Environment Defender’s Office WA launches legal action to stop the Perth Freight Link

The is great news, so good that it's worth posting multiple articles about it. - admin

source: perth now

Environment Defender’s Office WA launches legal action to stop the Perth Freight Link

• OTHER OPTIONS:Infrastructure Australia casts doubt on link
• JOE SPAGNOLO:The inquiry we had to have
• SCRUTINY:Perth Freight Link to be scrutinised by senate inquiry
• DIVISIONS EMERGE:Barnett Government cracks over road project

THE State Government’s troubled $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link project has hit another hurdle, with court action now launched to stop the first state of the project, Roe 8, going ahead.
The Environment Defender’s Office WA is filing an application in the Supreme Court to “set aside State Environment Minister Albert Jacob’s July 2 approval of State 8 of the Roe Highway extension through Beelia Regional Park”.

A statement, released by EDOWA to the media, said the application for review was filed on behalf of the group, Save Beelia Wetlands as well as Carole de Barre — whose property adjoins the proposed hi

EDOWA, a community legal centre, is challenging the Environmental Protection Authority’s assessment, and subsequent approval for Roe 8, arguing there was the “participation of conflicted authority members in a state-led project’s assessment”.

“In the approval of the (Roe 8) project we see yet again the participation of conflicted authority members in a state-led project’s assessment,” EDOWA lawyer Patrick Pearlman said.
“The process once again has let WA citizen’s down.”

Save Beeliar Wetlands chairwoman Kate Kelly said: “We have also challenged the EPA’s (and minister’s) failure to consider alternative road alignments or no build options in the assessment process and the failure to properly apply EPA policy regarding environmental assets,”

“For instance, while Main Roads originally proposed to acquire 468 hectares of land to offset Black Cockatoo habitat lost in the highway extension, EPA cut that commitment in half — to 234ha — and then left the specifics to be decided later.”

Roe 8 is currently awaiting federal environmental approval.

Stage two of the PFL, from Stock Road to the Fremantle Port, is still in limbo — with the WA Government yet to decide on a final route.

The original story is available HERE

MAIN ROADS ADVERTISING STRIKES AGAIN

Main Roads continues to spend spend spend on advertising for the ROE 8 Highway extension which is planned to destroy the Beeliar Wetlands, also know as Bibra Lake and North Lake. Recently, physical advertisements have popped up in Shopping Centres, with social media spreading the word quickly and successfully forcing the removal of all ads within 24 hours of their placement. Other ads have recently been spotted on Facebook, with a number of people voicing their concerns by ultimately flagging those ads, and since then, few have been seen.

Now it seems Main Roads have moved on to Google Adwords, a service by Google in which companies can pay for an ad that puts their webpage to the top of the search results - when a user does a search on that particular subject, that company is then charged for that 'click'. This occurs for every click that ad receives and the cost per click counts down a budget set by the company who placed the ad until the budget for that day (or month) is met and the ad is removed until the next day.


Before we move on, you can read HERE for a bit more info on Google Adwords

Here is the AD

Now if you quickly do a bit of messing around on Google Adwords, you can do a bit of math - these are just examples, and in no way say with any certainty that this is how much Main Roads is spending, it is just to get a basic idea of how this service works. It is believed that for the size of the ad in question, Main Roads would be spending considerably more than these examples here, for less clicks.

As I said earlier, companies using Adwords can set a monthly (or daily) budget for their ad, which gives them an approximate on the amount of clicks the ad can receive before the budget is met and the ad is removed. They do this so you don't end up with a massive bill at the end of the month if your paid ad is a particularly successful one.

If the power of social media came together again and clicked that ad enough times to meet that ads budget, it would actually disappear! What a fun little experiment that could be, right? RIGHT?

Google Adwords is nothing new - you will see these when searching for almost any product or service online - but I can't imagine many road infrastructure projects need this form of marketing. This can be a costly service, so it begs the question, how much is Main Roads spending on this round of advertisements, and why? If this Road was such a good idea, accepted by all, or even a majority, would they even bother spending the money at all? Why is there such a need to sell this road, at what is starting to look like any cost?

The mess that is the Roe 8 / Perth Freight Link seems to know no bounds.

Perth Freight Link $21,000 Government ad criticised

source: abc news

Perth Freight Link $21,000
Government ad criticised....again

Abc News has joined in highlighting what has previously outraged many local residents, and will no doubt continue to outrage many more. The ruthlessness of the proponents seems to know no bounds. Read the story below

A $21,000 Government advertising campaign spruiking the benefits of the Perth Freight Link has been criticised by the State Opposition.

