Sand spill adds to residents’ angst

A truck was heading southbound along Great Northern Highway about noon on Wednesday when its trailer rolled over at the corner of Apple Street, spilling more than 20 tonnes of sand across the roadway, causing traffic delays on the major arterial road for more than six hours.

The incident came as Premier Colin Barnett appeared to commit to the full Swan Vally Bypass ” from Tonkin Highway to Muchea.

The Federal Government has allocated $400 million towards the $800m first stage of the Perth-Darwin highway but the State Government has so far committed only $200m for the section from Gnangara Road to Muchea ” leaving a $200m shortfall to complete the entire project.

However, Mr Barnett told a corporate function on Wednesday the state would contribute its share of the additional $200m to complete the work.

A representative from the Premier’s office later confirmed that ‘in future Budgets, the State Government will allocate the remaining funds’.