Kingston road war ignites

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke has accused the Liberal candidate for the region Michelle Boylan of circulating a “misleading petition” on Facebook. The Labor leader accused her Liberal counterpart of “misrepresenting the facts” surrounding the lack of progress on the Kingston Drive extension in Australind — a proposed road business owners say would increase traffic flow and save their businesses. However, Mrs Boylan hit back, saying she was tired of the “finger pointing” and just wanted “to get on with it and build the damn road”. “Our community and local businesses are sick of the finger pointing,” Mrs Boylan said. “We just want the Kingston Drive extension built. “Funding for the road was delivered four years ago by the previous Liberal Government.” Mrs Clarke said she delivered a grievance in Parliament to the Minister for Planning Rita Saffioti, due to concerns about a “misleading petition” she claims Mrs Boylan was behind. “Kingston Drive is a local road under the care and control of the Shire of Harvey,” Mrs Clarke said. “The Liberal candidate and the opposition spokesperson (Libby Mettam) are fully aware of the hold-ups to the Kingston Drive extension.” Mrs Clarke said the “hold-ups” were not the fault of the State Government. “The Shire of Harvey has been provided with all the information relating to the South West native title settlement in 2020 and has been advised that an amendment was required to the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme in 2018,” she said. “The WA Planning Commission would need to initiate a region scheme amendment at the request of the local government.” Mrs Clarke claims that “such an amendment has still not been requested by the Shire of Harvey”. Mrs Boylan, who is also a Harvey shire councillor, said “Labor continue to drag their feet” on the project. Mrs Clarke said “it is very disappointing that this early in the campaign, my opponent and her campaign team — as representatives of the relevant local government — being provided with the facts but choosing to blame the McGowan Government”.