This year, I promised to address the infrastructure and community facility needs of the Southern River electorate, to ensure that we have the facilities and recreational areas that we need to support our rapidly growing suburbs.

My first Community Facilities Forum, held on 31^st May, was a highly enjoyable opportunity for me to get together with a diverse range of local people, who wanted to have some input into the development of the area. High on the list of requests was the need for recreational areas suitable for teenagers and young people.  Proposals from the group included a youth centre, a drop-in cafe, a swimming pool and recreation centre.  I would love to have some more input on ideas to include teenagers in our community, and ensure that they have good and safe places to hang out with friends.

Traffic flow across the railway line to get in and out of Canning Vale was also brought up at the forum as an issue which concerns most residents, and I know from many, many conversations that roads are a major issue here.  The good news is that preliminary works have already started at the intersection at Bannister and Nicholson Roads, which are being upgraded with two right hand turning lanes to replace the single lane for traffic turning from Nicholson Road onto Bannister Road.  This will ensure that traffic will be able to pass through the intersection more quickly and will go a long way to alleviate the problems in this area.  At the other end of Nicholson Road, the roundabout at Garden Street is currently being assessed by Main Roads for innovative signalling and traffic flow design.

Other road works are also underway, with the duplication of Garden Street having recently commenced, and duplication of Warton Road nearing completion. The May State budget also delivered good news to residents with funds allocated to build a third lane on the Kwinana Freeway between Leach Hwy and Roe Hwy.   This will be a great improvement for those residents in Canning Vale and Southern River who use the Freeway every day.  Planning is underway and construction should begin in late 2011.   

The winter parliamentary recess will find me spending more time in Southern River, where I am working to resolve local problems with small groups of residents.  I am working with the developers and the City of Gosnells to get the parkland in Glenariff Estate developed.  I am helping home owners who experienced property damage from road works on Warton Road.  I have assisted in having the builders’ debris in Yilgarn Reserve, Gosnells, cleaned up after it was illegally dumped, and I am listening to the different views on the development of Clifton Park Oval.  Please come and see me if you have a problem that I may be able to assist you with.

I continue to look forward to working with you to build our electorate into a vibrant, prosperous and safe community.

Warm regards,