A key target during the construction of BORR has been to spend a minimum $450 million with local South West businesses, in addition to a minimum $30 million with Aboriginal businesses.

As of April 2023, the project has committed works and services in excess of these targets, with actual spends further growing.

$487.8 million has been committed to local South West businesses, with $209.5 million of this being spent so far. This financial boost for the local economy has assisted nearly 300 South West businesses who have been engaged on the project to date.

$30.3 million has been committed with 38 Aboriginal suppliers currently working on the project. Of these businesses, there are 20 that have commitments in excess of $50,000, and six with packages over $1 million. As of March 2023, $18.2 million of the committed funds have been spent.

Australind Water Boring & Civil (AWBC) are one local business that have been working with the South West Gateway Alliance throughout the project. They are a Bunbury-based business who have been engaged to complete bore drilling across the alignment.

“The BORR project coming to the South West region has helped broaden my business’ capability to respond to future activities. As a result of the ongoing work…we have been able to pick up an additional drill rig and have doubled our footprint in the last two years”, explained Managing Director for AWBC, Bradd Hammersley.

The AWBC water bore working on the BORR construction site

Another proud local who has been involved with the project is Brett Doust. Brett is the owner and operator of Doust Grader Services who are providing plant hire services for BORR.

Having previously worked as a subcontractor for other construction companies, Brett purchased his own grader machine to pick up work on the project. He has been working in the northern section of the project for over a year, primarily between Collie River and the Paris Road and Clifton Road interchange.

When asked what this project means to his business, Brett said that he is proud to be able to live locally and contribute to a project of this scale.

If you own or work for a local South West or Aboriginal business and would like to be involved with the BORR project, please contact the team via enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au or on 138 138. 

The Doust Grader Services machine at the Raymond Road construction site.

**Please note, business weighting is calculated according to a local weighting criteria agreed by the Local Business Advisory Group (LBAG), which includes members from local South West businesses, organisations, local government and government agencies.