Survey results

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It’s been one year since SASTR formed in response to the proposed roadworks on Toodyay Road. Within this time, we have been running a survey on our website and we think now is good a time as any to reveal what the greater community are thinking.

 

Participants Since May 2021

The survey was conducted from 19th May 2021 to 18 May 2022.

  • 108 participants responded to each question unless otherwise stated.
  • Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer
  • Obvious spelling mistakes have been corrected in participant’s responses

What best describes you?

  • Live within the Toodyay shire 69% 69%
  • Live outside of the Toodyay shire 26% 26%
  • Other 5% 5%

How often do you travel along Toodyay Road?

  • Once a week 44% 44%
  • Every day 30% 30%
  • Once a month 9% 9%
  • Once a year 4% 4%
  • Other 13% 13%

What do you enjoy most about the trip from Perth to Toodyay (& back)?

%

Enjoy the scenic aspect

13%
mention or hint at safety concerns.

23%
are varying responses such as:
“No delays”,
“Getting out of suburbia”,
“It’s just a road” etc.

Being from the country I enjoy the country driving experience. The road is very picturesque in all seasons and always such a pleasant contrast to city driving it is such a relief to turn onto Toodyay road.

Quickest route. I’m not one for looking at the scenery there is enough in just driving avoiding other drivers daydreaming and animals jumping from behind bushes too close to the road

The winding scenic drive full of beautiful big trees and long shadows. The feeling of a country drive.

It’s only a short drive

The fact that it’s generally a quiet road with trees and country views.

I don’t, too many trucks on single lane road

The beautiful views – the tree covered hills and the wildflowers in Spring

What do you dislike about the trip from Perth to Toodyay (and back)?

The devastation of the roadworks is distressing. I find it unbelievable that so many trees have been removed reducing already limited habitat for wildlife.

Too many trucks using the road, of late.

Lack of overtaking lanes, and too much clearing where they are doing work

Dangerous drivers that risk their lives along with others to get to where they need to quicker or being caught up by slow moving vehicles with not many safe overtaking lanes.

Narrow winding roads that are in very poor condition, Animals near the road.
People overtaking you when you are doing the speed limit. Impatient drivers kill, not roads.
I dread the possibility that Toodyay road should look and feel like a super highway with so many trees removed to make way for what feels like aircraft landing strips.
Intimidating, tailgating drivers (cars and trucks) who toot and flash their lights even when I drive at the upper speed limit. They are scary and there never seem to be radars or patrols in that final stretch into Toodyay. I’ve even been seriously hassled by tailgaters going through the 40km/h and 60km/h roadworks.

Dangerous drivers

22 Mentions

Not enough overtaking lanes

17 Mentions

Poor conditions

11 Mentions

Nothing

7 Mentions

Trucks

17 Mentions

Roadworks + Environmental damage

16 Mentions

Environmental damage

(ambiguous)
6 Mentions

Other

15 Responses
Examples include:

“Trees too close to road”
“The traffic as you get nearer Perth!”
“Too many speed cameras.”
“I hate travelling after dark when all the new cats eyes, reflectors whatever they are, dazzle me making vision worse not better”

Dangerous drivers

22 Mentions

Not enough overtaking lanes

17 Mentions

Trucks

17 Mentions

Roadworks + Environmental damage

16 Mentions

Poor conditions

11 Mentions

Environmental damage

(ambiguous)
6 Mentions

Nothing

7 Mentions

Other

15 Responses
Examples include:

“Trees too close to road”
“The traffic as you get nearer Perth!”
“Too many speed cameras.”
“I hate travelling after dark when all the new cats eyes, reflectors whatever they are, dazzle me making vision worse not better”

The devastation of the roadworks is distressing. I find it unbelievable that so many trees have been removed reducing already limited habitat for wildlife.

Too many trucks using the road, of late.

Lack of overtaking lanes, and too much clearing where they are doing work
Dangerous drivers that risk their lives along with others to get to where they need to quicker or being caught up by slow moving vehicles with not many safe overtaking lanes.
Narrow winding roads that are in very poor condition, Animals near the road.
People overtaking you when you are doing the speed limit. Impatient drivers kill, not roads.
I dread the possibility that Toodyay road should look and feel like a super highway with so many trees removed to make way for what feels like aircraft landing strips.
Intimidating, tailgating drivers (cars and trucks) who toot and flash their lights even when I drive at the upper speed limit. They are scary and there never seem to be radars or patrols in that final stretch into Toodyay. I’ve even been seriously hassled by tailgaters going through the 40km/h and 60km/h roadworks.

How concerned are you about Toodyay Road and road safety?

How concerned are you about Toodyay Road and road safety results

36.1% of the respondents were very concerned with the safety of Toodyay Road whereas 8.3% were not concerned at all.

