Traditional owners are still waiting to see if plans to build a bridge in Perth's eastern suburbs will be altered to protect significant cultural sites. The Lloyd Street bridge across the Helena River is one part of an almost $400 million project but construction stalled more than two years ago and there's been no movement since.
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00:00A road to nowhere.
00:08Built more than five years ago, these two roundabouts are meant to be joined by a bridge
00:12connecting Midland and Hazelmere.
00:15But some traditional owners, including Whadjuk Noongar man, Greg Ugal, raised an issue with
00:21the plan more than two years ago.
00:23It's significant because it's part of our mythological concept of what we believe.
00:31The government paused construction in 2022 for community consultation after it emerged
00:37the bridge would impact an ancient rock shelter and nearby billabong.
00:42We're not against development, but we are against destruction of our traditional sites.
00:49In the meantime, nearby businesses say the unfinished roundabouts invite unwanted activity.
00:55What's been allowed to happen is certainly nothing that favours any cultural or environmental
01:01sensitivity in the creek because it's just become a rubbish tip and a forward drive track.
01:06Mr Ugal says traditional owners want to work together to bring the area back to life.
01:11Look, it's dead.
01:13You've seen cars coming in here.
01:15We want people to walk through here and they walk through, they understand the culture.
01:24The City of Swan and Main Roads say they're committed to reach an agreement in coming
01:28months.
01:29For now, the project remains at a standstill.