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ON TRAC

Transport Action Coalition Newsletter
February 2002

TRAC is a community group which formed to oppose the Fremantle Eastern Bypass and to seek environmentally sustainable solutions to regional traffic problems.

Sodium Cyanide Transport Through Fremantle

In August last year Australian Gold Reagents (AGR) proposed the transportation of sodium cyanide briquettes from Kwinana to Fremantle Port by road. In view of the health and safety implications of this proposal, TRAC called upon the City of Fremantle and AGR to organise a public meeting to discuss this proposal.

In early November an information evening was conducted in Fremantle and was attended by a Fremantle Councillor, Fremantle City Transport Planner, a TRAC representative, two Fremantle Precinct representatives and AGR representatives.

The concerns I put to the AGR reps were the method of transportation (road) and the effectiveness of the accident/response plan.

AGR claims that it has never had a road transportation accident with cyanide. While this may be correct accidents outside the metropolitan area have occurred in WA with other road transporters of this type of product. Cyanide gas was emitted from some of these accidents when the sodium cyanide was exposed to moist air.
AGR claims that the production of cyanide gas is only a risk if the briquettes come into contact with acid. However, our safety data sheet indicates that sodium cyanide is " incompatible with water, strong acid and strong oxidising agents."
AGR will rely on Wesfarmers emergency response teams in the case of accident spills.
However the response time could be anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes.
AGR claims direct railing of the sodium cyanide from Kwinana to the Fremantle Port is not possible due to problems with a left turn spur line. Information supplied to us from the Sustainable Transport Coalition indicates that as far as the rail administrators are concerned there is no problem using the rail track from Kwinana direct to Fremantle. The lack of use of the rail line means it is more expensive to use.

The State Government has stated that rail is the safest and most efficient means of transporting goods and TRAC supports this position.

It is interesting to note that Wesfarmers is a partner in the sodium cyanide briquette venture, as well as being part of the group that recently purchased the rail freight part of Westrail. One promise from that sale was that there would be greater investment and innovation in rail freight. It should also be noted that Wesfarmers has a competing road transport business.

Transporting sodium cyanide in the urban zone presents certain risks. We look forward to a decision on this issue that maximises public safety and environmental protection.

You can write to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan, ( 13th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock St, West Perth, 6005 or email to amactiernan@dpc.wa.gov.au. Express your opposition to road transport of sodium cyanide and ask that the Minister act to ensure that rail be used.

Good News For Randwick Stables

The State Government recently announced that the Randwick Stables and Homestead had been placed on the Heritage List. This is good news in the campaign to stop the Fremantle "Bypass" and the Roe Highway. While the listing gives some protection to the buildings, long-term protection will only occur when the Fremantle and Roe Highways have been deleted through this area. The stables and adjacent open space could form a vital green link to Clontarf Hill to the north and Hamilton Hill to the south. There is enormous potential to create green links in this area. After years of government neglect, it is time to create a new amenity. TRAC will be encouraging the City of Fremantle to work with the Cockburn City to develop a new future for this area.

The long road to Tipperary

While TRAC members are pleased the state government has promised to delete the fremantle bypass from the Metropolitan Regional Planning Scheme(MRS), we are disappointed that the government has yet to introduce the necessary legislation to delete the bypass road reserve from the MRS. In late October, TRAC members spoke to Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan about the bypass and she indicated that the deletion would be completed in 12 months (October 2002). In the first week of December, TRAC wrote a follow up letter to the Minister to confirm her comments about the deletion. To date (2/2/2002) there has been no response from the Minister.

Meanwhile, TRAC members and Fremantle Councillors Rose Pinter and Kathy Anketell are working with the City of Fremantle to initiate a community consultation process for the future land use along the bypass road reserve.

FREIGHT NETWORK CONGRESS of OCTOBER 2001

The Freight Network Congress has the potential to start WA along the road to sustainable transport. While it is yet to be seen if this is the case, a number of community delegates to the Congress found some disturbing early trends.

Some community members involved in the Congress questioned the authenticity of the early working groups, which determined the scope of discussions, and the limited community participation in the preparation of certain papers for the Congress weekend. They felt their representation was tokenistic and that many bureaucrats were again simply going through the motions of 'consulting' with them.

There was a group within the Congress itself that successfully introduced the 'Fremantle Bypass' (FEB) into the Congress agenda. This was despite the current Government's commitment to delete this road reservation and the Planning Minister stating this on the first morning of the Congress.

The push for the FEB came primarily from the WA Port Operations Taskforce, which is an advocate for the road freight industry. It appears that this association was assisted by Main Roads WA.

It is clear that a number of senior departmental officers are finding it difficult to accept the Government's policy on the FEB. If they are permitted to disrupt policy there will be continuous delays to the deletion of the FEB and a build-up of anger in the local community.

TRAC is following through with the Freight Congress on the understanding that the FEB deletion is a priority. Opportunities for developing a sustainable transport system, and the much needed paradigm shift in transport policy, which we consider fundamental, were discussed as the desired outcome on the weekend of the Congress. Despite the road freight industry's interference, the consensus was also that the FEB should be deleted and is not a solution.

Why the FEB was placed on the Congress agenda is confusing given that the West Coast Hwy was originally the focus. It indicated a lack of resolve by the Minister and the Facilitator to determine the course of events for the Congress. There is a great willingness in the community to be involved in this transportation debate. The Minister must ensure this is utilised and that scepticism of the process does not become established. The focus of discussion must continue to be sustainable transport alternatives and solutions.

Stage Two of the Congress, six Strategy Working Groups, are currently working on a more detailed response to issues raised in the Congress weekend back in October.

CUREDALE ST HOUSING CO-OP

A group of residents currently living in Main Roads WA owned houses in Curedale St are working towards establishing a housing co-op between South and Grosvenor St's. The aim of the co-op is to provide housing for existing tenants and other Homeswest eligible tenants. They plan to retain the houses that are there and to build new homes on the blocks of land which have already been cleared by MRWA. Included in the plan are community gardens, public artworks and access through leafy pedestrian paths. They are being assisted by local MP's, Fremantle Council staff and Councillors and a local architect. Local precincts have been involved in the discussion and have expressed support of the concept. We encourage and will assist this and other pro-active actions to restore the community along the 'former' road reservation.

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