Home

Esperance Liberal candidate, David Dwyer, proposes Fitzgerald River National Park road

Headshot of Amber Lilley
Amber LilleyKalgoorlie Miner
Coastal scenery at Quoin Head, in Fitzgerald River National Park
Camera IconCoastal scenery at Quoin Head, in Fitzgerald River National Park Credit: Tourism Western Australia

A new road through the United Nations-recognised Fitzgerald River National Park has been proposed by Liberals candidate for Roe David Dwyer.

The “basic” road would connect Bremer Bay to Hopetoun along the coastal area of the park and weave through Quyne-dillun-up, Woolbernup Hill and Mid Mt Barren peak.

Mr Dwyer said the road would aim to entice more travellers into the park, as well as to continue their road trip from Albany to Bremer Bay and on to Hopetoun.

“The main emphasis is drawing tourists into the park,” he said.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“It’s about creating regional prosperity so you need drawcards to get people to the region, so once you’ve got them to the regions then they’re going to need accommodation, they need to be fed, and they shop and they create virtually another industry for you.”

The park forms part of the UNESCO-approved Fitzgerald Biosphere, which includes 5000 vascular plant species native to the area, with 79 per cent of these found nowhere else in the world, as well as 800 rare and threatened plant and animal species.

Mr Dwyer said a basic road following his proposed route would not risk the natural environment, but would need the community, local organisations and government to identify the least intrusive way to get it done.

David Dwyer.
Camera IconDavid Dwyer. Credit: Paul Goldie/Paul Goldie Picture: Paul Goldie

“One of the things that holds it back is that it’s going through a national park and the community is naturally sensitive about the environment, and about the park being maintained in a pristine state,” he said.

Mr Dwyer is also proposing spotting points along the sealed route, which would include camping spots and mountain tracks.

View of East Mt Barren and Hamersley Drive in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
Camera IconView of East Mt Barren and Hamersley Drive in the Fitzgerald River National Park.

Nationals WA State Member for Roe Peter Rundle said his party would be interested in connecting the two towns with a walking of cycling trail through the park, but would like to see further environmental consideration if it were a road.

“My concerns with a road would obviously extend to the environmental situation and the Fitzgerald National Park is a great natural asset that we’ve got to make sure we protect it from the like of dieback and any other diseases,” he said.

“It could obviously be done but you’d need to be working closely with environmentalists, Aboriginal rangers and the whole network of people that work together in the Fitzgerald National Park.”

Mr Dwyer said the proposal was not a Liberal Party committent, but was an idea that he would bring to whichever party formed State Government.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails