Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) will deliver significant benefits to the region, including time saving, road safety, freight efficiency and improved port access.
A significant portion of funding from the project's $1.25 billion is being spent in within the region, creating further local jobs, business opportunities and supporting local economic growth.
For Yaka Dandjoo grads, it's 10 out of 10 over at AEN
The 30th annual Apprentice Employment Network (AEN) Western Australia Awards were held recently and two of our very own Yaka Dandjoo graduates made the coveted finalist list.
Moving mountains... of sand on BORR
The Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) isn’t just busy building bridges and laying beams: There’s a mountain of sand to move as well! Recently, Lillydale Road was the site of some innovative ground levelling and sand repurposing.
Big things instore with the Mega-Bridge beams install
The Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) team are putting the ‘bridge’ in Mega-Bridge with the installation of 60 beams now underway. The bridge is so aptly named because it has to be big enough to span across Golding Crescent, the Ferguson River, the freight rail line and Boyanup-Picton Road.
BORR’s about to go tick tick BLOOM!
With the initial planting of native seedlings now underway, the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) project has really begun to bloom… and just in time for spring!
Planning & Alignment
The original concept for BORR was developed in the early 1970s with the land for the southern section reserved for a Primary Regional Road in the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme.
The land was acquired as part of the subdivision process for the southern part of Gelorup in the early 1980s, when it was set aside for future development.
Yes, the project has been desiged to cater for the long term planning needs of a future population of 200,000 people living in the Greater Bunbury area.
Once complete, we expect between 10,000 and 15,000 vehicles per day, on average, using this new road. These regional/port movements would otherwise mix with traffic on local roads.
BORR motorists could expect to save between 11 and 18 minutes travel time depending on their destination and peak traffic conditions along the road.
Although the land for the southern section has been reserved within the Greater Bunbury region scheme for many years, we recognised that it also contains habitat for the federally listed Western Ringtail Possum, Black Cockatoo and Banksia Woodland Threatened Ecological Community.
Main Roads therefore investigated two alignments, and commissioned a number of independent studies to thoroughly understand and transparently compare these options.
These studies included examination and identification of vegetation and flora, fauna, aquatic fauna and European Heritage values and were used to compare the environmental impact of the two alignment options. You can view the a full copy of the Southern Section Alignment Selection Report right here on our website.
These studies concluded that both alignments would result in impacts to sensitive environmental values as follows:
- impacts to Western Ringtail Possums, Black Cockatoos and Threatened Ecological Communities in the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme (current) alignment, and
- impacts to Western Ringtail Possums, Black Cockatoos, Black Stripe Minnows and wetlands in the alternative alignment.
It is important to note that these environmental impacts were considered through both State and Federal regulatory environmental approval processes. Approvals were granted with strict conditions to minimise and manage environmental impacts and a range of commitments made to provide greater protections for flora and fauna.
This farmland was considered as part of the alternative alignment options but was found to have a significantly higher impact on wetlands and endangered aquatic fauna.
This alignment would also have a significantly higher cost as more road building materials would be required on the flatter farmland areas.
Flora, Fauna and Environment
We understand the significance of the environmental values of the area and we will continue to work to reduce the project’s overall environmental impact. In addition to avoiding and minimising the impacts of the project, we will also be implementing a number of substantial actions that will provide a major benefit to the local environment, including:
- Creating 335 hectares of new habitat through the revegetation of degraded land to provide habitat for Western Ringtail Possums, Black Cockatoo and other native species;
- Acquiring 197.7 hectares of Western Ringtail Possum and Black Cockatoo habitat on private land for permanent conservation;
- Providing a one-hectare peppermint tree orchard to provide foliage for possum wildlife carers;
- Providing 24 fauna underpasses, 19 rope bridges and 2 fauna land bridges, to allow fauna to safely move across and along the alignment; and
- Providing $200,000 to Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) for additional feral animal baiting.
We will also be undertaking a large number of additional, on-going monitoring activities to ensure these benefits to the region's flora and fauna are realised.
We have a number of environmental management plans in place that set out how the project will meet the conditions imposed by both the State and Commonwealth Government regulatory authorities to minimise, manage and counterbalance the environmental impacts of the project.
These plans include a:
- Habitat Fragmentation Plan;
- Construction Fauna Management Plan;
- Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) Management Plan;
- Environmental Offsets Strategy; and
- Vegetation Management Plan.
Strict adhered to each of these plans is required by the State and Commonwealth Government regulatory authorities. An independent assessor has been selected to support and aid the Alliance and Main Roads to assess compliance with these plans, with daily reporting and regular audits undertaken.
Radio collars are being used to monitor and track the movements of Western Ringtail Possums within and outside the development area.
Our contractors fit the possums with a radio collar using standard and approved methods, with the collars to be removed safely once the study is complete.
These possums will also be microchipped to identify individual possums and assist in ongoing health and diversity monitoring of the possum groups during and post construction. Additional surveys are also underway in clearing areas to identify non-resident possums to also ensure their safety and health.
We have a range of daily activities that occur prior to clearing to ensure possums are managed during the works.
Large infrastructure projects like the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) have a significant ability to influence economic, environmental, social and governance values and outcomes from a local to national scale.
BORR will create and unlock a range of benefits for the region.
