PARKERVILLE and Stoneville residents have launched a petition to the Shire of Mundaring demanding a ratepayers’ meeting with the chief executive officer and engineers to explain the design and impacts of the Brooking Road extension.

As reported in Mundaring road extension criticism over Nth Stoneville link residents raised concerns following the announcement by Bullwinkel Trish Cook two weeks ago that the federal government would contribute $1.5 million to the project.

Stoneville Parkerville Progress Association (SPPA) has urged residents to sign the petition before Saturday, November 22 to secure consultation with the shire to raise awareness around the impacts.

Local resident and SPPA member Yvonne Blyth said she had been told the intended road could be significantly elevated, perhaps up to four metres high right behind her house, with dirt embankments directly up against her property fence lines.

“There has been minimal to no community consultation on what is a very significant project cutting alongside many Parkerville properties, and requiring destruction of established habitat trees,” Mrs Blyth said.

“The shire claimed more than 150 letters went out to the community earlier this year, but most residents on Falls Road know nothing of this project. One lady, who’s been here 50 years, had no idea the road would be so built up, and another, who’s been on Richardson Road opposite Gliddon Road, for 60 years, has not received any communication from the shire.”

Mrs Blyth said residents on Owen Road also expressed their disbelief with no communication from the shire.

“The Brooking Road extension runs from Owen/Victoria Road, to Richardson Road West, crossing the Jane Brook, a pristine natural environment with an identified population of critically endangered Western Swamp Tortoise.”

She said the Railway Reserve and Brookside Park, and Falls Park, Friends groups, along with the Jane Brook Catchment Group remain unadvised by the shire as to any impending works, including two new bridges for the Brooking Road extension and Falls Road replacement.

Residents met on Sunday afternoon to discuss the matter, with local councillor Ben Heptinstall also attending.

The residents have launched a petition to present to the next full council meeting on December 9 seeking an information meeting with the shire at Parkerville Pavilion.

The petition asks the Shire of Mundaring chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker to organise a comprehensive public briefing to explain the final design plans, address  road embankment heights and drainage works, and the scale of environmental clearing and potential impacts on the Jane Brook catchment, including the endangered Western Swamp tortoise.

A two-week pause on the intended bulldozing of the trees expires next Tuesday.

“The residents have resolved that no work should be done until the community has seen the final plans and designs, and the scale and impacts of the project are clearly presented to local residents.”

Petitions can be found at Whites Mill and Grind Café, Stoneville Fresh Supermarket, The Parkerville Tavern and Begonia Pets.