Several Joondalup councilors have targeted Main Roads, WA, viewing land clearing along the Mitchell Freeway as extensive, devastating, and decimating vegetation.
Cr Christopher May said there had been “considerable felling of large trees” along the highway southbound from Hodges Drive to Hutton Street to allow for the construction of a noise barrier and bike path as part of the state government’s road widening project.
This had resulted in many residents losing a “necessary buffer” between their homes and the “visual, noise and emissions pollution caused by the heavy volume of traffic of the Mitchell Freeway”.
“I was aware before the project that there would be some level of clarification, but not to the extent that we’ve seen,” said Cr May.
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“The level of clearance we’ve seen was much more than the project’s footprint. It’s akin to clearing an entire dune to build a shared coastal path.”
Cr Russell Poliwka said it was “devastation at the highest level I’ve seen,” and it looked like Main Roads had “taken a zero approach”.
“We need to ensure that doesn’t happen in the future,” he said.
And Cr John Logan said he shared the “frustration, disappointment and anger with many community members at the many ways Main Roads has not lived up to our expectations”.
Cr May said that while the “damage has been done”, he wanted the city to investigate to take a position to support the preservation of all existing land between the highway and residential areas to act as a buffer and to encourage major roads to minimize the footprint of future infrastructure to conserve vegetation.
“I hope this will at least send a message to Main Roads and the Department of Transport to be aware that the community living near the highway values some green space in between,” he said.
“While having a noise wall is better than nothing when no vegetation is left, they are also a magnet for graffiti.”
Residents call on main roads to reconsider cleanup
When asked whether the city had filed a complaint against the Main Roads cleanup or was seeking compensation, Matthew MacPherson, acting director of infrastructure services, said they had “raised our concerns with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation”.
“I believe there has been a site meeting between ourselves, Main Roads, and DWER to ensure that everyone is following the correct procedure within their role and to hold various parties accountable and ensure that everyone is doing the right thing,” he said.
Mr. MacPherson also confirmed that the city “treats major roads as we would any other developer and wanted some contribution or compensation from the trees and foliage that has been lost”.
He said this also included the major roads that “offered too many replacement trees” and that they wanted to plant in city-administered areas where it would have more control.
“They were open to shifting further away from the project where they could potentially replace some of this tree value and supply,” he said.
Cr John Chester said that while there was “very little benefit to the decimation within the road reserve” and residents were “very angry”, he was aware that Main Roads had negotiated with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions to purchase 4 ha. to be replanted in Yellagonga Regional Park as part of the fee.
Mr. MacPherson said the city had also succeeded in getting Main Roads to retain some of the larger native trees “through innovative design and bypassing things they thought we wouldn’t be open to” but acknowledged that this was impossible in some countries. Locations.
Cr May’s motion also called for Main Roads to remove invasive species from the highway reservations and “plant and maintain appropriate trees and ground covers that support bird life and reduce the urban heat island effect.”
In a second motion, Cr May addressed issues with introduced bird species such as corella and rainbow lorikeets, foxes, and feral cats and their impact on urban wildlife.
He asked for a report on the city’s opportunities to work with DBCA, WALGA, and neighboring local governments to control the invasive birds, which affect populations of native species by competing with them for resting places, nesting space, and foraging habitats.
According to the council report, from 2016 to 2019, the city participated in a WALGA-led corella control plan, which included financial contributions of $5,000 per year, removing approximately 4,000 corellas from Perth’s northern region.
However, the program ended due to a lack of financial support.
Last month, the mayor wrote to the WALGA president asking for support to rebuild the program. The city is waiting for a response, which will direct the next steps.
Cr May’s motion also called on the city to support the removal of foxes, feral cats, and other introduced predators in Yellagonga Regional Park and other natural areas as required.
City officials noted that Joondalup, Wanneroo, and DBCA already partnered to monitor wildlife in Yellagonga Regional Park, with more than 60 foxes being captured and euthanized.
They also said the city had a $30,850 budget to hire pest control contractors to manage rabbits, feral cats, and foxes in other wildlife areas.
However, Cr May said this budget was inadequate and “not fit for purpose”, with foxes and cats a “common sight” in the native bushland areas of the city.
He said his motion was to see further options to improve the city’s current practices.
Cr Logan has also filed a third motion requesting a report on the possibility of an employment initiative for veterans and ex-defense services for men and women.
