Preliminary works have commenced on the project, billed as a way to improve traffic flow and prepare for future growth through the Murdoch activity centre area. But what the project also does is connect the end of Roe Highway to the edge of Beeliar Wetlands via a spur road off an extended and realigned Murdoch Drive. It leaves the way clear for a resumption of a road project through the wetlands and is widely regarded as the first step of Roe 8, according to Kim Dravnieks, Rethink the Link spokeswoman. The Murdoch Drive Connection plan. Credit:Main Roads WA “It is what the Liberal party and Main Roads have always wanted,” she said.

“Main Roads are playing the long game, waiting for a future state Liberal government to come in and build Roe 8.” Main Roads says the Murdoch Drive Connection is compliant with the same environmental approval used for Roe 8. The agency has applied to the state’s Environmental Protection Authority to make changes to that approval to allow the building of the Murdoch Drive Connection. There has been no simultaneous move to modify the environmental approval to remove the part concerning Roe 8 going through the wetlands. Original Roe 8 plans Credit:Main Roads WA

The historical road reserve zoning that allowed Roe 8 to be planned in the first place is still in effect a year after the state election, and Main Roads remains the land manager. The Gallop and Carpenter Labor governments also failed to remove the land’s road classification during their terms. A year after works stopped, the rehabilitation works still have no formal oversight. Volunteers have pushed for the site works undertaken so far including seed collection, weed management, the clean-up of the mulch piles and asbestos risk areas and the establishment of public access points. A 10-year rehabilitation plan drafted by a community working group and scientific advisory committee remains with Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Environment Minister Stephen Dawson for approval.

No major planting is expected before 2019. Cockburn Wetlands Centre held a gathering on Sunday to mark a year since the last protest and the completion of the rehabilitation plan, but the community remains conscious of the situation’s fragility. People gathered to celebrate the anniversary of works stopping on Roe 8. Credit:Simon Stevens. “The people are still celebrating their achievement – nothing can take that away,” Ms Dravnieks said. “But there is also the awareness that there is more work to be done.”

She urged Minister Saffioti to see the rezoning through. “We understand it can take some time, but we need that process to begin as soon as possible,” she said. Minister Saffioti said WA Labor deserved some credit for saving the Beeliar Wetlands. "We were the only political party that could and did stop Roe 8 and save the wetlands," she said. "The [rezoning] process will be underway soon to help further protect this area.

"We are currently working on a proposed amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme. We hope to be able to make further announcements on this soon." Natural regrowth happening at the site. Credit:Kim Dravnieks She also said the rehabilitation plan would be reviewed and finalised "very soon". Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said the department’s official position on Roe 8 aligned with that of the government. He said Main Roads had renegotiated the contract according to the government’s view that Roe 8 was not a sustainable option, and instead progressed other projects.

Both the government and Main Roads emphasised the Murdoch Drive Connection was compliant with the Roe 8 approval. The EPA is assessing the application by Main Roads. If it deems the proposed changes 'significant', as opposed to 'minor', they must be referred to the EPA as a revised proposal to be approved by either Environment Minister Stephen Dawson or the EPA chairman under delegated authority. Save Beeliar Wetlands has made its own representations to the EPA that the Murdoch Drive Connection be referred as a revised proposal, with its own distinct traffic, noise, clearing and environmental impacts. Close scrutiny remains over the project, with public opinion divided on whether it will achieve the publicly stated aims of relieving local congestion and improving access to the Murdoch Activity Centre and Fiona Stanley Hospital. About 350 people attended a public information session in August, and while the government has since refined the design in response to public feedback, community groups in December petitioned Parliament for a new plan.

Melville council has also called for a redesign, while Cockburn has given lukewarm support.