Cowaramup parents declare ‘enough talk’ on townsite traffic woes and demand action

Parents campaigning for major improvements to Cowaramup’s notoriously dangerous pedestrian crossing have been left underwhelmed by a plea to South West politicians. Parkwater Residents Association president Declan McGill and committee member Lisa Bell said they weren’t deterred in their efforts to improve safety for the fast-growing town, as well as ambitions for a master plan to address Cowaramup’s safety and traffic issues once and for all. The group is holding a public meeting this Thursday, October 26, at 6.30pm at the Cowaramup District Club to update residents on their progress and harness more support. The group recently wrote to all six South West Upper House members hoping to enlist support for action to break what the group sees as a deadlock between the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and Main Roads WA which share responsibility for the problem. While Legalise Cannabis WA delegate Sophia Moermond said she would investigate the matter and Liberal MLC Steve Thomas said party leader Libby Mettam was already involved, only Labor MP Jackie Jarvis responded to Times inquiries. The Margaret River-based Labor MLC, who lives in Cowaramup, told the Times she was “certainly aware of some of these pressure points, and have raised them with the Shire and the Minister’s office”. “Main Roads is currently exploring long-term improvements for pedestrian safety in Cowaramup and has been consulting with the Shire,” she said. But Ms Bell said her group was frustrated the Shire’s traffic study – seen as the next step before any changes can be made – continued to be delayed. While Mrs Jarvis said “enhancements” to the crossing were already made, along with speed reductions, Ms Bell and Mr McGill said the crossing was in the wrong place and needed an overhaul. “The way the crossing is able to be used at the moment isn’t compatible with the region,” Mr McGill said. Visitors to Cowaramup were confused by the crossing and population growth meant more and more children were endangered, especially when the crossing was without a traffic warden. “It’s highly frustrating for residents,” Mr McGill said. “It’s dangerous. You have to navigate this space to be a resident in this town. “You can’t send your kids to school and cross your fingers they’re not going to be hit by a truck that day. “There’s been enough talk and there needs to be the follow-through.” Ms Bell expressed frustration the Government kept handballing the issue back to Main Roads and the Shire. Shire sustainable development and infrastructure director Nick Logan said the traffic analysis had started with a scoping exercise. “Future works would be undertaken in course,” he said. “There are also a range of existing traffic and parking-related actions that are either not reliant on the study outcomes.” That included improving pedestrian access at the western end of Memorial Drive, design for improved pedestrian connections through Pioneer Park, a planned carpark at Hasluck Street and Hall Road, and a planned east-west connection to Parkwater catering to population growth and to reduce Memorial Drive traffic. A Main Roads spokesperson said the agency was “aware of community concerns regarding safety for pedestrians crossing Bussell Highway in the Cowaramup townsite” and was continuing consultation with the Shire and other stakeholders. “Given the layout of the highway and adjacent commercial development, the potential options being considered will likely have an impact on existing on-street parking, which will need to be considered by the Shire and local businesses,” the Main Roads spokesperson said.