The cost of the advertisement, which was printed full page in local newspapers and mailed to residents, was revealed in Parliament on Tuesday night.

Featuring a small child under the banner 'Keeping our kids safe', the ad described the Roe 8 extension as a "safety barrier" for children.

The Government's Transport spokesman in the Upper House Jim Chown told Parliament the campaign was launched in response to residents' concerns.

"Main Roads research indicates that a large number of residents who are aware of the Roe 8 extension feel they have not been adequately informed and the majority of these residents want more information," he said.

"There are a lot untruths being spread by Labor and Greens about this project.

"These untruths directly conflict with residents' concerns about traffic congestion, road safety and concerns about large haulage trucks on their local roads."

Labor Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk, said it was a desperate move.

"They're resorting to quite emotive advertising and really quite political advertising for Main Roads," she said.

"It's pretty astounding - to argue that Perth Freight Link or Roe 8 is good for children's safety when in fact it's a truck-based solution.

"We know that trucks are polluting, there's no getting away from that.

"Diesel particulates are carcinogenic so to argue that a freight link is good for children is a little spurious."

She said the Government should be consulting the community directly instead.

"A lot of those people that will be directly affected by the Perth Freight Link haven't even been formally notified that their homes are likely to be impacted," she said.

"There's also a number of schools that will be directly impacted by the Perth Freight Link.

"If the Government was really confident about their business modelling and their traffic modelling and why this is good for communities, they would release a lot more information."

If this project was such a great idea, this kind of nonsense wouldn't be necessary. Read the original story HERE

Melville Citizens Voted No To Roe 8

source: west australasian media network

Melville Citizens Voted No To Roe 8

A majority of Melville ratepayers who attended the special meeting voted against the city council’s move to support Roe 8.

96 people voted yes, 47 voted no after a two hour meeting at the Melville City Hall at 8:30pm. Many concerned residents presented their arguments to the council, they received rapture applause after each statement.

WA Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said the electors have spoken and it’s time for the Melville City Council to withdraw their support to the Perth Freight Link.

“I’m sure for the council they are none too pleased that the residents have got together and spoke-out against their position. But they were quite happily taking,” Ms MacLaren said.

“As we heard tonight, there really hasn’t been enough consultation. These residents are very concerned about the health impacts, very concerned about noise impacts and extremely concerned about compensation.”

Some Melville residents vowed that they will fight to the end if the PFL construction is given the go ahead.
“… up until the very day that they bright that bulldozer to demolish my home, I will keep fighting because this is a ridiculous idea and it’s not fair the government can just do this,” Resident Tanya Smirke said.

During a power point presentation, Main Roads WA and the City of Melville aruged that the Perth Freight Link will need to be build as traffic will increase due to growing demands.

Main Roads said top down construction methods will be used to avoid foot print on the wetlands. It’s reported that Roe 8 tenders will be closed next week, the contracts will be awarded in October despite there is no environmental approval from the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, Melville council’s presentation highlighted that 72 properties including 46 residential and 26 commercial buildings will be effected.

During the presentation, the council argued that rail is not a cost effective way to move freight to the Fremantle Port. They also claimed that Fremantle CBD residents will suffer noise pollution if the amount of freight on rail moves up from 14.2% (8 trains per day) 30% (16 trains per day).

read the original article HERE

Transport Minister cannot back up Freight Link pollution claims

an update from lynn macLaren

Transport Minister cannot back up Freight Link
pollution claims 

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has blasted the Transport Minister for failing to answer simple questions based on his Department’s own publicity on Perth Freight Link for a second week in the row. 

 

“Today in Parliament I asked the Minister to direct me to any studies the Government has done to support Main Roads’ much-vaunted claim that the Perth Freight Link will reduce vehicle exhaust fumes and greenhouse gas emissions and to my surprise, the Minister said he could not answer,” Ms MacLaren said. 

“This defies belief; I based my question on a May 2015  Main Roads factsheet which states the Link will reduce fuel exhaust and carbon dioxide emissions. 

“How can anyone have faith in Main Roads’ publicity such claims if the Government cannot provide any evidence to back it? 

“I also asked if the Government had done any modelling to compare diesel particulate emissions if Perth Freight Link is built compared to from vehicle use of the existing road network. 

“Again, the Minister could not answer with either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, let alone providing me with any data.

READ more HERE

Main Roads Spark Fury - The West Australian

source: the west australian

Main Roads Spark Fury

WA Main Roads denies sign destruction - 9 News

source: 9 news

 WA Main Roads denies sign destruction

Main Roads has denied removing signs protesting the proposed $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link from private property.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said she had received reports a government worker had torn down a sign from a Palmyra home, which stated `save our castle'.

