Perth-Bunbury Highway route secured

More than 97 per cent of land required for the 70.5km Perth-Bunbury Highway project is now in Government ownership, with the remaining 1.8km to be secured by mid-August, the State Government announced today.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the new Perth-Bunbury Highway would see dual carriageway constructed from Safety Bay Road in Baldivis to Old Coast Road in Lake Clifton.

"This is the single largest road project undertaken by the Western Australian Government, so I am delighted that this major milestone is in sight," Ms MacTiernan said

"It ensures that the project is on track for commencement by the end of the year, subject to Federal Government environmental approval."

The Minister said the private land acquired was typically rural and no residential dwellings had been directly affected.

"As part of the compensation process, negotiations are continuing with private landowners who have not yet reached settlement," she said.

"Owners have a further six months to lodge a claim for compensation and Main Roads will offer advance payment while the parties reach settlement."

Ms MacTiernan said Main Roads, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Department of Land Information had worked together to secure privately owned land and the area of State Forest required for the project.

Parts of 140 separate properties were affected by the project:
- settlement had been reached on 68 properties;
- 14 parcels of Crown Land had been transferred to the project;
- parts of another 56 properties had been transferred to the Government, with compensation to be finalised with the 39 owners; and
- approval to transfer land from the remaining two properties was expected by
mid-August.

Most of the land required had been reserved for the road as part of the metropolitan and the Peel region schemes.