A PROTEST rally targeting the Premier is planned to disrupt the opening of the Northbridge Tunnel on 22 April.
Community groups Transport Action Coalition and Cities for People have organised the ‘Wrong Way Go Back’ rally to present ideas for sustainable transport options.
Main Roads community relations manager Len Horne said it was sad the groups felt the need to protest.
“People are entitled to protest but I’m very disappointed they have chosen this occasion to mount a protest,” Mr Horne said.
“Our hopes are they will do it within the bounds of legality and decency,” he said.
Cities for People member and Murdoch University Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy research fellow William Ross said the groups plan to catch the Premier’s attention and “let him know his transport priorities stink.”
“With funding cuts to hospitals, schools, environmental protection and other government services, the Court Government is still able to find billions of dollars to waste on unnecessary highways,” Dr Ross said.
“Under Transform WA, the Court Government allocated $2.2 billion to metropolitan road projects but just $84 million to public transport and a miserly $20 million to cyclists.
“The $600 million Northbridge Tunnel and adjoining road network is a massive waste of money which would have gone a long way to developing a sustainable eco-friendly transport system,” he said.