A Main Roads spokeswoman said officers had not removed the sign in question but confirmed six campaign signs had been removed from road reserves, bridges and trees in the area, after being deemed distracting to motorists.

"Main Roads does not condone the unauthorised removal of Rethink the Link campaign signs," the spokeswoman said.

Read more HERE at 9 News

source: the herald

Freight link feud

A YOUNG man in a white ute has been removing and vandalising Perth Freight Link protest signs.

A Moody Glen resident spotted the man taking protest signs from properties along the Palmyra stretch of the link Tuesday evening while hanging out her washing.

He was putting the signs in his ute before she confronted him and set her dog on him. Beating a hasty retreat, the thief’s erratic driving caused the signs to fall from the back of his ute.

Please continue reading this important story HERE

URGENT! Watch and Witness Surveying Work in the Wetlands

This is an URGENT CALL OUT to come to the wetlands tomorrow (Tuesday AUG 4 and Wednesday AUG 5) to witness surveying work which would inform future construction of Roe 8.

We ask that people do not engage with the contractors at all and remain present as witnesses only to observe and record work and ensure that no clearing is done. Our presence may remind all tenderers and potential contractors that there are many stakeholders who do not support this project.

This work is being done in one of the most sacred areas of the wetlands and we also ask that people respect the paths and the animals. Most importantly we ask that everyone pay their respects to elders past and present before entering the wetlands and that we take utmost care. The work is between Hope Rd and Bibra Dve in Bibra Lake. We suggest people park with a view to safety on Bibra Dve or Hope Rd. Please come and support your community and bring wellies!
PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT

from Main Roads:
Ground survey Bibra Drive to Hope Road

A ground topographical survey will be conducted between Bibra Drive and Hope Road, Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th August 2015

The work is being undertaken by the BGC/ Laing O'Rourke/Arup/ Jacobs contractor consortium, which is developing a tender proposal for the Roe 8 project. The work has been approved by Main Roads WA and local government has been notified.

Consultant surveyors using hand-held equipment will be accessing the area on foot, during normal business hours. No vegetation or ground will be disturbed.

Impacts on local traffic should be minimal. Motorists are still advised to exercise caution when driving through the area.

Activity of this type is commonplace on major construction projects to provide additional knowledge of local conditions to help develop proposed construction planning and costings.

Cottesloe breaks chain in Perth Freight Link - Community News

source: community news

Cottesloe breaks chain in Perth Freight Link

COTTESLOE Council has voted against opposing the controversial $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link for a second time, after claims container trucks will avoid the link’s toll by going through the Town.
“I urge you to be less political, and more thoughtful for the long-term future of Cottesloe,” motion proponent Cr Sally Pyvis said at Monday’s meeting, not attended by Mayor Jo Dawkins who is on leave.

Last month, a vote on another motion opposing the PFL was tied 4-4, before Mrs Dawkins used her casting vote for the status quo.

On Monday, PFL opponent Cr Jack Walsh criticised staff advice that said Curtin University and Fremantle Council reports on the PFL, both of which used Fremantle Port Authority figures of up to 13,200 trucks in North Fremantle by 2031, were “not based on particular references and require the reader to accept the findings as fact”.

“I see a graph, used by the reports and the officers, showing trucks doubling by 2027, and therefore trucks doubling on Curtin Avenue,” Cr Walsh said.

Main Roads WA estimates up to 42 per cent of port trucks use side roads.

However, deputy mayor Peter Jeanes, a daily commuter on the PFL’s proposed route to Roe Highway, said the “worst” outcome for Cottesloe would be if the PFL and a stalled Kwinana harbour for containers were not built.

Cr Jeanes said this could result in more trucks using Cottesloe to avoid a current North Fremantle to East Fremantle traffic bottleneck.

Cr Rob Rowell said opposing the PFL would not change trucks’ use of Curtin Avenue until there was a heavy haulage alternative to the route through the Town.

Opposing the PFL failed in a 3-5 vote, before all councillors backed asking the State Government to remove Cottesloe roads from routes used by trucks with restricted loads, to cap the number of Fremantle Port containers and build the Kwinana harbour and provide PFL costs and modelling.

read the original story HERE

A NEW ROE 8 / PERTH FREIGHT LINK MAP ISSUED BY MAIN ROADS

A NEW ROE 8 / PERTH FREIGHT LINK MAP
ISSUED BY MAIN ROADS

A new map showing what can only be called a ridiculous minimization of the destructive Roe 8 Highway / Perth Freight Link - Those look like spaghetti noodles, not 6 lanes of highway!!!

See HERE for more details