Massive new North Fremantle road reserve planned in secrecy; swings around Leighton and back to port.

THE Barnett government this week secretly approved a massive new road reserve that raises the prospect of the Perth Freight Link running through the Leighton Beach development, and opposite already built luxury apartments.

Planning Control Area 113 was approved by WA planning minister John Day and includes in it an extension of Stirling Highway across the railway line to Curtin Avenue.

Wipe out

That part of the plan has been known about for years — the Herald reported in July 2012 that it’s likely to wipe out a line of heritage buildings in North Fremantle’s town centre — but intriguingly, it now includes a road reserve that would link the highway to Port Beach Road via a wide, sweeping arc.

Fremantle-based Greens senator Scott Ludlam — a leading campaigner against the Perth Freight Link — reckons it looks designed to allow trucks to get into the port without the sharp turns that bedevil access from the highway onto Tydeman Road.

“This road would encircle the North Fremantle town centre with a highway, cut off access to Port Beach and excise North Fremantle residents from their own town centre,” he says.

“This may be the final piece of the Perth Freight Link puzzle.”

Senator Ludlam tried to get hold of the plan in September, but was knocked back by WA’s planning department on the basis it was an amendment to the metropolitan region scheme that was, “in progress and yet to be assessed and determined”.

It’s also come to light that the department asked Fremantle council to support the amendment, but to keep it secret from ratepayers. Why it made such a request is unknown, as there are few if any commercial-in-confidence considerations.

Councillor Rachel Pemberton says she fought the request for secrecy, but was outvoted by colleagues.

The council didn’t support the road reserve.

Cr Pemberton, who works for Senator Ludlam, says the reserve looks like it could also facilitate additional container storage being developed in the industrial area between Tydeman Road and the luxury apartments, which would scuttle long-held but frustrated hopes for development of parkland.

Another wide road reserve following the freight line certainly hints at increased freight-related activity.

The control area prevents any development within its boundaries for five years, with fines up to $200,000 for breaches. Compensation will be available to affected property owners.

“Why was this massive change to the road reserve kept confidential before being approved?” Senator Ludlam asks.

He called on premier Colin Barnett — who last week indefinitely delayed the PFL’s second stage — to come clean on its purpose.

by STEVE GRANT