Kwinana Freeway Extension, Forrest Road to Thomas Road - Wetland Impact Management

The proposal is to extend the Kwinana Freeway 2x2 lane, dual carriageway from Forrest Road to Thomas Road, with major on and off ramps at Russel/Gibbs Roads, Rowley Road, Hope Valley Road and Thomas Road. Provision for upgrading the freeway to a 2x3 lane dual carriageway has been included in the proposal. It has also been proposed to incorporate a dual use path within the freeway reserve, located to the west of the road surface. The alignment of the Forrest Road to Thomas Road section of the Kwinana Freeway was approved as a major amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme by the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority in 1984. Several alternative routes for the freeway extension were examined at that time which included such considerations as land tenure, existing services, drainage and surface water, existing urban use, soil conditions, conservation areas and future land developments.

Because of the extended period between approval and construction, and an increased awareness in the importance of wetlands in the intervening years, the project was submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority for an assessment of the wetland impacts only.

This is not an assessment of the Kwinana Freeway alignment but rather of the management of wetlands that would be affected by its construction.