Preferred alignment chosen for Bunbury Outer Ring Road
25 June 2019
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Alignment to be finalised with State and Federal environmental regulators
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Further community consultation to take place through environmental processes
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State Government to work with affected landowners along preferred alignment
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Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) is the biggest infrastructure project ever planned for the South-West
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Hundreds of local jobs to be created during construction of BORR
The State Government will proceed with planning the
Bunbury Outer Ring Road's southern alignment through the existing
road
reserve following extensive investigations and consultation.
A number of changes to the preferred alignment have been made, including
moving the Gelorup connection from Hasties Road to Centenary Road and
the protection of a locally valued large tuart tree.
Since July 2018, the BORR Team has been investigating two possible
corridors for the southern section of Bunbury Outer Ring Road - the
existing road reserve within the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme and an
alternative corridor further to the east.
State Government departments have worked together to undertake
comprehensive investigations and environmental site surveys along both
proposed corridors, and concluded both alignments had similar
environmental values.
The existing 'red' corridor has been in place in the Greater Bunbury
Region Scheme for years and has been reviewed a number of times.
It will now be subject to further project development and design before
an alignment is referred to State and Federal environmental regulators.
This process also offers the opportunity for further public comment.
Community consultation to date has resulted in a number of changes to
road design, including:
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The protection of a tuart tree in Gelorup identified as important to the local community;
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New north facing ramps at Raymond Road interchange, reducing traffic using Raymond Road near Meadow Landing;
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Development of a signage and landscape strategy to promote Bunbury as a key destination;
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Partial or full duplication of Bussell Highway to be included in project scope;
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Less impact on Gelorup residents by moving Hasties Road connection to Centenary Road; and
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Maintain east-west connectivity between Bussell Highway and South Western Highway.
The BORR project team has
committed to wide ranging engagement with local government, freight
industry, business groups and local communities over the past 12 months
and this will continue into 2020 as the project is developed for
construction.
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"A forensic examination of both the existing corridor and alternative
route took place over the past year.
"While the existing road reserve has been in place for decades and
received previous approval, it was necessary to examine a feasible
alternative due to the recent elevation in the conservation status of
the western ringtail possum to critically endangered.
"Local members such as Bunbury MLA Don Punch, Collie-Preston MLA Mick
Murray and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke have each made
representations for their respective communities.
"We have also sought input from the many local governments, including
City of Bunbury, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Harvey and Shire of Capel
in a bid to maximise the benefit of the road to each area.
"We have also sought to adjust the alignment so it does not impact the
tuart tree in Gelorup, which the community has shown is a local
treasure.
"We acknowledge the uncertainty generated by the investigative process
for the southern section alignment in the community over the past year
and thank residents for their co-operation and assistance during this
time.
"Stage 1 of the Bussell Highway Duplication Project will reduce
congestion and eliminate a traffic pinch point where the highway meets
Tuart Drive, the alternative route to Busselton.
"It was a previous Labor government that built the Forrest Highway, and
it will be the McGowan Labor Government that builds the Bunbury Outer
Ring Road."
--ENDS--
Source: Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au
Contact: Minister's office - 6552 5500
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Recent news by: WA Government