Welcome to the #EnvironmentalCampaign archive. This story is about the fight to stop a highway extension through WA’s #BeeliarWetlands. 
The #RoeHighway was first drafted in 1955, with sections built over the next 50 years. The Roe 8 section was a 5km heavy-haulage route planned to pass through #BeeliarWetlands, 20km south of Perth, projected to cost $450 million.
In early 2000 Main Roads Department of WA announced their intention to begin Roe Highway (Stage 8) through the #BeeliarWetlands.
The North Lake Residents Association held a meeting, leading to the formation of a community Action Committee.
The North Lake Residents Association held a meeting, leading to the formation of a community Action Committee.
The community was largely opposed right from the start. In 2001 the North Lake Residents Association commissioned a community survey, with 95% of the 399 returned surveys disapproving of the proposal.
The site had many precious features. It was of great historic and ongoing cultural significance to the Noongar community, identified as being "the most significant historical site, within the Perth metropolitan region, south of the Swan River” (EPA Bulletin 1088 February 2003)
In 2001, over 1000 people attended a rally held at Bibra Lake in protest against the construction of #RoeHighway stage 8. This sent a clear message that the community were prepared to fight to protect North and Bibra Lakes.
After the rally an incoming Labor government then shelved the Roe 8 plans. In 2008 Roe 8 was realigned to avoid the wetlands. Months later a Liberal government was elected, reinstating the original design, leading to the formation of the @noRoe8 group.
A rally in October 2009 attracted more than 2000 supporters and gained coverage on all major TV stations. By early 2010 the #savebeeliarwetlands campaign comprised of 12 groups and more than 2000 individual supporters.
In 2014, Roe 8 was included in the $1.6B AUD Perth Freight Link jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth. In 2015 the @RethinkTheLink group was formed, building the campaign to new heights even as failure seemed imminent.
Groups turned to the courts. In 2015 the Supreme Court ruled the approval process invalid. Supreme Court Chief Justice Martin found that “the E.P.A. took no account of its own published policies at the time it made its decision."
However, in 2016 that ruling was overturned on appeal. Despite the loss and despair, these legal challenges helped delay the project and build community opposition to the project.
Clearing work accelerated in late 2016 by the then Liberal government. This clearing continued despite the Main Roads Department providing recommendations for less destructive and damaging alternatives.
After decades of trying all other means, the local community used #nonviolentprotest to in the lead up to the 2017 state election. Thousands of people engaged in #directaction barricading fences and stopping bulldozers for over 8 weeks.
The protests resulted in aggressive police responses. @CounterActOz & the @BeeliarLegalSupport team reported on the #Roe8 protests outlining unlawful assaults, horse tramplings, inappropriate use of force & violence directed by senior officers.
In 2017 the McGowan Labor Government was elected. As promised, the #Roe8 section was cancelled, with freehold land transferred into a new conservation reserve for permanent protection. By then, more than 80 hectares had already been bulldozed.
In 2020 community action through Save Beeliar Wetlands and Rethink the Link now focuses on revegetation and stopping the remaining Perth Freight Link. This #campaign shows how long term resistance can succeed.
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