Old Vasse Road, Yeagarup

Old Vasse Road, Yeagarup, (near Pemberton and adjacent the Warren National Park) is an unsealed local government road. The road is designated as a ‘Road of Significance’ by Main Roads WA. This means that, due to the numbers and types of vehicles that use the road (e.g. industry, tourist and local), along with points of connection, the road is of enough importance that it warrants being eligible for funding from Main Roads WA to assist with preservation or upgrade works.

In 2007 the Shire of Manjimup engaged consultants to prepare an engineering design to accommodate the upgrade of Old Vasse Road to a sealed surface. This design also included detailed consideration of environmental issues (being next to a National Park) and road boundary issues, where the physical road deviates from its gazetted boundary (road reserve). The deviation of roads outside their boundary (road reserve) is a common occurrence throughout Western Australia. No further work was done with this report, however, the Shire continued to consider and discuss the upgrade of Old Vasse Road.

In 2018, the Shire sought funding from Main Roads WA to develop a feasibility study to examine the viability of upgrading Old Vasse Road. This report would also be used to help seek funding from Main Roads WA to upgrade the road. Road upgrade projects within the Shire of Manjimup that are subject to Main Roads WA funding are all designed to meet AustRoad Standards. The AustRoads Standards guide the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the road network in Australia and help ensure as safe a road network as possible within the constraints of each State or local government. Although no crashes have been recorded (or reported) on Old Vasse Road between 2015 and 2020, the fact that the road is gravel, cannot be speed zoned (because it is a gravel road) and carries a mix of traffic including local and visitor drivers, caravans, heavy haulage and other industrial or agriculture vehicles, means that upgrading works should be seriously considered. By sealing the road, it becomes safer for all vehicles and can then be speed zoned, with the expectation that it will be zoned at 80km/h or 90km/h, once works are completed. Given the Shire is already recognised statewide for its work on road safety, any opportunity to improve the safety of its road network will be seriously considered, particularly on priority or significant roads, as designated by Main Roads WA.

Since the 2021/22 financial year, the Shire has had an approved project budget, including a two-third funding contribution from Main Roads WA. Construction is designed to commence at the Hawke Road intersection, continuing towards Vasse Highway. As the project requires some trees and other native vegetation to be removed, the Shire has applied for a vegetation clearing permit with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). The Shire has a current permit from DWER to clear native vegetation within the road reserve, from near the intersection of Hawke Road and Old Vasse Road and then west for about 1km towards Vasse Highway. As a part of the vegetation clearing application process, DWER’s approval to the Shire of Manjimup was appealed, with the original vegetation clearing application approval being upheld. The vegetation clearing permit allows for the removal of up to 24 trees, along with the accompanying understorey. The Shire is reviewing this plan and current designs will require the removal of less than 15 trees. The trees and other vegetation are to be removed because they will be within the new road’s sealed surface. Also, one of these trees is considered dangerous due to its structural stability although it is not imminently dangerous it will require removal soon, regardless of the road upgrade works.

There is no date yet for the removal of these trees and other vegetation. Conditions of the current vegetation clearing permit include the Shire providing a 1.1 hectare site for the ongoing conservation of native vegetation as well as carrying out detailed dieback management activities while works are being carried out. It is expected that these conditions will be similar to all Shire vegetation clearing permits on its road construction projects. Further to this, the Shire has carried out its due diligence in respect to ensuring no culturally significant sites are disturbed during this construction.

Finally, it is worth noting that the entire Old Vasse Road upgrade project is expected to take some 10 years and cost more than $7M.

-ENDS-

Authorised by Benjamin (Ben) Rose, Chief Executive Officer
Contact Sheri Laba, Public Relations Officer

Contact for comment: Donelle Buegge, Shire President
Contact: 0409 114 681