Federal Govt. urged to back Roe Hwy extension
The Federal Government was Monday urged to give full backing to the
planned extension of Roe Highway, amid claims the WA Labor Party had
blocked the project on purely political grounds.
After cataloguing the history of the Roe Highway, and condemning the scrapping of the project by the previous state government, Federal Member for Tangney Dennis Jensen told parliament there were strong indications the final eight kilometres of the key artery would finally go ahead.
“The handling of this entire affair was inept, to say the least,” Dr Jensen said in a speech.
“But with the election of a state coalition government, there is renewed hope the project will be completed.
“That government has committed more than $180 million to the project over the next four years, and entered into negotiations with the federal government in a spirit of cooperation, hoping to see commonwealth funding restored.
“The indications from these talks are positive, I understand, and I urge the federal government to endorse this project.”
Dr Jensen told parliament the project had proceeded well, until the final stage was blocked by the state Labor government, “which put the electoral interests of a local member ahead of what was best for the community, a clear example of corruption of the democratic process”.
“That government had been happy to support the project as it barrelled around Liberal seats – which, incidentally, supported the entire project – but the eastern boundary of the state electorate of Fremantle proved insurmountable even for a massive four-lane road of freeway standard.
“Stage 8 was unnecessary, the state counterparts of the members opposite said, and still say today.
“And it is bad for the environment, and it is bad for birds, they said, and still say, with some going even so far to claim – and you couldn’t make up better quotes than this – to claim that birds are more important than people.
“State Labor leader Eric Ripper, the man who would be premier if he could find enough like-minded souls to vote for him – said: ‘The preservation of the area's flora and fauna must take precedence over the unnecessary extension of the highway.’”
Mr Ripper claimed the “habitats of endangered species such as the Carnaby's Black Cockatoo and Peregrine Falcon as well as migratory birds including the Great White Egret and the Rainbow Bee Eater,” would be put at risk if the project went ahead.
“He neglected to mention that in scrapping the project his party had consigned hundreds of thousands of people to live in ‘habitats’ which endangered humans through pollution and dangerous road conditions, largely caused by heavy goods vehicles which had been intended to use the completed Roe Highway.
“Of course, the real reason was preserving votes in the supposedly safe Labor seat of Fremantle, which was ironically lost to the Greens only two weeks ago.
“The concern was not so much for endangered birds as for endangered political careers.”
Dr Jensen said the Howard government had committed funds to complete Roe Highway, because “we believe that people are important’’.
“We treat the environment with the greatest respect too, but we understand that sometimes there must be compromises to achieve the best possible outcome,” he added.
Dr Jensen also criticised Environment Minister Peter Garrett over his comments on the plan.
“This is the environment minister who seems hell-bent on winning a reputation for obstructing development, whatever the cost,” he said.
“His dithering over approval for a multi-billion dollar gas project for the northwest of WA ultimately saw that deal go to the Northern Territory,” Dr Jensen added, referring to a proposal from Japanese energy giant Inpex..
“Now a handful of vocal Roe Highway opponents appear to have the minister’s ear, and he is said to be considering the plan.
“The simple question for the minister – indeed, for the federal government – is what is most important?
“Is it a major road project which delivers immeasurable health and safety benefits, while boosting the economy through not only the construction phase, but through provision of faster, more efficient transportation for decades ahead?
Or is it the supposed preservation of a strip of bush, which is already suffering from the effects of pollution and could in fact be preserved in tandem with construction of the road?
“The extension of Roe Highway is good for residents, it is good for motorists, it is good for business.
“No case has been made to suggest the environmental impact of the project would be so detrimental as to negate the great benefits it would deliver to society.”
After cataloguing the history of the Roe Highway, and condemning the scrapping of the project by the previous state government, Federal Member for Tangney Dennis Jensen told parliament there were strong indications the final eight kilometres of the key artery would finally go ahead.
“The handling of this entire affair was inept, to say the least,” Dr Jensen said in a speech.
“But with the election of a state coalition government, there is renewed hope the project will be completed.
“That government has committed more than $180 million to the project over the next four years, and entered into negotiations with the federal government in a spirit of cooperation, hoping to see commonwealth funding restored.
“The indications from these talks are positive, I understand, and I urge the federal government to endorse this project.”
Dr Jensen told parliament the project had proceeded well, until the final stage was blocked by the state Labor government, “which put the electoral interests of a local member ahead of what was best for the community, a clear example of corruption of the democratic process”.
“That government had been happy to support the project as it barrelled around Liberal seats – which, incidentally, supported the entire project – but the eastern boundary of the state electorate of Fremantle proved insurmountable even for a massive four-lane road of freeway standard.
“Stage 8 was unnecessary, the state counterparts of the members opposite said, and still say today.
“And it is bad for the environment, and it is bad for birds, they said, and still say, with some going even so far to claim – and you couldn’t make up better quotes than this – to claim that birds are more important than people.
“State Labor leader Eric Ripper, the man who would be premier if he could find enough like-minded souls to vote for him – said: ‘The preservation of the area's flora and fauna must take precedence over the unnecessary extension of the highway.’”
Mr Ripper claimed the “habitats of endangered species such as the Carnaby's Black Cockatoo and Peregrine Falcon as well as migratory birds including the Great White Egret and the Rainbow Bee Eater,” would be put at risk if the project went ahead.
“He neglected to mention that in scrapping the project his party had consigned hundreds of thousands of people to live in ‘habitats’ which endangered humans through pollution and dangerous road conditions, largely caused by heavy goods vehicles which had been intended to use the completed Roe Highway.
“Of course, the real reason was preserving votes in the supposedly safe Labor seat of Fremantle, which was ironically lost to the Greens only two weeks ago.
“The concern was not so much for endangered birds as for endangered political careers.”
Dr Jensen said the Howard government had committed funds to complete Roe Highway, because “we believe that people are important’’.
“We treat the environment with the greatest respect too, but we understand that sometimes there must be compromises to achieve the best possible outcome,” he added.
Dr Jensen also criticised Environment Minister Peter Garrett over his comments on the plan.
“This is the environment minister who seems hell-bent on winning a reputation for obstructing development, whatever the cost,” he said.
“His dithering over approval for a multi-billion dollar gas project for the northwest of WA ultimately saw that deal go to the Northern Territory,” Dr Jensen added, referring to a proposal from Japanese energy giant Inpex..
“Now a handful of vocal Roe Highway opponents appear to have the minister’s ear, and he is said to be considering the plan.
“The simple question for the minister – indeed, for the federal government – is what is most important?
“Is it a major road project which delivers immeasurable health and safety benefits, while boosting the economy through not only the construction phase, but through provision of faster, more efficient transportation for decades ahead?
Or is it the supposed preservation of a strip of bush, which is already suffering from the effects of pollution and could in fact be preserved in tandem with construction of the road?
“The extension of Roe Highway is good for residents, it is good for motorists, it is good for business.
“No case has been made to suggest the environmental impact of the project would be so detrimental as to negate the great benefits it would deliver to society.”
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