Our Position
The SASTR campaign has arisen as result of the present road works taking place between the Jingaling Brook Road and Lovers Lane intersections with Toodyay Road.
Despite the appointment of a Community Reference Group there was little detailed description, adequate pictorial presentation or discussion and debate of what was being planned in this road upgrade project.
Now that work has commenced and the environmental destruction is there for all to see, there is shock and condemnation by many of the Toodyay and surrounding community.
Furthermore, they do not believe this level of destruction of beautiful rural scenery and native bush that contributes to the value of Toodyay as a destination, is either necessary or justified in order to improve road safety.
Our mission
The mission of the campaign for a safe and scenic Toodyay Road is therefore to:
PRESERVE THE SCENIC VALUE & IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF TOODYAY ROADS THROUGH ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO WIDESPREAD CLEARING & MAJOR REALIGNMENTS.
Halt further road works
Improve CRG
Process
Update road
Statistics
Consider other
road safety strategies
PROMOTE ENVIRONMENT & TOURIST VALUE
Maps made available by Main Roads Western Australia and also available on this website, show extremely large clearing footprints with realignments only marginally improving bends and missed opportunities to go through cleared land rather than clearing trees and other vegetation.
People accept that Toodyay Road needs to be upgraded in places. It was initially justified on the basis of 2011 to 2015 road statistics but since that time the number of fatal crashes has decreased to zero! The more recent justification for upgrades appears to be more based on transport efficiencies than road safety.
There are more cost effective, innovative, sustainable and efficient alternatives over the whole length of the wheatbelt section of Toodyay Road to improve safety which reduces the clearing footprint and maintains the scenic, biodiversity and heritage values of the area.
In brief we are seeking community support to:
- Establish a genuine consultation process to provide better communication and detailed discussion of future roadwork plans.
- Use more recent road crash statistics to build alternative strategies for improving road safety.
- Provide future road designs to take account of other contributors to road safety such as frangible vegetation, driver behaviour such as speed and psychological factors.
- Develop the proposition that the heritage and scenic value of Toodyay road is as important as its role as a transport corridor.
Your voice is important
Sign the petition, or send a postcard or email to our Minister for the Environment. Use your voice
