informed debate on the proposal to delete the Fremantle Bypass from the Metropolitan Region Scheme and the period for public comment on that proposal has been extended for a further month.

Planning Minister David Smith and Transport Minister Pam Beggs today said public submission now would be accepted up to Friday, April 13.

They said the extension would allow interested parties to comment on the South West Metropolitan Region Transport Planning Study just completed by Travers Morgan.

The study was financed by the State and Federal Governments through the Main Roads Department and the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

The consultant's report looks at the impact of proposals to delete two controlled access highway reserves - the Fremantle Eastern Bypass and the Roe Highway west of Stock Road - from the Metropolitan Region Scheme.

The report says substantial changes must be made to planned land use and development in the South West metropolitan region if the two reserves are to be deleted.

A Fremantle traffic calming study carried out last year concluded an alternative integrated approach to land use and transport issues would be needed if, in the longer term, traffic growth was to be limited to the capacity of the existing road network.

The Travers Morgan report also notes a public transit system between Fremantle, Rockingham and Mandurah, announced by Premier Carmen Lawrence in the WA Advantage last month, could provide a catalyst for land use changes.

But it points out such a system would be unlikely in itself to offset the effects of not building the bypass and the Roe Highway extension without substantial changes in land use and transport strategy.

"We are keen to ensure that local authorities, community groups and other interested parties in the south west metropolitan region have the opportunity to study the report," the Ministers said.

"This will help informed debate on future transport plans for the region."

A summary of the Travers Morgan study are available at local libraries in the area and from the Department of Transport, 136-138 Stirling Highway, Nedlands; the Main Roads Department, Waterloo Crescent, East Perth; and the Department of Planning and Urban Development, 469-489 Wellington Street, Perth.

Copies of the full version have been placed at local libraries.

Submission forms to respond to the study are available from the Department of Planning and Urban Development, the Battye Library and the City of Fremantle.

Submissions should be lodged with the Town Planning Appeal Committee by 4 pm, Friday, April 13, at the Hyatt Centre, 87 Adelaide Terrace, Perth.