Cowaramup residents ‘had a gutful’ on traffic issues plaguing township

WA’s top authority has declined to weigh in on serious traffic issues sparked by Cowaramup’s growing pains. WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti deflected inquiries this week about calls from residents for a comprehensive master plan for Cowaramup to address multiple crossings and intersections which spokeswoman Lisa Bell believed could lead to tragedy. Instead, a ministerial spokesperson told the Times works already scheduled by Main Roads needed to occur before anything further could be considered. “Main Roads has advised it is currently developing options for improved pedestrian crossing facilities along Bussell Highway in Cowaramup,” they said. “Developing these options will enable further consultation with regard to the potential impacts on traffic flow and parking in the township.” Residents were also keenly awaiting a delayed Shire of Augusta-Margaret River traffic study the Times understands could be used to argue the case for more significant works. But master plan advocate Ms Bell — a local mother sharing serious concerns about children crossing Bussell Highway to school twice daily, as well as the effects on residents navigating the busy townsite during peak times — said the Government needed to pull its finger out. “The community has had a gutful,” she said. Cowaramup’s traffic issues were longstanding, and left in limbo due to overlapping Shire and Main Roads responsibilities that needed the State Government to act as a circuit breaker. With growth only set to continue, resurrecting local talk of a once-mooted bypass, Ms Bell said years of planning neglect could now only be overcome by a comprehensive plan. “State and local government should be revered for their relentless, consistent and longstanding pursuit to do nothing meaningful about road safety in Cowaramup,” she said. “There is no official acknowledgement of any issues. No funding allocated to fix them. Zero f...s given.” Residents hadn’t heard anything about pedestrian improvements, felt fobbed off the authorities, and were in the dark about when the traffic study would be undertaken. “Clearly road safety in Cowaramup is a very low priority for both State and local government,” she said. “They couldn’t care less.” Residents believed it would take a fatal accident for the authorities to act, Ms Bell said. Other residents said growth at the Symphony Waters subdivision to the town’s north was also adding more traffic to the mix, including a concerning rise in truck movements which needed an investigation into alternative routes. Vasse MLA and Liberal Party leader Libby Mettam has pushed Cowaramup’s traffic woes in Parliament, but said the master plan concept advocated by residents deserved State Government support.