Can you tell us why?

(100/108 responded)

I am concerned about road safety but feel that the current road provides adequate passing opportunities and safety
There are too many trucks. Rubbish dumps and gravel pits should be sourced where the rubbish is produced and the gravel used not from other shires where they cause major problems
I believe it is drivers not trees that cause accidents.
I’ve been driving daily for over two years and never seen anything bad happen. The road itself isn’t dangerous (1 or 2 very small spots could do with a very small upgrade – but typical those spots aren’t earmarked for upgrade) and with speed limit set at 100km/h, it’s a very easy drive.
Drivers need to drive to the conditions and not speed. Road is fine otherwise
The ever increasing number of trucks on the road
The problem isn’t the road it’s the drivers

For those participants who were concerned or very concerned (4 or 5) the most common themes were:

  • increased trucks on the road
  • concerned with driver behaviour
  • not enough overtaking lanes
  • poor road condition
  • too many speed limit changes
  • lack of adequate shoulders

For those participants who were less concerned 
(3, 2 or 1) the most common themes were:

  • concerned with safety but feel the road is adequate/not dangerous
  • the increased number of trucks is a concern
  • the road is safe, but bad driver behaviour is a problem
  • some changing lanes would be good
  • the need for a balance between safety and the environment

Too many deaths and accidents, too many trucks

Need to combine safety with sensitive treatment of remaining established trees …think the road is already quite safe, just needed a few more passing lanes…its dangerous drivers causing problems, not the trees….
Heavy haulage and frequency of serious crashes on the road
It’s a good road only idiots make it dangerous
It’s not the road that’s dangerous it’s the Impatient drivers that make it dangerous and now with more trucks that can’t seem to stay on the road or be courteous when they can that causes a lot of issues.

I think the only problem with Toodyay road is that it needs hard shoulders. They are eroded. A few more bays for trucks to pull over – no need for huge overtaking lanes and if so, there are plenty of cleared farm stretches that can do the job.

Few more chances to over take would be nice
I have witnessed way too many people risk lives by overtaking on double white lines or riding the car in front hoping they go over the speed limit.
Speeding vehicles is a road safety issue rather than a Toodyay Road issue. There is also insufficient tarmac on the outer margins of the road, so that fast trucks in particular are contributing to a dangerous drop between road and dirt surfaces.

If you drive to the road conditions it’s a good road. Some of the roads need turn off lanes to make it safer

How concerned are you about Toodyay Road roadworks and the environmental impact?

How concerned are you about Toodyay Road roadworks and the environmental impact results

53.7% of the respondents were very concerned about the environmental impact whereas 18.5% were not concerned at all.

Can you tell us why?

(102/108 responded)

The way to make safer roads is to reduce speed ie 90-100 km speed limit along the road. Making wider straighter roads simply encourages speeding. Spending millions on laying waste to iconic trees and removing bends simply doesn’t make sense if the drive to Perth is reduced by merely a few minutes. Toodyay and towns beyond need tourists but the driving experience will become so extremely dull that only the rev heads will bother. What is that old saying ‘you cut your nose off to spite your face’
No amount of reveg brings back old growth trees and natural hollows. Mining companies and Main Road kid themselves if they think that their type of reveg makes up for mass clearing of natural habitat. This is environmental vandalism.

Trees and cars don’t mix. If you make a small mistake on this road you may pay with your life. I know somebody who lost his grandchild on this road. I can tell you that he will never see her again and he lives with the pain every single day for the last 10 years. Trees grow back grandchildren don’t.

Too many trees destroyed, straightening the road makes it faster and therefore less safe, it’s ugly and like a moon scape where the upgrade has been done.

Not really… Environment is affected by the surrounding roads anyway and one intersection is not going to have additional impact.

Lack of understanding by Main Roads on what they are doing to the environment; buying an offset that would never be cleared rather than buying and enhancing remnant vegetation along Toodyay Road; destroying Toodyay’s status as a wildflower destination for tourists

The monstrous damage done on the recent unnecessary extension near Jingaling Brood Road was an environmental atrocity and a disgusting waste of tax payers money.

