Ocean Reef Road / Wanneroo Road Interchange

WBHO SRG JV

2019 - 2020

Issues Management, Stakeholder & Community Engagement, Strategic Communications, Writing

Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road Interchange Project comprised grade separating the intersection at Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road. The project, located within the City of Wanneroo, was part of a $2.3 billion package of road and rail infrastructure works, funded by the Australian ($1.6 billion) and State ($750 million) Governments. The project included a range of elements which had the potential to impact on the community and stakeholders.

The Challenge

This was a complex project being delivered area on a major arterial route in a high density residential area, in close proximity to a heritage listed building. Both Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road carry high traffic volumes, and the intersection ranked as one of the most congested in the Perth metropolitan area with high volumes of vehicles passing through every day.

The project included a range of elements which had the potential to impact on the community and stakeholders:

Construction impacts – noise, dust, vibration, odour, traffic congestion/delays
Location and construction of noise mitigation structures
Extent of clearing and future revegetation/landscaping plans
Maintenance of access to properties
Maintenance of shared paths and footpaths.

There were also a range of issues specific to this project, including the need to construct a 5m high noise wall along one side of a residential road directly facing properties.

The Method

The overarching approach to stakeholder and community engagement was to provide accurate, timely and relevant information to all stakeholders, to ensure maximum awareness and understanding of the project, its aims and benefits. The approach was also designed to align with the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation, and Main Roads Customer Service Charter and brand guidelines. Specifically, the objectives were:

To meet and/or exceed community and stakeholder expectations in relation to engagement
Proactively share information with the community and stakeholders – a ‘no surprises’ approach
Minimise the risk of issues escalating via early issue identification and mitigation

The community engagement activities included the establishment of a Construction Reference Group to advise the project on areas of interest to the community, as well as the distribution of regular construction updates, letterbox drops, and face to face meetings with community members as required.

A specific engagement plan was developed to consult with residents on a local residential street where a need had been identified for a five metre high noise wall:

A 5m noise wall was required on Andrews Turn. While protecting properties from road noise from Ocean Reef Road, the structure would also block views across the road to Yellagonga Regional Park.
A consultation program was implemented to engage with residents along Andrews Turn to assist the project team in understanding their concerns and priorities.
The project’s community and stakeholder engagement manager met each resident individually to discuss the noise wall, and documented their priorities.
As a result of this initial feedback, the design engineers reviewed the noise modelling that had resulted in the wall being 5m high in some points. This review enabled them to undertake some design modifications that would lower the wall slightly while still achieving the required noise mitigation.
Residents’ main priority was that the wall would be set back sufficiently to allow landscaping in front of it to soften the visual impact.
This feedback was provided to Main Roads who agreed to a contract variation to enable mature plantings in front of the wall to create a more immediate screening effect (see acknowledgement from residents below).
Residents were also given the opportunity to select the colour palette for the noise wall.

The Outcome

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:

Louise Richardson and the communications team have been fantastic with timely responses and good feedback from our communities. Thank you. (Sabine Winton MLA)
We would just like to pass on our thanks to the Engineers, Contractors and all involved in the Ocean Reef/Wanneroo Road bridge and alterations to the road system. Certainly a job well done, with little interruptions to the traffic flow! Very professionally done, the sites have also been kept very tidy! Congratulations! all this work completed in a very short time and much appreciated by ourselves, also we are sure many others. Keep up the good work. Keep safe and well. (local residents)
Both the contractor JV group and Main Roads should be congratulated for doing such a fantastic job during the entire construction process. (CRG member)
I was impressed by the proposal for artwork on the acoustic panels and had a clear impression in my mind from the presentation the contract made at the CRG meeting. Tonight they make a big advance by opening Ocean Reef under the new bridge. It has been a classy performance by the contractors from my point of view. (CRG member)
We received the newsletter about the mature trees planting, and wanted to pass on our thanks to you for advising main roads on our and our neighbours behalves. It was appreciated that you took the time to do that, so thank you. (local resident)
We are very happy with end result, thanks. (local resident).