The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has recently commenced a major project of road restorations. The battered roads in the area will receive much needed attention and repair, following sustained calls from locals emphasising their inadequacy.
This Road Renewal Program, as it has been named, is a $10.6 million initiative that will upgrade some of the shire’s most worn and damaged roads, including Masters Rd, Karnup Rd and Mundijong Rd, though many more will receive attention.
The causes of this long-term wear and damage are multifaceted, but they include rapid population growth, residential developments, development of Tonkin Highway, busier roads overall and heavier freight traffic, which have put extra pressure on roads not designed or built for today’s traffic. Further, sand being transported along the roads for building projects has been unintentionally spread along the roads, causing gradual erosion of surfaces.
The Shire is acting to make roads safer, more reliable and better able to support future development, which it expects to continue to climb in the coming years. According to Shire President Rob Coales: “The Shire is responsible for maintaining, renewing and upgrading 661 kilometres of sealed roads and 152 kilometres of unsealed roads, a road network with replacement value of around $457.6m million.”
“This program is about getting on with the job of delivering safer, stronger roads for the community. While there will be short-term disruptions, these works are a long-term investment that will protect our roads, reduce future costs and support the rapid growth of Serpentine-Jarrahdale,” said Mr Coales.
The National Growth Areas Alliance has also weighed in on the issue. “NGAA consistently advocates for increased and more targeted Federal investment in local and state road infrastructure, recognising that outdated road networks in fast-growing communities, like Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, are constraining access to jobs, services and economic opportunity,” said the organisation’s CEO Bronwen Clark.
“As population growth continues to outpace infrastructure delivery, congestion is becoming a significant drag on national productivity. Growth areas are doing the heavy lifting of population growth, yet their road networks were never designed for the volumes they now carry,” she added.
Miss Clark also warned that: “Without sustained investment to upgrade these corridors, we risk locking communities out of opportunity and undermining productivity across the broader economy.”
The Road Renewal Program will deliver resurfacing and upgrades on busy connector roads and local streets, safety improvements at key intersections, roundabouts and gravel re-sheeting on rural roads. Works will be staged and are expected to finish by June 2026, given the high priority of the project.
The program has been funded through a combination of Shire contributions and State and Federal grants. The State Government is contributing just over $3.2 million, the Federal Government just over $5 million, and the Shire just over $2.4 million, bringing the total investment to just over $10.6 million.
The Shire continues to advocate to State and Federal Government for funding to repair its roads, receiving a $17 million commitment from the State Government for its Hypergrowth Roads Program at the last election. With Serpentine-Jarrahdale’s position as one of the fastest growing shires in Western Australia, road development has been described as front of mind by the local administration.
The support of entities beyond the shire have also been acknowledged: “We thank the State and Federal Governments for their support in making these upgrades possible. The Shire is making it happen for residents and will continue to advocate strongly for the infrastructure funding the community needs,” said Mr Coales.
Partnerships with organisations such as National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) have been described as key to securing roads funding at State and Federal level. Residents are encouraged to check the Shire’s Road Report page for updates on closures, detours and timing due to works.
