Main Roads in the way of heritage campaign for ‘iconic’ Caves Road tourism drive

A local stakeholder group is shaping up to push the stalled listing of Caves Road as a route of State heritage significance, but the project faces serious opposition. Former councillor and ex-Margaret River Chamber of Commerce president Pauline McLeod said she briefed Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors on her invitation to get involved in the group packed with local historians and conservationists keen to see the road listed. However, Main Roads WA this week told the Times it opposed any plan to list the route on the State heritage register, which risked making its own redevelopment plans completely unworkable. The Times first reported heritage ambitions in 2018 amid concerns about a still-unfunded Main Roads project to widen and improve safety along sections of the route from Yallingup to Rainbow Cave Road and perhaps Augusta. A Main Roads spokesperson said the agency recognised the “unique nature of this road and its importance to the local and State tourist industry”. But a 1997 planning strategy was developed with the Shire and City of Busselton to guide preservation and functionality of the route. “If Caves Road was to be listed as proposed, any works on the road may result in an unworkable process to manage and maintain it efficiently and effectively, and make improvements extremely problematic,” Main Roads said. “This is a significant concern for Main Roads, and therefore the proposal was not supported – with advice provided to the Shire in July 2020.” With the iconic route through the Leeuwin-Naturaliste scarp celebrating its centenary last year, the proposal to list the item on the State Heritage Council register has languished – though it was not known to what degree Main Roads’ opposition played a part. In July, the Shire adopted its latest municipal heritage register which included Caves Road for the first time in an effort Mrs McLeod said would help with the overall quest to recognise the importance of the ever-evolving track. “Entry in the State register is the highest recognition afforded at the State level,” Mrs McLeod said. “This does not mean a place cannot be changed to meet contemporary needs. “The Heritage Council encourage sensitive development and new compatible uses of heritage places as the best way of assuring their future. “If the Heritage Council do decide a place is likely to be of State significance, a full assessment is undertaken. This takes time and involves broad consultation.” A Department of Lands, Planning and Heritage spokesperson said the research and consultation process for Caves Road would be “substantial”. “The HCWA assesses approximately 20 places each year to inform recommendations to the Minister for Heritage,” the spokesperson said. “These assessments require research and consultation, and the length of time needed is highly dependent on the size, type of place, location and number of owners and stakeholders that need to be consulted.” Mrs McLeod said State listing would open up more grant options for preserving the route as well as improving tourism signs. Also hanging over the process was the possibility of diverting a section of Caves Road near Boranup to facilitate the Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association’s ambitious Karri Bowl interpretive centre project. However, MRBTA chief executive Sharna Kearney told the Times no funding for the project was earmarked in the latest State Budget and no talks were underway at present with Main Roads about the works. In 2020, the Times reported a 3km section of the road in Boranup had to shift for the project to proceed.