Mr Buswell has written to Planning Minister John Day and Environment Minister Bill Marmion outlining residents’ concerns about the potential dangers of single-road access to Prevelly Park, Gracetown and Yallingup, and their requests for access alternatives.

In his letter Mr Buswell suggested a working group be established between their three portfolio offices, with representatives from Department of Planning, Department of Environment and Conservation, local government, Fire and Emergency Services Authority and Main Roads.

“The purpose of the working group would be to proceed with the necessary planning and identification of any issues for the second sealed access and define the cost of construction. Once these issues have been identified, an approach would be made to Cabinet seeking funding endorsement for the works to proceed,” Mr Buswell said.

“The recent events have confirmed the fears held in these communities for some time and have highlighted the need to construct a second sealed road to provide alternate access and escape options in such situations,” he wrote.

“One of the issues that has been raised with me as a local MP by members of the community is the need for alternate access roads to those communities, so I think it’s appropriate that the government agencies with the responsibility examine the issue in some detail.”

Mr Buswell pointed out that the roads into Prevelly Park and Gracetown had been cut by bushfires this summer.

“Certainly the purpose of the road in part would be to make sure in emergency situations people aren’t trapped and they do have safe alternative exits.

“There are a range of factors that need to be considered but clearly at Gnarabup, where people were evacuated by boat, is not a good situation. What that indicated was those people weren’t even safe on the beach.

“We have to look at it clearly – at Gracetown there are plans for some additional subdivision. Community expectation, as a result of that, is there will be a second access road going to Gracetown, so it is probably a good time to look at all three.”

As reported last week, Gracetown residents have also taken the issue of a second road, and other safety issues like the lack of mobile phone coverage and water supply certainty, up with South West MLC Barry House.