Trees and vegetation in Main Roads’ sights for planned Caves Road upgrade this financial year

WA’s peak road body says it will consult residents before moving ahead with a plan to cull vegetation along the region’s scenic Caves Road. Funding is yet to be acquired for a major overhaul of the tourist route, which was first announced more than five years ago, but works are planned for the 2024-25 financial year. A Main Roads WA spokesperson told the Busselton Dunsborough Times it was yet to confirm a plan for removing vegetation including trees from roadside sections. “Main Roads will reconvene the Caves Road Community Reference Group in the coming months prior to any proposed works being undertaken,” they said. “Funding has been allocated for work to be undertaken in 2024-25 and the amount of proposed vegetation pruning and/or tree removal required for the project is currently being assessed.” The work between Yallingup and Augusta would include sealing dangerous road shoulders and improving drainage. A State Government source said a still-live bid to have Caves Road listed as a route of heritage significance would have to be resolved before any funding commitment was made to the more comprehensive parts of the upgrade project. Caves Road residents and tourism operators have decried the inertia around the project, as well as raising concerns at the undisclosed number of trees that could be removed during the works.