Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts and councillors Samantha Fenn, Domenic Zappa and Frank Cvitan launch Connect Wanneroo.
Camera IconWanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts and councillors Samantha Fenn, Domenic Zappa and Frank Cvitan launch Connect Wanneroo. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Connect Wanneroo: Mayor Tracey Roberts hails transport campaign

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

THE City of Wanneroo is urging residents to ‘get on board’ its latest advocacy campaign, unveiling a custom-wrapped bus last weekend.

In the lead-up to the State Election next March, the City plans to use its Connect Wanneroo campaign to get commitments for extending the Mitchell Freeway to Romeo Road and rail to Yanchep.

MORE: Wanneroo outlines position on State Govt’s Perth Transport Plan

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Mayor Tracey Roberts said the campaign was an opportunity for the community to ensure their voices were loudly and strongly heard at a state level and its success would depend on the level of community support.

“The City of Wanneroo covers 684sq km from Breakwater Drive, Two Rocks, to Beach Road in Koondoola; therefore as the economy transitions, local jobs are incredibly important,” she said.

“Extending the freeway and rail line are essential investments in our future to improve access to education and health care, stimulate local jobs for local people, attract investment for future business development, in addition to reducing congestion.

“I urge everyone to get on board the campaign and use the Connect Wanneroo website to send a pro forma email to politicians and candidates.

“Supporters can also sign reply-paid postcards which will be delivered to Parliament.

The article published in the Western Mail in 1902. Source: National Library of Australia
Camera IconThe article published in the Western Mail in 1902. Source: National Library of Australia Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“This provides them with a clear process to make their views heard.”

Mrs Roberts said an article published in the Western Mail in 1902 showed people had been advocating for rail to Yanchep more than a century ago.

“We don’t seem to be accommodating the growing population – it’s something that has been happening over decades,” she said.

“This is something that has been long known about – the development of our whole area – yet here we are at the end of 2016, going into 2017 and the freeway is just about to break our borders.”

Mrs Roberts said transport infrastructure was important to encourage businesses to invest in Yanchep and Neerabup industrial area to create needed jobs.

“They are reluctant to do that until the infrastructure is there to support that,” she said.

The mayor said Wanneroo residents were the most vocal in a similar national campaign, Fund Our Future, in the lead-up to the last Federal Election.

She said the lack of infrastructure, including east-west links, was bad for lifestyles.

“There’s nothing more stressful than being stuck in a traffic jam,” she said.Mrs Roberts said about 20 people moved into the City every day, making it the largest growing local government area in WA.

“Our population has doubled over the past decade to 198,000 – that figure is predicted to double again over the next 25 years,” she said.

West Coast Bus Charters provided the 53-seater bus that is covered with campaign messages, and the City is also planning to promote the campaign on its rubbish collection trucks.