Residents near Lake Navarino raise concerns after Water Corporation scraps Scarp Road emergency access

A Waroona winemaker has warned visitors to Lake Navarino could be put at risk after local residents had access to an emergency escape route to the south of the popular swimming spot revoked. But the Water Corporation insists the “gravel bush track” could pose a “significant risk” to anyone attempting to use it in an emergency. Drakesbrook Fine Wines managing director Bernie Worthington is one of around a half dozen residents near Waroona Dam who are now no longer able to access part of Scarp Road, following a decision by the Water Corporation to close it last year. Locals had previously been provided key access to gates located near Prince and Willowdale Roads as a compromise between the State Government entity when the partial closure came into effect in 2006. The decision was made to protect the Sampson Brook Dam drinking water catchment. However, Mr Worthington believes the Water Corporation has not given him a “satisfactory reason” for their latest decision to completely revoke access. “They claim it’s for our safety — our claim is that this is absolutely contrary to that,” he said. While Mr Worthington said local residents were still unhappy with the initial 2006 closure, the key access was a satisfactory compromise from a public safety viewpoint. “Every now and then, we would go to make sure the keys still worked and we would do a drive through, but every time we would let Water Corp know, just to make sure the road was still navigable,” he said. Water Corporation regional director Nicola Waite said it had reviewed the “legacy agreement” established in 2006, and had brought it into line with its statewide policy on drinking water quality and community safety. “Scarp Road is a winding gravel bush track with sections that are steep and not easily accessible by vehicle,” she said. “This could have presented a significant risk to local residents had they attempted to evacuate via Scarp Road in the event of an emergency.” Mr Worthington was more concerned with the potential risk it posed to dam-goers in an emergency, as there is no open access route to the south of the reservoir. “We know the area, in an emergency we can get out,” he said. “I am more concerned about the potentially hundreds, maybe thousands of people that might be at Lake Navarino. “If there was a blockage anywhere on the northern side (of the lake) and a fire was coming from the north-easterly direction, so an evacuation had to come to the south, there is no legal emergency access (for locals).” Waroona Shire chief executive Mark Goodlet said use of the closed section of road as a bushfire escape route was recently examined and due to the nature of the track, recommended it only be used where there is an emergency services escort. “To this end, the Water Corporation have provided gate keys to the emergency services agencies,” he said. Ms Waite said advice provided to the Water Corporation by the Shire noted accessing the closed road section in an emergency was counter to emergency services advice and it would therefore be “negligent” to continue to provide restricted public access. Another option would be for the Shire to create a second access route, by extending Prince Road — which is currently a no-trhough road — west through to Weir Road, which continues into the town. However, the shire estimates the cost of such an extension at around $4 million. With about 400 homes in the shire, mainly in Preston Beach, only having one access route — as they were approved before two were mandatory — Mr Goodlet said a project of that size would need to be weighed up with addressing those access needs. “While desirable, it needs to be weighed up against the other needs of the Shire such as exist in Preston Beach,” Mr Goodlet said.