Our Business Activities

$315 m committed to the community’s preferred option

Enhancing Relationships

Case Study

Empowering the Community in Investment Decision Making

An initiative of the Transport Minister, Troy Buswell, saw the establishment of leadership forums in the form of Community Working Groups (CWG) for various major infrastructure projects. Implemented in March 2012, and based on a community engagement model, now directly involves the community in the decision process for investment planning.

“The options recommended by the CWG in this comprehensive document will provide guidance about the timing of future extensions of the Mitchell Freeway and will be progressed to the maximum extent possible in the next term of Government.” – Hon. Troy Buswell, Transport Minister WA

CWGs have been established for projects such as the Mitchell Freeway Extension, Tonkin Highway Extension, and Mandurah Bridge Redevelopment. Members of these working groups include key stakeholders across State and Local Government, industry representatives, and the community. Main Roads provides executive support and technical expertise in collaboration with Local Government and is pivotal to the engagement process.

Under the Terms of Reference established by the Minister, the CWG’s role is to assist the Government to better understand what the local community sees as priorities in achieving the right transport solution. Working groups are asked to submit a set of recommendations to the Minister as part of a strategic business case developed under the leadership of the group. This leadership is in the form of an appointed executive team and chaired by a local community champion. Their role is to build collaboration with the Local Governments to ensure the process best reflects the needs of the local community.

To date the process has been successful with the Transport Minister committing $315 million towards the community’s preferred option for the Mitchell Freeway Extension, as well as making $40 million available towards the community’s preferred option for the Mandurah Bridge replacement. Additionally, the business case for the extension of Tonkin Highway has been made a priority by the Government.