Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and MLC-elect Lynn MacLaren have congratulated the Save Beeliar Wetlands Group for the launch of the campaign to prevent the State Government from wasting millions of dollars on a pointless freeway extension.

"Plans to extend Roe Highway through the centrepiece of Beeliar Regional Park should have been dead and buried a long time ago. There are essential biodiversity and landscape values in the Beeliar Wetland chain, and key Aboriginal heritage sites in the path of the freeway," said Greens (WA) MLC-elect Lynn MacLaren.

"This proposal has been defeated more times than I care to remember. It's time to finish it once and for all, preserve our Aboriginal heritage, restore this globally significant habitat, and protect neighbourhood amenity from this polluting and pointless freeway."

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has strongly criticised the Barnett government for turning its back on the potential for billions of dollars worth of Commonwealth public transport funding.

"We need to move beyond this dead-end freeway obsession and invest rapidly in public transport such as the Greens' proposal for a greater metropolitan light rail network. With more freight on rail and a realistic evaluation of the options for freight traffic in and out of Fremantle, the case for the Roe Highway extension evaporates," Senator Ludlam said.

"I am proud that Western Australian communities are stepping up once again to defend the precious Beeliar Wetlands. The campaign is off to a strong start, and the organisers and participants should be congratulated."

Lynn MacLaren will join the community rally this Saturday at 10am calling attention to the vast opposition to plans to destroy the Beeliar wetlands.

Media contact for Senator Ludlam: Robert Simms - 0417 174 302
Contact Lyn McLaren: 0403 721 951