A Perth man has had stitches in his face after being trampled by a police horse at the Roe 8 site after joining mass protests against the clearing of bushland in Coolbellup for the four-lane highway.
Fremantle carpenter Billy Amez said he had never protested before but had decided to go and show support on Thursday because he believed strongly that the project had too high an ecological cost.
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Roe 8 protester kicked by a horse
Dozens of protesters have been arrested at the Roe 8 highway extension site. One protester says a horse charged at him causing him to need stitches on his face. Vision: Nine News Perth
"I was sitting on the outside of the fence, committing no offence, exercising my right to peacefully protest – doing nothing, essentially," he said.
"A police officer to my right told me it was OK to sit there but not against the fence, so I started moving forward but then I had a horse on top of me and an officer shouting at me to move.
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"But I had nowhere to go, there was a fence behind me and a horse on top of me. It was scary. I was completely defenceless. When it backed away, I was able to move.
"I was really shaken up, making my way away from the fence, and then I saw another person also being trampled.
"I saw him lying on the ground on his back and the horse plant a foot on his abdomen. I hope the guy is OK. I have not heard of his injuries but it looked bad."
"This is a disaster in so many ways," he said.
"The government will not release a business case to show why this will solve congestion.
"This is the first time I've done frontline action. But I am one of many people in the community getting out there and saying no, we don't accept this."
WAtoday understands the other man was not seriously hurt, just bruised and shaken, and that he was arrested after the incident.
Police have been contacted for comment.
Despite the intentions of peaceful protest, tensions have only grown at the site, over which residents have mounted multiple court appeals questioning the environmental approvals processes.
Police on Monday confirmed they were investigating after a police horse received a minor injury from what was described as a "trip wire" at the site.
Locals are angry about asbestos precautions after the site was found to be riddled with the deadly material. Main Roads WA has not responded to requests for comment.
The City of Cockburn, which also opposes the road project, has permitted protesters to set up base at Bassett Reserve in Bibra Lake after the state government closed their previous camp.
Hundreds of police have been deployed to the site since works began in early December as people have chained themselves to machinery and refused to come down from platforms rigged up in trees.
There have reportedly been more than 25 arrests on Thursday morning, adding to well over 50 other previous arrests.
Lawyers for the protesters are combing through the footage of the arrests, believing some are unlawful.