Environmental surveys
For the second consecutive year, we are undertaking environmental surveys, which will provide important information for our environmental approvals process. Our environmental consultants were on site doing some non-intrusive activities, such as recording and looking at waterways, bore locations and vegetation throughout the area.
We met with the Nature Reserves Preservation Group, Friends of Woodlupine Living Stream and Friends of Woodlupine Brook and will be meeting with the Kalamunda Environmental Advisory Committee in coming weeks. The meetings included discussion around avoiding disturbance of native vegetation, threatened flora and fauna, noise mitigation, minimising lighting pollution and revegetation.
Managing water quality was a key topic, and we will be undertaking Baseline Water Quality monitoring (surface and groundwater) to assess pre and post development flows with the objective of retaining or improving quality.
Current progress and next steps
We are currently in the project development phase, which investigates and defines the project’s technical scope. This involves assessing the various options for the intersection at Hale Road/ Tonkin Highway.
We have recently updated the concept reference design to incorporate access at Hale Road for local communities travelling to and from the city and the Airport. Find out more in the May Project Update.
A number of activities are now underway to confirm the project scope and include:
- initial stakeholder consultation to identify and resolve various issues/constraints
- concept design, geotechnical and site investigations, traffic modelling and environmental assessments to inform environmental processes and approvals
Hale road intersection
Hale Road will continue to travel between Forrestfield and Wattle Grove. We have now included north facing ramps in the design so you can travel to and from the city or airport.
We investigated south facing ramps, however they are not a viable option. Low traffic demand does not substantiate the additional costs of adding ramps. Our traffic studies shows there is significantly lower demand to and from the south compared to demand to and from the north for vehicles coming out of Hale Road (both Wattle Grove and Forrestfield).
To access Wattle Grove and Forrestfield from the south, drivers will need to exit at Welshpool Road and likely use Bruce Road or Lewis Roads. We recognises this is currently being used as a rat run to avoid current congestion at Hale Road and Tonkin Highway intersection.
However, we are about to transform the existing Tonkin Highway to a freeway standard link with six lanes. There will be upgrades at Hale Road, Kelvin Road and Welshpool Road creating a free-flowing environment and a safer, more efficient transport route.
Emergency, Trucks and Cyclist/Pedestrian Access
Emergency
At this stage, we have not been advised of any major issues that will impact timing as emergency vehicles have priority on roads and determine the most appropriate route depending on the time of day.
Cyclists and pedestrians
A new principal shared path for people walking and cycling will be built to the east of Tonkin Highway from Hale Road to Kelvin Road with links to the local cycle network (in consultation with Local Government). We will be seeking feedback regarding the design from the community.
Trucks and heavy vehicles
Both Welshpool Road East / Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road / Tonkin Highway intersections will be upgraded. The upgrades will improve capacity and traffic flow and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of trucks seeking alternative routes (including Crystal Brook Road) to avoid congestion.
