Roe 8 protests: more than 1000 show up to voice disapproval

Update – Bulldozers have re-commenced clearing in Coolbellup after a morning interrupted by protests.

But Rethink the Link spokeswoman Sajni Gudka said anti-Roe 8 campaigners, police and workers were being put at risk because fencing remained flattened, following the events of the morning.

“Bulldozers commenced clearing at 11.10am despite fencing being down,” she said.

“It’s unsafe. It’s now a WorkSafe issue.

“I want to protect people on both sides of the fence – the protesters, police and people working on site.”

She said work should stop until fencing was re-erected.

Earlier this morning more than 1000 campaigners against Roe 8 flooded a work site in Coolbellup this morning.

Fremantle councillor Rachel Pemberton said protesters broke through a fence line on Malvolio Road a little after 7am to support two people who had locked themselves onto machinery.

Police reinforcements were called in to keep watch over a compound used to house machinery.

Tensions threatened to escalate when police tried to move protesters who had bunkered down against the compound’s fencing

Rethink The Link convenor Kim Dravnieks said the turnout was double what had been expected.

“This is citizens saying this project is wrong on so many levels,” she said.

Many people at the site brought signs labelled with their job and why they were against the future toll road, which will extend Roe Highway to Stock Road.

One of the criticisms pointed at protesters, particularly on social media, is that “they should get jobs”.

Ms Dravnieks said the signs showed people from all areas of the community felt strongly about the road.

“They want to show that ordinary citizens want the State Government to hold off on this project until the March election,” she said.

Protesters are expected to be on site all day.