Bunbury Outer Ring Road

Large infrastructure projects like the Wilman Wadandi Highway (previously known as 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.

This project will create and unlock a range of benefits for the region, including

• 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

During construction we are:

• 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.

Ongoing Roadworks

 Project information 

• BORR – Project Flyer – PDF (482 KB)
• BORR - Urban Design Strategy Flyer - PDF (726 KB)
• BORR - Project Update - November 2024 - PDF (842 KB)
• BORR – Project Update – October 2024 – PDF (1 MB)
• BORR – Project Update – September 2024 – PDF (1 MB)
• BORR - Construction Update - Southern Section - September 2024 - PDF (384 KB)
• BORR - Project Update - July 2024 - PDF (1.14 MB)
• BORR - Construction Update - Southern Section - July 2024 - PDF (558 KB)
• BORR - Project Update - May 2024 - PDF (855 KB)
• BORR - Businesses Update - May 2024 - PDF (579 KB)
• BORR - Aboriginal Business Update - May 2024 - PDF (546 KB)

Please visit our Past Publications page to see anything previously published by the project team.

 Funding

The Wilman Wadandi Highway (previously known as the 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 the funding from the project’s $1.46 billion is being spent within the region, creating further local jobs, business opportunities and supporting local economic growth.

The $1.46 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, with the increased investment aligning with the project’s scale and complexity, reflecting the current market pressures.

We have made a series of sustainability commitments on the project. 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

 When is the project scheduled for completion?

The Wilman Wadandi Highway (previously known as the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR)) is on track for completion in late 2024, and will open to traffic at this time.

 There has been a lot of congestion due to the project, what more is the project doing to ensure the community is kept safe during construction?

The safety of all road users and the community is our top priority. In order to construct the biggest road project ever undertaken in the South West region, there has unfortunately been some temporary and unavoidable impacts on the local road network. All traffic management implemented has been approved by the Main Roads South West region, and the relevant Local Government Authority. Roadworks across the project are regularly reviewed through a road safety audit completed by an independent traffic planning and management company.

 What steps are being taken to minimise construction impacts on the local community and the environment?

While the project team does everything possible to minimise the impact to the community, it is inevitable that some impacts will be felt. Construction activities on the project comply with Australian standards to avoid damage to property and minimise nuisance and disruption to local residents. 

A key mitigation measure is the use of oscillating rollers which is being used when working in close proximity to residences. While these machines still produce vibrations, these are significantly less than vibratory rollers which are more commonly used in construction.

The project has 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. Strict adherence to each of these plans is required, and an independent assessor has been selected to support and aid the project team and Main Roads to assess compliance with these plans, with daily reporting and regular audits undertaken.

 How can the community stay informed about the project’s progress and any changes to road conditions?

If you want to learn more about the project’s progress, hear about construction milestones and be notified of any upcoming roadworks, make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list to receive email updates. You can also follow our Facebook page to see in more detail what the team is up to.

 What will be the benefits of the road once the project is complete?

The Wilman Wadandi Highway will:

• Create a safer road system by removing a significant number of trucks from local roads and redirecting 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day onto the new road
• Reduce local congestion and create more reliable journey times for all road users
• Provide travel savings of between 11 and 18 minutes, depending on the destination and peak traffic conditions along the alignment
• Allow vehicles travelling between Bussell Highway and Forrest Highway to avoid 13 sets of traffic lights and one rail level crossing
• Improve access to Bunbury Port as well as existing and proposed industry areas east of Bunbury
• Improve freight efficiency
• 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

 What if I have a question that's not answered here?

You can contact us with any questions by speaking to one of our project team by calling 138 138 or emailing enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.