Hoof Prints

Media release - Perth voters back Gelorup option! As bulldozing of the Gelorup woodland and wildlife proceeds, a poll shows Perth motorists, by a landslide margin, would prefer the Bunbury Outer Ring Road went an alternative route.

On Wednesday night, the Ucomms poll (see below) asked 816 people in the Perth federal seat of Curtin: “The Bunbury Outer Ring Road will bypass Bunbury for traffic travelling onward to Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River. A short section at Gelorup will require bulldozing the habitat of critically endangered ringtail possums, black cockatoos, orchids, and a rare species of native fish. How concerned are you about this development?”

71.6% were concerned, while 25.3% were not. Only 3.1% were undecided.

The second question asked: “If an alternate route were available that would significantly reduce the impact on the local environment, do you agree or disagree that development should continue with the alternative route?”

A 5:1 majority would prefer an alternative. 75.5% agreed, 13.8% disagreed, 10.6% were unsure or did not know.

In both cases, the majority was greater amongst women and young people (aged 18-34), though there was a clear majority across the board.

“This is a huge eleventh-hour boost for the Friends of the Gelorup Corridor and pulls the rug from under those who thought there would be popular support for this development at any cost. The bulldozers should get out of the woodland. The government bought a number of small properties for this project: it should now purchase the open land nearby and go there instead,” said Jess Beckerling, convener of the WA Forest Alliance.

“This is not surprising. People everywhere are alarmed about the extinction of species and loss of forests and woodlands. They want governments, state and federal, to opt for alternatives which save our nation’s most critical habitats.

“Federal Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, made important statements about the need to protect remaining habitats during her State of the Environment report release address. We need actions, not words. The Minister should take this poll very seriously and intervene if she is to keep faith with the people on the environment,” said Ms Beckerling.

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Please send an email to Minister Plibersek: [email protected] and call her office on (08) 9592 7422

Tanya Plibersek Mark McGowan