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Ordinary Meeting of Council 02 March 2016
4.1 NORTHLINK PROJECT ACCESS CHANGES BEECHBORO AND BENNETT
SPRINGS
Ward: (Altone Ward) (Asset Management)
Disclosure of Interest: Nil
Authorised Officer: (Executive Manager Operations)
KEY ISSUES
• Due to the construction of the NorthLink project, some
residents within the City will lose connectivity to the Reid and
Tonkin Highways. This will result in increased travel
distances.
• On Benara Road and Beechboro Road North, flyovers are required
due to the proximity of these roads to the highway
interchanges.
• The City of Swan requested Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA)
to carry out information sessions for residents in Beechboro and
Bennett Springs to inform them of the proposed access changes in
the area.
• Information sessions were carried out on Tuesday 8 and
Saturday 12 December 2015. There was some initial concern with the
resultant changes to the road connectivity. At these information
sessions members of the NorthLink project team explained the
reasons for the changes and quantified the travel distance
changes.
It is recommended that the Council note the community
consultation undertaken regarding the changes to the road network
around Beechboro and Bennett Springs as shown the attached
plan.
BACKGROUND
Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) is in the process of
implementing the NorthLink project. The project will include a new
high speed highway to highway interchange at the intersection of
Reid Highway and Tonkin Highway. It is proposed that the roads
currently connecting to either Tonkin Highway or Reid Highway in
close proximity to this interchange will need to be flyovers with
no connectivity to the highways. This will impact on Beechboro Road
North and Benara Road. This will cause residents in the areas of
Beechboro and Bennett Springs to have to use alternative routes to
access the highways which will result in further travel distances.
As a result of this the City of Swan requested MRWA carry out some
consultation to inform residents that may be affected by these
changes.
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Ordinary Meeting of Council 02 March 2016
DETAILS
MRWA personally addressed and posted approximately 3000 letters
to affected land owners and residents advertising the proposed
changes and inviting them to two possible ‘drop in’ sessions to
review the designs and seek clarification about the proposed
changes in the area. These information sessions were also open to
residents of the City of Bayswater, some of whom are impacted by
the changes. The NorthLink team provided verbal answers to the
feedback received at the drop in session and encouraged the
residents to complete feedback sheets to comment on the access
changes.
Thirty feedback sheets were received as a result of these
sessions. A number of these sheets did not include any comments
other than a request to be kept informed of progress on the project
by adding their name to the mailing list for project updates. The
main areas of concern were the connectivity to the Tonkin and Reid
Highways, traffic impacts for local roads and noise/visual
impacts.
The connectivity to Tonkin and Reid Highways was the most common
cause for concern. MRWA provided journey distance information at
three key locations comparing distances now and with the NorthLink
project. MRWA explained that due to the proximity of the
interchange of Reid and Tonkin Highways to the other roads that
full connectivity was not possible due to unsafe
merging/acceleration/deceleration lengths. MRWA also explained that
the project will reduce the regional traffic from the local roads
thus reducing congestion and also travel times.
Concern was expressed at the impact for local roads resulting
from access changes to Tonkin and Reid Highways. The local roads
and intersections raised as a concern include Beechboro Road North,
Altone Road, Marshall Road, the intersection of Beechboro Road
North and Morley Drive East and the intersection of Altone Road and
Reid Highway. MRWA explained the existing and future traffic
volumes in the project area and majority of residents understood
the benefits of NorthLink WA and that it will take regional traffic
from local roads to the free flowing highways. Respondents were
also advised that after completion of the works the local road
network (including Beechboro Road North and Altone Road) will be
monitored. Traffic counts, safety assessments and network
performance will be key considerations to identify locations where
changes to the local road network may be required.
Some residents had queries on the approach to managing the noise
and visual impacts of the project. Queries were received from
residents of Redwood Court, Salmon Gum Grove and Parella Court.
Respondents were advised that projects such as the NorthLink WA
initiative are subject to environmental regulations that cover many
matters including the management of noise and visual impacts. The
existing Reid Highway / Tonkin Highway intersection will be
replaced by a significant interchange that allows for free flowing
movements between both highways. A preliminary noise assessment has
identified that noise walls are likely to be required in the area.
In addition to mitigating noise impacts the walls will also provide
a visual screen to and from the highway. A visual assessment will
also be completed in the future to ensure that vehicles using the
highway aren’t able to see into adjoining residential lots for
privacy reasons.
MRWA advised City staff that residents attending the workshop
were generally accepting of the feedback provided, although some
concerns remain amongst some residents.
CONSULTATION
MRWA have undertaken consultation as outlined in Beechboro and
Bennett Springs Drop-In Sessions Feedback Summary
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Ordinary Meeting of Council 02 March 2016
ATTACHMENTS
Plan of Changes to Road Alignment
Beechboro and Bennett Springs Drop-In Sessions Feedback
Summary
Summary of Feedback Sheet Submissions
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
The NorthLink is a major infrastructure project that will
facilitate improved transport connectivity and economic development
in accordance with the City’s Strategic Community Plan
STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS
Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1995 requires affected
land owners to be notified of any change in level, or the alignment
of, a public thoroughfare. MRWA have carried out the required
consultation on behalf of the City.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
All costs in the matter are to be borne by MRWA
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Simple majority
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RECOMMENDATION
That the Council resolve to:
1) Note the community consultation undertaken by Main Roads
Western Australia as requested by the City in relation to the
changes to the road network around Beechboro and Bennett Springs as
shown in the attached plan.
2) Advise Main Roads Western Australia accordingly. CARRIED
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4.1 NorthLink project access changes Beechboro and Bennett
Springs