Calls growing to fix country town's 800-truck-a-day problem

Residents of Pinjarra are growing increasingly frustrated with the frequent passage of heavy haulage trucks through their town, traversing main streets daily. Calls are mounting for the Western Australian government to fulfill a decades-old promise to divert these vehicles away from the town centre. The state government maintains that the project remains in the planning and development phase.

Each day, approximately 800 heavy haulage trucks traverse Western Australia's Peel region, many of which pass through Pinjarra's main street near schools, cafes, homes, and businesses. The town, located about 80 kilometers south of Perth and home to 6,000 people, sits near several major mining projects, including Alcoa's Pinjarra Alumina Refinery, situated a mere 10-minute drive away.

The truck traffic has prompted calls to revive long-awaited plans for a bypass, which have been stalled despite millions of dollars in funding. The Shire of Murray President, Douglas McLarty, noted that the vehicles regularly block the town centre, causing disruptions to students, parents, and caregivers who must navigate heavy haulage traffic to access local schools.

The project, initially backed by $50 million in state funding and $200 million from the federal government in 2022, was stripped of federal funds in 2023, yet the WA government reaffirmed its commitment to the road. However, three years later, the project remains in the planning and approvals stage.

Local business owner Caris McClements expressed the impact on the town's lifestyle, mentioning how the noise and abrupt stops caused by trucks can disrupt conversations and pose safety risks. Liberal member for Murray-Wellington, David Bolt, emphasized the dangers posed by the increasing number of trucks, fearing a potential major accident.

A further complication arises from concerns about the proposed route disturbing the site of the Pinjarra Massacre, where Bindjareb Noongar women, men, and children were brutally killed by white settlers in 1834. Karrie-Anne Kearing, a Bindjareb Noongar woman, stressed the importance of respecting the site and honoring her ancestors' sacrifices, advocating for a formal memorial or educational initiative in the planning process.

In August, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti indicated that the state government was considering stakeholder feedback, while a Main Roads spokesperson stated that the massacre site remains a significant consideration in the planning stage. However, further work is needed before the preferred alignment can be confirmed, and decisions on project timing or construction can be made.

For some, like Bron May, who works in the town centre, there is a potential downside to the proposed bypass, as she is concerned that visitors might be diverted away from Pinjarra.