For those participants who were concerned or very concerned (4 or 5) the most common themes were:

  • Economically, removing trees isn’t good for tourism
  • In danger of becoming a soulless highway
  • More likely to have an accident due to boredom, long straight roads
  • Land clearing seems excessive
  • Too much damage and unnecessary clearing and removal of animal and bird habitats
  • Removing trees does not stop poor driver behaviour
  • Revegetation and offsets don’t work (loss of old-growth trees and priority flora)

For those participants who were less concerned  (3, or 2) the most common themes were:

  • Progress needs to occur but the amount of clearing is beyond what is required.
  • Road safety should come first
  • Habitat loss and increased flooding
  • Trees are replanted/regeneration

For those participants who were not concerned  (1) the most common themes were:

  • Only some trees will be removed
  • Safety should come first
  • Roadworks are not destroying native bush
  • The bush will be rehabilitated and nesting boxes used.
Road safety is paramount
The road has a terrible history and is very out of date. A scenic drive can not be placed in front of people’s safety. This road is very unsafe. The journey will always be pleasurable. I don’t need trees within 3m of my car to be pleasured. I can see the valleys and trees from a safe distance and still be pleasured. If I get run off the road I don’t want to hit a tree and be killed. Trees need to be kept at a safe distance from the road. At the moment they are much too close.

Our natural native bushland is being ripped away for future generations.
How many species are we losing.
The beautiful Powder-bark wandoo is not given a chance to live through to its entirety
Then what about the animals/bird life that are affected

Replacing the top soil with seed stock and replanting most will regenerate
Toodyay Road can be satisfactorily upgraded without destroying the beautiful countryside through which it passes. The current plan – including removal of an entire hill and, with it, 400-year-old trees – is so crazy that one can only think there is some other future road use that the public hasn’t been told about yet. In this era of rapid climate change, trees of this age are irreplaceable. If the WA Govt is genuinely concerned about the demise of species including the Black Cockatoos, it cannot accept that this Main Roads plan is at all acceptable. The plan is a complete disgrace.
Over engineered, destructive engineering solutions have ignored less environmentally damaging alternatives that would/could have achieved the same effect.
I know that MRWA offsets and more than compensates for any Vegetation removal. The current roadworks did not remove as much veg as the whiners would have you believe.
Because bush is being cleared unnecessarily. These ecosystems are extremely significant and are becoming increasingly scarce. They support many endangered species and to remove them would be disastrous.
Progress needs to occur but the amount of clearing is beyond what is required.
In this day and age where keeping natural bush intact is vital to species survival, we need to do more and protect now. Revegetation isn’t enough and is a poor excuse to get approval. There are huge old trees about to be cleared in these roadworks – trees that take over 100 years to develop hollows for nesting (which endangered black cockatoos require for breeding)
If it provides safety for those commuting I believe it’s necessary. A human life outways that of native fauna. Perhaps planning could provide an alternative prior to development. Ie purchase and plant out areas prior to commencement to allow fauna to migrate to safety before roadworks commence. I do believe replanting is essential to provide sanctuaries in the future as long as it’s away from edge of road. We don’t want total destruction however a safe journey for all is essential. I think more concern should be taken on the possibility of Julimar Forrest being mined

If you live within the Toodyay shire, do you feel like you were made aware and consulted with adequately on the recent Jingaling road works?

(85 Responses)

  • No 55% 55%
  • Yes 32% 32%
  • Maybe 13% 13%

If no, what would you like to see happen to improve this process?

(44/47 Responses)

The underlying themes were:

  • More advertising/announcements/ letters/surveys to households (from MRWA/Shire)
  • Clearer Maps
  • More meetings/community input (over time)
More community consultation and meetings and the truth about the devastation. Feel people were unaware of the removal of trees until its been done. Not everyone has Facebook either.

Certainly wasn’t advertised enough and the maps and amount of clearance wasn’t clear

There needs to be more accountability for MR and for there to be more community consultation, accessible committees and experts’ information taken on board. Unfortunately I just think that these huge projects are a fait accompli. They assuage people who complain by saying that they will revegetate. Those who don’t understand what that means thinks it is ok – but it is NEVER ok. I want safer roads, but I also want natural bush kept.

Part of the public awareness campaign should include maps and photos (of previous similar road works) showing the amount of devastation that will take place. A lot more information on the scope of work is needed for public to make an informed decision. Jingaling Rd isn’t just a simple road widening/passing lane being added (it’s a monstrosity).
Letters/ emails to every householder
All consultations were made a few years back and decisions made then. Need to be more current meetings and at a time where people can actually go to the meetings

Are you a business owner in Toodyay that relies on tourism?

  • No 97% 97%
  • Yes 3% 3%

If yes, do you think clearing along Toodyay road will have any impact on tourism and your business?

(25 Responses)

Note that only 3 of the participants said they had a business that relies on tourism in Toodyay, but 25 have responded to this question.

  • No, it won’t impact my business or tourism 56% 56%
  • Yes, it will impact tourism and my business in a positive way 8% 8%
  • Yes, it will negatively impact tourism and my business 8% 8%
  • Maybe 20% 20%
  • Other 8% 8%

Of the 3 participants who stated that they have a business that relies on tourism in Toodyay, 2 selected “No, it won’t impact my business or tourism” and one selected “Maybe”.

