Petition backs calls for a dual highway

An online petition is keeping Bussell Highway in the spotlight ahead of the State and Federal Budgets as calls go out for urgent upgrades to the ill-fated stretch between Busselton and Capel.

Spearheaded by Vasse MLA Libby Mettam and addressed to Premier Mark McGowan, the petition calls for the 17km section to be widened to dual lanes.

The petition comes two weeks after a Singleton man pleaded guilty to killing a 20-year-old man after crossing into the wrong lane on the stretch.

Ms Mettam said it was a critical road for the community and, with Easter coming up, the stretch would be blocked with visitor traffic. “The McGowan Government has reached the halfway point for their first term and still they continue to ignore the importance of Bussell Highway,” she said.

“The impetus for this online petition has come from the local community and Perth residents who regularly utilise this road and contact me in disbelief that this project is still unfunded despite the preliminary works carried out under the former Government.”

It is the second time a petition has highlighted demand for road upgrades in recent years.

In 2017, Ms Mettam tabled a petition with 4000-plus signatures after Helga van Schoor and her three children were involved in a head-on collision resulting in serious injuries.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the McGowan Government recognised the importance of the project and had allocated record funding to roads in WA regions as part of the last State Budget. “The Bussell Highway project is being considered ahead of the State Budget and, of course, we would always welcome Commonwealth funding towards the project.”

Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said the agency had plans to duplicate the stretch of highway and environmental assessments were being progressed.

The petition can be found at petition.org.au/bussellhwy.