The West Coast Highway has a record of accidents in the vicinity of Challenger Parade in South City Beach. The local community has indicated distress at the frequency of accidents, both reported and unreported. To improve safety, the City of Perth and Main Roads have been investigating options for the realignment of the section of West Coast Highway between Rochdale Road and Helston A venue.
This proposal has the potential to degrade the values recommended for conservation in the System 6 report published by the Authority in 1983, and reaffirmed in the Authority's Report and Recommendations on the proposed Knightsbridge subdivision.
The regional values of the Bold Park area have been determined by the Authority as: the size of the M47 area, being comparable to Kings Park, is one of the largest remaining bushland remnants in the urban area of the coastal plain; the natural vegetation of the area is of comparaiively high quaiity and includes areas of species at extremes of their known ecological range; the fauna, as with the vegetation, exhibit considerable diversity with bird species being particularly well represented; recreational use is based on regional rather then just local patrons; and because of the above, and the areas' location in the metropolitan area, its educational value is also rated highly.
The proposed realignment of West Coast Highway also has the potential to affect the areas known as the Mount Claremont Bushland, and Swanbourne Beach and Rifle Range, which are also recommended for conservation by the System 6 report.
