Mid West MLA Grant Woodhams has called for the State Government to take action and upgrade road routes in the Mid West, particularly those affected by the growing iron ore industry.
Mr Woodhams said despite the huge amount of money being generated in regional Western Australia, the State Government continued to ignore the basic transport needs of regional communities.
“One of the most important roads in the Mid West continues to be an utter disgrace,” Mr Woodhams said.
“The Perenjori to Mullewa Road is a nightmare. It is a dangerous goat track. I asked Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan if Main Roads had plans for it and she indicated that it wasn’t a priority.”
Mr Woodhams said the road, which is the major north south connection for the Mid West iron ore towns of Perenjori, Morawa and Mullewa, was so narrow that it required vehicles to move off the bitumen strip to safely pass oncoming traffic, or traffic travelling in the same direction.
“I travel this road on a regular basis. I’m used to travelling in all sorts of conditions, but I don’t look forward to having to get off the road to let large trucks, semis and B doubles pass. It is absolutely dangerous. Two trucks passing each other is a potential disaster,” Mr Woodhams said.
“With iron ore exports amounting to $16.1 billion, 30 per cent of WA’s mining and petroleum industry, priority must be given to providing some infrastructure benefits to the communities most affected by the transporting of iron ore.
“When I speak to local councils and community members about their transport priorities, they all say this is the most important issue they have. It is hard to believe that Minister MacTiernan and Main Roads continue to ignore this part of the Mid West iron ore transport network.”
Mr Woodhams said there was a very real need for a modern, safe road route to deal with the expansion of the Mid West iron ore industry.
“When Extension Hill at Mt Gibson, south east of Perenjori, plus the major projects east of Morawa start their next phase of operations and exports, there will be more road traffic in the area that at any other time in history,” he said.
“This Government needs to reward these inland regional communities and provide them with an acceptable standard of road networks that will serve them into the future."
“Good roads need to be efficient, economic and safe in the current working environment. Building these roads will give these communities some faith in their future.”