The Main Roads Act 1930 (WA) details the activities and operations of Main Roads Western Australia. These activities are constrained by the powers and duties conferred on the Commissioner of Main Roads under the Main Roads Act.
The Act was first developed and debated in Parliament in December 1924 and ultimately came into force on 7 June 1926. There were four main parts to the original Act - the formation and composition of the Main Roads Board, its responsibilities, the classes of roads it would deal with and how money for its activities would be raised.
The Act was amended again during 1930 resulting in creation and appointment of the first Commissioner of Main Roads who subsumed all the powers that the board originally held. In 1952 following a visit to the United States by then commissioner, Jim Young, the Act was amended again to introduce controlledaccess highways. This reflected the changing nature of road transport and the growth in the motor vehicle ownership.
Over the years there were minor amendments to the Act with the last most significant changes made in 1996. In recognition that the Act was written in the context of an early 20th century, largely undeveloped state, Main Roads sought to modernise the Act.
In November 2023, the Main Roads Amendment Bill 2023 was passed by Parliament to enable the most significant and extensive changes ever made to the Act enabling us to operate as a modern road agency well placed to serve the community of Western Australia into the future.
