ABOUT 250 people heard political candidates from Labor, the Greens, the Socialist Alliance and even techno-democrats Flux the System! outline their opposition to the Perth Freight Link at a crack-of-dawn meeting on Thursday.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren told the crowd they’d prepared an urban forest strategy which would build on the green path protestors would replant once Roe was killed off, and link the city’s biodiversity hotspots.

• About 150 of Thursday’s protestors had the horns honking – even from a few truckies – as clearing of the Roe Highway route reached Stock Road, where it’s due to head towards the proposed Fremantle tunnel. Photos by Steve Grant

Pre-election

The pre-election gathering then morphed into further protests as Main Roads bulldozers tore into bushland south west of Coolbellup which will take the clearing up to the Stock Road intersection.

Protestors were buoyed by news Greens senator Scott Ludlam has successfully pushed through a senate vote to have alleged breaches of environmental conditions investigated by the environment and communications reference committee.

“We’ve seen evidence of dozens of breaches of environmental conditions for the project, which may mean that the project is proceeding illegally. The destruction at the Beeliar wetlands should cease,” Senator Ludlam said.

• FREO’S musicians are finding full voice against Roe 8 and have planned a concert on Sunday February 26 at the Fremantle Town Hall. Choirmaster Digby Hill, pictured here with Dilip Parekh, Victor Hoisington, Michael Ellis, Sally Knowles and “Dodgy Steve”, says there’s been a big push from the creative community to do something. Mr Hill says they’ll be encouraging the crowd to learn a few protest songs so future rallies can be at full volume, while any funds will go towards the anti-Roe campaign.

Wildlife rehabilitation centre Native Arc has been documenting casualties from the clearing and slammed the Barnett government and contractors for poor practices.

Native Arc says turtle traps were set with short directional barriers just 24 hours before clearing began, which wouldn’t have been effective in catching animals in time.

“Most of the fencing has been dug into the ground with mesh to prevent animals entering … and escaping. No water sources. In 35C temperatures most animals within the fences will be dead within 72 hours,” was posted on its Facebook page recently.