“Other” comments include:

It will impact all tourism people drive to Toodyay for the scenery

As a potential tourer for Toodyay I can tell you that the run from Gidge to Toodyay is no longer anywhere near as scenic and pleasing!

What do you think about the the Jingaling roadworks?

  • I am all for safety, but not to the detriment of the environment 50% 50%
  • I am very happy with this upgrade, I don’t see anything wrong with it 26% 26%
  • I don’t have an opinion 8% 8%
  • Other 16% 16%

“Other” comments include:

Hate it. First step in destroying a beautiful part of the world. I am all for safety and would like to see the figures that indicate this part of the road was unsafe (I would be there’s not much data to back up the cost and destruction). I don’t want to see the environment destroyed, why can’t people just learn to drive properly and not blame the environment.

I can’t see the benefit at all. I’m really hoping that the overtaking lane will be a proper lane and not like in the 90 zone.
Wish the money was spread over a greater distance ie more minor changes to fix a greater length of road
I am all for safety but feel it is the drivers not the road, that are the problem

Complete waste of time unless a proper overtaking lane on the hills is installed.

What sort of passing is it

I believe an upgrade was essential however it’s not finished yet to see if it is upgraded sufficiently or just desiccation. I sometimes wonder what has been achieved. The roadworks closer to Toodyay seem to have been a total waste as nothing’s really changed.

Disgusted see all my comments above. Many motorcyclist and m/cycle clubs ride to Toodyay for the tree lined winding nature of the road and then enjoy other resources of Toodyay. Makes for a great day out. I am one of them. See how many straight roads in WA have caused more crashes than otherwise? For a town of its size Toodyay has quality resources e.g 2 Hotels, cafes, bakery, IGA, 2 Hardware stores etc etc and these and other small business in town are reliant on Tourism not mining or any other industry. Destroy the tourist attraction and guess what happens!

Set up for truck movements.

It appears to be totally out of context with the needs of the community. I am in total agreement with upgrade and improved safety but not at such a vast area of destruction of the roadside

It was fine before.
Complete overkill for the amount of traffic, maybe they had a budget they needed to spend
It’s too long and very ugly, too much destruction of the trees and verges
Safety is important but it should be done with the least harm to the environment. We’re the great swathes of clearing necessary.

Further Comments

(49 Responses)

We asked participants if they had any other comments.
Some example responses are:

Toodyay is the only small town at the end of Toodyay Rd, the road isn’t busy enough to justify the massively expensive roadworks all along Toodyay Rd, widening the shoulders would do the job.
It could have been done in a way to protect wildlife and fauna
Involve locals in decisions
I trust with this upgrade that the speed limit will be returned to 100 all the way

…the roadworks were advertised well and the trees will get replanted grow up

The recent widening near the Northam Rd turn off should have been full overtaking lanes. Enough land to have been done properly. The road is not suitable for the amount of trucks now let alone the increase coming in the future. This will lead to more problems.
Driving to Toodyay is no longer a pretty drive that once you got out of the big smoke you could relax and enjoy the drive and scenery. It’s now absolutely ruined the feeling of driving to a small town with an awesome community feel. It does feel like you’re driving into a mining town and a town that has been exploited for the big dollars with absolutely no care for the people that live here or our dwindling and protected wildlife. I’m really sickened now when I have to drive along Toodyay Highway.

I feel there is need to improve certain sections of the road BUT not the massive and needless infrastructure as seen with the Jingaling section

Why the need for the huge dollars spent without proven danger of the road. I travel many country regional roads and Toodyay road is no different to others.

I don’t think we need to realign the road as much as is being done. I think we need to provide a few more overtaking lanes and I think there are places this could be done without too much damage to the environment.
Please consider the lives of the people that use this road. Consider your own kids as they start to drive this road. Their lives are more important than the removal of a small amount of vegetation. The trip to Toodyay is not about a small amount of vegetation- it is about the destination. I should not have to pay with my life for making a small error, on a trip to Toodyay.
A single passing opportunity somewhere between Salt Valley Rd and Morangup is all that was required to make the trip to Perth less frustrating; not a major road re-alignment. I drive and exercise on Salt Valley road every day and consider it to be one of the most picturesque routes in the Shire – every weekend dozens of motocyclists clearly agree as they zoom down the street and block it up when they stop to take photos of the wildflowers. I frequently observe motorists pulling into the parking area at the intersection of Salt Valley and Toodyay roads to photograph the wildflowers. The place has value, inherent and real and in an agricultural landscape that is over 80% cleared, it is rare and needs protection.
Let’s not lose this funding – just work with the authorities to ensure environmental impact is compensated afterwards. The vegetation will ensure the roads are still pleasant to drive along.
The area has a great deal to offer for tourism and is the reason for many road trips

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