South Western Highway Upgrades

We are working with Walpole and surrounding communities to investigate options to upgrade a 93 km section of South Western Highway between Vasse Highway (Pemberton turnoff) and Walpole.

Works includes widening the road from 6 metres to 10 metres with sealed shoulders. Where possible, safety will be improved by flattening the surface on the side of the road, and protecting or removing roadside hazards (predominantly large trees).

The Community Reference Group has been involved since 2013, providing input to influence the extent of work.

The Walpole Wilderness is a unique area, and consequently, roadworks must meet strict environmental approvals. In preparing for the works, a range of environmental and Aboriginal heritage surveys were conducted and will continue throughout the project. 

Our aim is to minimise environmental impacts while meeting the community’s request to improve the road.

As part of the works, plant colonies including Thelymirra Jacksonii and Lomandra Ordii were protected. To achieve this, surveys were conducted in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to confirm the occurrence of these plants to ensure roadworks could be completed and these plants minimised.