4.4 Transformative project highlights

The $1.25bn Bunbury Outer Ring Road is a 27km free flowing highway, linking Forrest Highway to Bussell Highway. The project will be delivered in three sections, providing an alternative route around Bunbury to facilitate traffic flow to the Capes subregion and routing heavy vehicles away from local roads. The project delivers freight efficiencies, reducing congestion and is positioned to service industrial areas, a proposed intermodal transport hub, Bunbury Port and the Dardanup timber precinct. Works are scheduled for completion in 2024.

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The construction of an Intermodal Terminal (IMT) will be critical economic infrastructure serving Bunbury Port, manufacturing and the efficient transfer of freight. The subject of an Infrastructure WA submission, the location of the IMT has been identified as Waterloo (DoT 2019), a strategic optimal location linking Bunbury Port, Picton, Preston and Kemerton.

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Rationalisation of the split sites and consolidation at the Inner Harbour will create economic opportunities in both locations. Capacity exists to add additional berths and introduce roll on roll off services which would ease pressure on high value land at Fremantle Port, allowing for a strategic solution to Western Ports issues and utilising 400ha of port land in Bunbury.

A Harvey Water market-led proposal, ‘Collie to Coast’, offers to deliver a water infrastructure project designed to improve water availability and quality for the benefit of agriculture and industrial water users in the South West.

The project proposes to deliver a reduction in the salinity of water sourced from the 185GL capacity Wellington Dam, and reduce water loss in the distribution network. The potential of Wellington Dam asset is constrained by salinity levels twice the 500 mg/L total dissolved salts acceptable for potable water. Reducing salinity remains a South West priority issue and boosts regional water security.

Additional rail corridor capacity will facilitate efficiency, reduced road usage and will improve both industry and social outcomes. The Brunswick section requires duplication and grade separation as the line reaches operational capacity, while a Kemerton spur would provide rail as a transport choice. If the Greenbushes rail line is not reinstated, there will be a requirement to invest in upgrades to the South Western Highway. All upgrades would need to be considered in relation to future creation of an intermodal terminal.

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Air freight opportunities are limited by the lack of services from Busselton Margaret River Airport (BMRA). Growth in passenger flights with underbelly freight capability will generate opportunities, particularly on key international routes. BMRA benefits from significant greenfield development site availability to support air freight.

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