EastLink WA

EastLink WA is a culmination of more than 40 years of planning activities between Perth and the Wheatbelt.

It will provide a safer, more efficient route between Perth and Northam, to cater for a future increase in regional and interstate freight movement and projected growth in local population.

Planning and development

Planning and development have taken place over three years to update previous planning concepts and produce the Ultimate Design for the highway which is a long-term planning concept, catering for population growth and future traffic volumes up to the year 2051. Planning and development work includes:

• Review of historical planning work
• Environmental and engineering-based studies
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Refinement of the Ultimate Design concept
• Identification of a future Land requirement boundary

• Altone Road and Daviot Road / Drumpellier Drive - expected to start in 2024. Visit the Reid Highway Interchanges webpage.
• Henley Brook Avenue (currently West Swan Road) - expected to start in 2027.

Funding

There is $20 million allocated to progress planning and development. The State and Australian Governments have each committed $10 million.

Funding for the construction of grade separated interchanges along Reid Highway at Altone Road, and at Daviot Road / Drumpellier Drive has been committed. This $225 million project is jointly funded (50% each) by the State and Australian Governments.

$175 million in funding has also been committed by the State and Australian Governments (50% each) for a grade separated interchange on Reid Highway at Henley Brook Avenue (currently West Swan Road).

While upgrades to Reid Highway are funded for construction, there is currently no funding for the construction of the highway between Middle Swan and Northam. This detailed planning and development phase is needed to establish a business case to guide future investment decisions by Federal and State Governments.

Community and stakeholder engagement continues to be an important aspect of planning and development. We are also working closely with State Government stakeholders, City of Swan, Shire of Mundaring and Shire of Northam to ensure the final designs for EastLink WA align with future planned development. For more information about how we have engaged the community and how community feedback influenced the design, please see:

• What we heard summary report, November 2022 - PDF (8.61 MB)
• What we've heard from the community, December 2021 - PDF (649 KB)

Environment and heritage

Environmental assessments are necessary and will be a key part of a future stage for the EastLink WA project. EastLink WA must comply with all State and Commonwealth regulatory frameworks. Environmental approvals will be sought under the State’s Environmental Protection Act 1986, with Commonwealth approvals and assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

Noise

The project will be assessed in accordance with the Western Australian Planning Commission’s Road and Rail Noise Policy (State Planning Policy 5.4).

Noise monitoring and modelling will be conducted in the next phase of the project to understand current and future noise along the proposed route. Noise studies consider a wide range of factors including predicted traffic volumes.

Ways to mitigate noise will be considered at a future project stage. These may include noise barriers and road surfacing treatments to reduce noise where practicable.

Aboriginal culture and heritage

Consultation with Traditional Owners on Aboriginal culture and heritage is an important part of this project and is required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972) and future Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2021).

Aboriginal heritage surveys have been undertaken, along with engagement and consultation with Traditional Owners for the Reid Highway interchanges that are funded for construction.

We have consulted with Whadjuk, Yued and Ballardong Elders and communities to codesign an Aboriginal Engagement Framework for the project. The framework will be a roadmap for ongoing engagement for EastLink WA, to ensure positive outcomes for Aboriginal communities, well after the project is completed.

We have been working with stakeholders to assess the project’s footprint and where effort and resources are best placed to achieve sustainable outcomes. This consultation resulted in developing goals and solutions for the following focus areas:

• How can we minimise the footprint of this infrastructure?
• How do we protect the environment in the project area?
• How do we value people?
• How do we design for the future?
• How do we leverage economic development?

We set targets to ensure that EastLink WA aims to achieve high standards of sustainability and best practices. These targets serve as a guide for decision-making and will help us identify opportunities during future project phases to achieve good, sustainable outcomes.

Landscape and design

Our vision for EastLink WA is that it will form Perth's primary eastern connection and entry, highlighting the character of the corridor, providing sensitive road infrastructure that enhances the road user experience and journey.

The Urban and Landscape Design for EastLink WA aligns with the principles of the Australian Urban Design Protocol, which is focused on three key areas - Leadership & Governance, People, and Place.

Studies on landscape and design are being undertaken by the project team that considers the look and feel of the route, access, and connectivity, including signage to direct road users into towns.

A number of urban landscape and design opportunities being considered are summarised here. 

 Project overview and updates

• Roe Highway and Morrison Road - Information Sheet - May 2023 - PDF (4.47 MB)
• Project Update - November 2022 - PDF (255 KB)
• Project Update - April 2022 - PDF (321 KB)
• Project Update - January 2022 - PDF (309 KB)
• Project Update - December 2021 - PDF (360 KB)
• Project Update - October 2021 - PDF (870 KB)
• Project Update - August 2021 - PDF (510 KB)
• Project Overview - June 2021 - PDF (212 KB)

 Maps

• Latest Perth to Northam - Alignment map - 2023 - PDF (21.9 MB)
• Reid Highway and Roe Highway - Alignment map - 2022 - PDF (2.09 MB)
• Roe Highway to Gidgegannup - Alignment map- 2022 - PDF (1.89 MB)
• Gidgegannup to Northam - Alignment map -2022 - PDF (2.92 MB)
• Project area map - Reid Highway and Roe Highway -2021 - PDF (3 MB)
• Project area map - Perth Adelaide National Highway - 2021 - PDF (376 KB)

 Project information

• Access and Connectivity Information Sheet - 2023 - PDF (2.11 MB)
• Frequently Asked Questions, May 2023 - PDF (205 KB)
• What we heard summary report, November 2022 - PDF (8.61 MB)
• Access and Connectivity Information Sheet, November 2022 - PDF (1.64 MB)
• Project Benefits Information Sheet, November 2022 - PDF (493 KB)
• Urban Landscaping Design Opportunities - June 2022 - PDF (376 KB)
• What we've heard from the community, December 2021 - PDF (649 KB)
• Frequently Asked Questions, December 2021 - PDF (235 KB)
• Sustainability Targets - PDF (546 KB)
• Sustainability Focus Areas - PDF (1.0 MB)
• Sustainability Report 2021 - PDF (3 MB)
• Project Lifecycle: From Planning to Operations - PDF (1.29 MB)

 Funding

There is $20 million allocated to progress planning and development. The State and Australian Governments have each committed $10 million, which incorporates the preparation of a business case by Main Roads.

Funding for the construction of grade separated interchanges along Reid Highway at Altone Road, and at Daviot Road / Drumpellier Drive has been committed. This $225 million project is jointly funded (50% each) by the State and Australian Governments.

$175 million in funding has also been committed by the State and Australian Governments (50% each) for a grade separated interchange on Reid Highway at Henley Brook Avenue (currently West Swan Road).

While the Reid Highway interchanges have been allocated construction funding, the section of the project from the Swan River to Northam is currently unfunded.