Anketell Road Upgrade

The Anketell-Thomas Road Freight Corridor (ATRFC) is the long-term plan for a future freight corridor between Tonkin Highway in Oakford and Kwinana.

The ATRFC is a key east-west regional road network link that will:

• Improve accessibility, road safety and address the rising traffic demands caused by population and economic growth.
• Support the development of the Kwinana Industrial Area and Latitude 32 along the Western Trade Coast.
• Support the construction and operation of the planned container terminal in Kwinana. For further details about the planned container port in Kwinana visit Westport.

An early concept for the ATRFC was released in March 2022 and a Planning Control Area (PCA) was implemented in 2023. The PCA is designed to protect and guide future development of the corridor between Tonkin Highway in Oakford and Clementi Road in Mandogalup.

We make every effort to mitigate or minimise the environmental impacts of our activities.

 For more information about our environmental policy, visit our Environment page.

We are expecting the Anketell Road Upgrade – Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway to be assessed under both the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The Environmental Impact Assessment process is anticipated to take 2-3 years from the point of referral and will include multiple opportunities for public comment.

The development of the concept design for upgrading Anketell Road has included extensive flora and fauna surveys to inform and reduce the footprint of the upgrades. This has included narrowing the proposed road reserve as much as possible to minimise impacts.

This data will inform the assessments, potential design refinements and proposed mitigations. Main Roads will seek to further minimise and avoid impacts in the next stage of design. Any residual environmental impacts will be offset.

Main Roads referred the Anketell Road Upgrade – Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway proposal to the State Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in March 2024. On 2 April 2024, following a public comment period, the EPA determined to assess the proposal. The EPA will assess the referral information subject to additional information required from Main Roads, the additional information required will be subject to a further four week public review period. This public review period is anticipated to occur in the first half of 2025. Visit the EPA website here.

Main Roads also referred the Anketell Road Upgrade – Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway proposal to the Commonwealth environmental regulator – The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in March 2024. DCCEEW invited public comment on the referral in July 2024. On 22 August 2024 DCCEEW determined the Anketell Road Upgrade – Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway is a Controlled Action and will require assessment and approval before it can proceed. The project will be assessed by Preliminary Documentation. Visit the DCEEW Portal here.

 Will access in and out of the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) be improved?

Access will be improved through the direct connection from Anketell Road into the KIA and upgraded access from Rockingham Road at Beard Street.

Beard Street is currently a two-lane road and will be widened to four lanes with a significant improvement to the intersection at Rockingham Road.

 Why is Leath Road not grade separated?

It is important we have a free-flowing freight connection to the port area. There are lots of critical supporting functions for future port operations on the western side of Rockingham Road that need to be provided for and are better supported by a roundabout rather than a grade separation.

 Is the Anketell Road upgrade being environmentally assessed?

The Anketell Road Upgrade – Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway has been referred to both the State Environmental Protection Authority (April 2024) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (July 2024) for assessment.

The Environmental Impact Assessment process is anticipated to take 2-3 years from the point of referral and will include multiple opportunities for public comment.

 Project information 

• Anketell Road Upgrade - Fact Sheet - PDF (2.86 MB)
• Leath Road to Kwinana Freeway- Map - PDF (2.19 MB)
• Anketell Thomas Freight Road Corridor - Map - PDF (696 KB)

 Funding 

In planning only, no funding for construction.