A new rural freeway-standard road will:
- improve freight efficiency
- create a safer road system by removing a significant number of trucks from local roads
- reduce local congestion and create more reliable journey times for all road users
- add sustainable infrastructure to support Greater Bunbury’s position as an industrial hub for the South West Region
- generate long term job opportunities for locals
- reduce travel time between the north and south of Bunbury
- improve access to Bunbury Port as well as existing and proposed industry areas east of Bunbury
- allow vehicles travelling between Bussell Highway and Forrest Highway to avoid 13 sets of traffic lights and one rail level crossing
- provide travel savings of between 11 and 18 minutes, depending on the destination and peak traffic conditions along the alignment
- extending the service life of existing arterial roads, currently used by trucks, minimising future local upgrade treatments required
- reducing the need for heavy vehicles to mix with local traffic on local roads by redirecting 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day onto the new road
- spending a minimum of $450 million with local South West businesses and a minimum of $30 million with Aboriginal businesses
- ensuring 5 per cent of all contracts over $50,000 are awarded to Aboriginal business
- creating training and job opportunities for entry level positions
- training and upskilling unemployed and job transitioning people in the community
We employed the services of KPMG to quantify the project’s direct contribution to the South West region’s economy, find out more by reading their Local Economic Impacts Summary.
Training
To support greater opportunities on BORR, we are running training programs like the Yaka Dandjoo program, which was developed in collaboration between Main Roads and the South West Gateway Alliance. The program has two primary objectives – creating a pipeline of skilled people to support ongoing infrastructure delivery and boosting sustainable employment opportunities.
The six-phase program includes an accredited course (Infrastructure Ready Skill Set or the Heavy Haulage Program) providing life skills and on the job mentoring to help participants build a sustainable career, including industry-specific traineeships and apprenticeships.
The program will provide participants with an opportunity to gain sustainable employment through Group Training Organisations and traineeships or apprenticeships.
If you would like to find out more information or register your interest in joining the program, you can call us on 138 138, or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.
Local business and Aboriginal industry briefings
We regularly host local business briefings and Aboriginal industry briefings in Bunbury, to provide businesses with current information on upcoming work packages and project progress.
Latest Business briefing presentation - August 2022
Latest upcoming work packages – September 2023 - Delivery Strategy
If you'd like to be invited to future business briefings and receive information on upcoming opportunities, please sign up to our Business Register.
If you need help registering, you can give us a call 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au
In January 2021, we established the Bunbury Outer Ring Road Community Hub as a dedicated space for the community to engage with the project. Centrally located at 75 Victoria Street, Bunbury, the Community Hub is open Monday to Friday 10.30am - 4pm.
This space is also used to host various project events like business briefings, one-on-one landowner meetings, community open days and much more. The Community Hub is complete with detailed maps, fact sheets, a broad range of information on the project, and dedicated staff members to assist in answering any questions the broader community may have.
We welcome everyone to come visit and have a chat to one of our friendly team.
FAQs
How can I get involved in the delivery phase?
We will continue to involve local communities, particularly in areas where construction may have an impact.
Subscribe to our mailing list now to receive updates and be notified about opportunities to be involved.
As we continue preparing work packages, we may invite community representatives to nominate for construction reference groups. If so, we will call nominations via local media and the subscriber mailing list.
What is the best way to keep up-to-date?
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive project updates. You'll also be the first to know about upcoming information sessions and opportunities to get involved.
This project page will be continually updated with information, pictures and videos of progress as we build Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
A full list of Frequently Asked Questions are provided to answer any other questions you might have about the project.
What if I have a question that's not answered here?
You can contact us with any questions by:
- visiting us in person at our Community Hub. Come down to 75 Victoria Street, Bunbury and speak to one of our project team
- calling 138 138 or emailing enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au to ask a question or make a comment.
- Aboriginal Business Update - October 2023 - PDF (611 KB)
- Businesses on BORR Update - October 2023 - PDF (651 KB)
- Project Update - October 2023 - PDF (623 KB)
- Delivery Strategy - September 2023 - PDF (1 MB)
- Project Update - August-September 2023 - PDF (631 KB)
- Business on BORR Update - August-September 2023 - PDF (895 KB)
- Aboriginal Business Update - August-September 2023 - PDF (794 KB)
- Local Industry Sentiment Survey - June 2023 - PDF (4.14 MB)
- Community Sentiment Survey - June 2023 - PDF (3.66 MB)
- Aboriginal Industry Sentiment Survey - June 2023 - PDF (3.62 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - May 2023 - PDF (176 KB)
Please visit our Past Publications page to see anything previously published by the project team.
Funding
In April 2022, in response to cost pressures from a booming construction environment, scarcity of skilled local workers and significant increases in materials and labour costs, the project design and construction scope was reviewed and the budget revised to $1.25 billion, which includes a construction cost of around $1 billion.
We have made a series of sustainability commitments on BORR. Some of these commitments include:
Employment, training, and local business
- Giving new opportunities by targeting 10 per cent of the workforce to be previously unemployed.
- Creating sustainable workforces for local businesses
- Collaborating with TAFE and other local training organisations
Construction
- Minimising waste generation and maximising reuse and recycling using sustainable products
- Sourcing materials from local businesses to reduce transport distances and emissions
- Utilising local recycling facilities
- Seeking to use renewable energy options when sourcing construction equipment
Environment
- Salvaging valuable vegetation from areas to be cleared such as orchids, grass trees and zamia palms
- Constructing fauna underpasses and overpasses in line with environmental regulators’ requirements that cannot be used by vehicles and offer shelter to possums from predators and allow for dense vegetation planting
Aboriginal Heritage and Culture
- Working closely with Aboriginal heritage monitors to identify significant areas or items and promote heritage values
- Creating urban design outcomes that include significant Aboriginal cultural components, such as integrated artwork, interpretive signage, naming of project aspects, trails, and nodes
key transport corridor
local roads
traffic flow